Debates Day 3 - Thursday 21 October 2010
Parliamentary Record 15
Debates for 11th Assembly 2008 - 2012; ParliamentNT; Parliamentary Record; 11th Assembly 2008 - 2012
2010-10-21
Made available by the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
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Debates
Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
Darwin
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Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
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DEBATES - Thursday 21 October 2010 project; supporting the INPEX project when we get final investment decision. We are not waiting for a final investment decision to go into the market to develop a marine supply base to support the Shell prelude project to be progressed as a floating LNG project - the first floating LNG project Shell is undertaking to support the development of Petrel Tern by GDF Suez, who are developing the Petrel Tern field as floating LNG. Even if we fought to have Sunrise onshore - if that is going to be developed as floating LNG - we can claim second prize and service and supply those platforms from the Port of Darwin. This is the next big project for our economy. Securing INPEX will be huge in itself with the capital spend and the jobs and the ongoing multipliers the project will have. However, the icing on the cake is to develop the Port of Darwin as the service and supply base for the oil and gas sector for the region, taking business out of Perth and Singapore, consolidating that business in Darwin and supporting this industry from Darwin. It is bold, it is visionary, and the expressions of interest we have in the marketplace for a joint venture, or a PPP arrangement, close next week. I have been advised a number of very exciting bids have come in. There has been international interest in this project as well as strong, Australian and local interest. People have confidence, and it is very exciting to see - exciting times ahead. I did not hear all the debate, however, it has ranged fairly widely. The opposition has made comments, some supportive, some derisive, some that had nothing to do with this project at all; that may be as it may be. The reality is we are in the marketplace with an expression of interest document which closes next week. We are looking to short-list those expressions of interest by the end of the year and formally go out to bid before Christmas with a short-listed group of proponents. So, exciting times ahead and not only great for our business sector and business community, also a real opportunity to build capacity in an institution I am very proud of as Chief Minister and am enormously supportive of - our university - to use the economic growth we have at the moment to support capacity building and expansion of course offerings and an increase in overseas students coming to our university. This is all going to come on the back of economic growth, diversifying our economic base and being supportive of our university. I thank honourable members for their contributions. I came back to the Chamber to hear the tail end of the member for Sandersons contribution, much of which had nothing to do with a marine supply base. I am becoming tired of the doom and gloom from the member for Sanderson. I do not know what happy pills he has to take, but jeepers creepers, if there is ever a doom and gloom merchant in this parliament it is the member for Sanderson. I rarely see him with a smile on his face; I do not know what needs to happen for him to jolly up. Everywhere he goes he has the weight of the world on his shoulders; a big black cloud is hanging over his head and the Territory is a terrible place - it is awful. There is no hope for my children. I would like to read the Hansard - if things continue what hope is there for our children and what hope is there for small business in the Territory? The burdens are so crushing. This is such a terrible place; I cannot walk down the streets at night; I cannot take the dog for a walk. My goodness! Where do you live, member for Sanderson? Where do you live? It is not the Darwin I live in. It is not the people I know in Darwin. It is not the people who have grown their businesses and are excited about opportunities in the Northern Territory. It is about people who are excited for their families in the Northern Territory, and seeing a wonderful Territory for their children to grow up in. It is about people who promote the Territory for all the great things happening here. No, the member for Sanderson has this black cloud over his head. Jeepers, creepers, lighten up! The world I live in is not such a terrible place. Yes, we have our problems. Every community, every society, has problems. However, if you really get into a funk and see everything through a glass half-empty - the glass half-empty member for Sanderson is all doom and gloom. Well, heaven help! I would not like to walk in your shoes, member for Sanderson; I would never have a smile on my face. I must admit, by and large, I am a pretty happy-go-lucky sort of a bloke. Having said that, I see the Territory going ahead in leaps and bounds. Most people I know, or meet as Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, are excited about the future of the Northern Territory. Business people are excited about the future of the Northern Territory. I had lunch with my colleague, the minister for Business, and we were walking back through the mall. The minister for Business said: Come and meet this guy who has just opened up a new hamburger place in the Victoria Arcade. Rob had met him recently; we went in and shook hands. Here is someone who has come from Melbourne to start a new business and is full of enthusiasm. Business is going really well; he wished he had made the move years ago. The wife and kids are happy, and he is looking at opening two more businesses. 6535