24 July 2016 - Member for Nightcliff Natasha Fyles today outlined how a Labor Government would preserve the Territory’s precious marine resources.
Ms Fyles said Territory Labor understood that protecting marine ecosystems was crucial for creating jobs, maintaining our lifestyle and safeguarding indigenous cultural values.
“The Territory is home to unique and precious marine habitats,” Ms Fyles said.
“These habitats support an incredible array of flora and fauna, thousands of jobs in our fishing, tourism, aquaculture and research industries, and are a crucial source of cultural value for Indigenous Territorians.
“There are many threats facing the health of our marine environment.
“Recent mangrove deaths and coral bleaching both in the Territory and across Australia show the vulnerability of these ecosystems to changes in climate.
“A Territory Labor Government will manage our marine resources by listening to the community, respecting science and investing in innovative partnerships and programs which build knowledge and management capabilities.
A Territory Labor Government will:
Together with Territory Labor’s polices to support Indigenous ranger groups, strengthen and streamline environmental regulation, and sustainably manage our ground water resources, these new initiatives provide for an integrated and science based approach to protecting these vital habitats.
“Unfortunately climate change is not the only threat facing the Territory’s marine environment,” Ms Fyles said.
“The appalling record of Adam Giles and his CLP Government includes:
“Our marine environment and the jobs, lifestyles and culture that rely on it simply can’t afford another four years of Adam Giles and his CLP Government.”
RECURRENT COSTS OF THE DARWIN HARBOUR / LIMMEN BIGHT PROPOSAL
ITEM
2016-17 $ m
2017-18 $ m
2018-19 $ m
2019-20 $ m
Research Grant CDU
0.2
Costs associated with
Limmen Bight
MEDIA CONTACT: Cameron Angus 0404 021 192
24 July 2016 - Shadow Environment Minister and Member for Barkly, Gerry McCarthy, today announced how a Territory Labor Government would safeguard the future of Limmen Bight while creating jobs and protecting lifestyle and culture.
Mr McCarthy said the creation of Limmen Bight Marine Park by Labor in 2012 had been a big step forward, but unfortunately progressed had stalled under Adam Giles and his CLP Government.
“Limmen Bight is a special part of the Gulf, rich in marine life, including extensive seagrass beds and mangrove forests supporting commercial and recreational fishing, and the Territory’s largest population of dugongs, as well as dolphins and turtles,” Mr McCarthy said.
“Limmen Bight is iconic for Territory anglers, for its catches of mud crabs, barramundi reef fish and prawns.
“However, this important area like many others along our coast is faced with new and concerning pressures including seabed mining and extensive mangrove die-off.
“By the end of 2019 a Territory Labor Government will complete Limmen Bight Marine Park by finalising sensible, science based and well consulted management arrangements.”
A Territory Labor Government will invest $400 000 to:
“Labor’s plan while provide an innovative model of marine management which protects biodiversity, respects indigenous culture, safeguards lifestyle and creates sustainable jobs,” Mr McCarthy said.
“Only Labor can be trusted to get it right and protect Limmen Bight.”
18 July 2016 - Territory Labor Leader Michael Gunner today announced plans to support Indigenous Rangers protect the environment and create jobs right across the Northern Territory.
Mr Gunner said Territory Labor understands the crucial frontline role Indigenous Rangers play in understanding and protecting valuable ecosystems and providing employment opportunities for Indigenous Territorians in their own communities.
“Our $14m plan will provide jobs on country, improve our knowledge of the Territory environment and the best way to protect it and give local Indigenous Territorians more say over their land and their future,” Mr Gunner said.
“We want to give ranger groups the state of the art technology and tools they need to do their job, the legislative recognition and support they deserve and additional funds to forge for new and innovative employment and conservation partnerships.
“Our ecosystems are under threat from the effects of climate change and recent coral bleaching and mangrove death events are extremely concerning given their importance for our environment but also the economic opportunity they provide through our tourism and fishing industries.
“The work of ranger groups is crucial if we are to understand the impacts of climate change and create new and innovative ways to give our ecosystems the best chance to adapt.”
“Recent reports that the CLP’s Commonwealth Indigenous Affairs Minister plans to drastically cut the Indigenous ranger program are extremely concerning.
“Territorians simply can’t trust Adam Giles and the CLP to back Indigenous rangers and protect our unique environment.”
29 February 2016 - Territory Labor Leader Michael Gunner today announced Labor’s plan to protect our unique natural assets while giving business and industry the certainty and confidence to invest.
Mr Gunner said that Territory Labor understands a healthy and intact ecosystem is the key to a sustainable economy, healthy and safe communities and ensuring future generations can experience the natural beauty and wonder the Territory has to offer.
“Protecting the environment is smart economic and social policy,” Mr Gunner said.
“Adam Giles and the CLP destroyed trust and confidence in Government to protect the environment and manage development sustainably.
“A Labor Government will restore trust and confidence in our environmental protection processes through the following reforms:
“A Labor Government will work constructively with business, industry, environment groups and the community to implement these reforms in a way that protects the environment and creates jobs.”
A Territory Labor Government will provide funding to key environmental groups to employ policy officers, including:
Click here for the Healthy Environment, Strong Economy policy document.
Media Contact: Gino Luglietti 0401 119 794
25 May 2016 - Labor Leader Michael Gunner today outlined his alternative 2016 Territory Budget saying a Labor Government will grow jobs, invest in children and restore integrity to government.
GROWING TERRITORY JOBS
Michael Gunner said that growing Territory jobs is an urgent task for any Government elected in August.
“We have seen a loss of jobs across the Territory with worse to come when the Inpex construction phase is finished.
“To grow jobs Labor will:
Michael Gunner has said that the Labor Government will get the money flowing through the Territory economy by:
“The Territory economy is in a deep hole. We are losing jobs. When we lose jobs, we lose people interstate.
“Labor will create jobs right across the Territory. Labor’s infrastructure investment will be focussed on repairs and maintenance and small works projects.
“This stimulus will be implemented with Labor’s tough Buy Local policy making sure that the jobs stay local.
Michael Gunner said that Labor’s infrastructure stimulus projects will be announced over the coming months but will include:
FIRST HOME BUYERS PACKAGE
Michael Gunner also announced $34 000 for first home buyers across the Territory.
Michael Gunner said the introduction of a first home buyers package was designed to reduce the cost of living for first home buyers, getting them to invest in the Territory and stimulating the Territory housing and building industry.
“Under Labor’s plan, the first $500 000 of any existing home purchased by a first home buyer will be exempt from stamp duty. This will be capped at homes valued at $650 000.
“This will result in first home buyers saving $24 000 in costs.
“Additionally, first home buyers purchasing an existing home will be eligible for a $10 000 first home owners renovation package that can be spent on renovations and the purchase of white goods and household furniture (up to $2000), provided those purchases are made in local stores.
“First home buyers purchasing a new home will retain the current $26 000 grant, and in addition to this, will receive $2 000 for purchase of white goods and furniture, provided those purchases are made in local stores.
“This package will be available for two years and will result in jobs being created right across the small contractors industry,” Michael Gunner said.
CHINA / INDIA TOURISM INJECTION
Michael Gunner said that tourism will be an important part of stimulating more jobs in the Territory.
“We have to take advantage of the low Australian dollar. Right now, Darwin airport is reporting fewer international arrivals. We have to address this.
“Labor will add $5 million over the next two years to add to funds targeting Chinese tourists. We also want to spread that focus to Indian tourists - who are now a large part of our international arrivals.
“We believe that India has been ignored in our push into Asia and it is now important to include this fast growing economy into our sight.”
INVESTING IN CHILDREN
Michael Gunner has repeated his commitment to investing in children and the early childhood years.
“I said a Labor Government will be defined by its commitment to children, and I mean it.
“Labor will extend the Nurse Family Partnership Program with an additional $8 million over 4 years. This will see more Child Health nurses and more home visits from nurses to newly pregnant women. This program has been successful in reducing parental smoking, fewer injuries for children, improved home environments and closer monitoring of child progress and welfare.
“Labor will also re-invest an additional $124 million into Territory schools over four years beginning on January 1, 2017. This will consist of:
RESTORING TRUST AND INTEGRITY
Michael Gunner said that restoring trust and integrity to government is the third goal of a Labor Government.
“No one needs to be told of the scandals that have beset this Government.
“Four years of the CLP’s dodgy deals, jobs for mates and an arrogant disdain for transparency and accountability has seen Territorians’ trust in Government hit rock bottom.
“Labor will introduce a Northern Territory Independent Commission Against Corruption.
It will:
“We also understand that restoring trust in Government requires tackling the perception that large donations influence important public policy considerations, that private interest can trump the public interest.
“Over the coming weeks I will announce the most comprehensive reforms to electoral donation laws in the Territory’s history.
“These reforms will give Territorians the confidence that the public interest, and not the size of your wallet, determines public policy in the Northern Territory,” Michael Gunner said.
Media contact: Gino Luglietti – 0401 119 794
7 December 2015 - The CLP have once again failed to protect our environment for refusing to prosecute breaches to environmental development guidelines, even though they promised to do so well over a year ago to date.
In April 2014, then CLP Lands and Planning Minister, Peter Chandler, said the Development Consent Authority (DCA) would pursue a legal case against a landowner who was found to have breached their development application and cleared 4ha of native vegetation.
I cannot ask the public to have faith in the government’s planning processes if they’re not enforced when there has been a clear breach. – Then Planning Minister Peter Chandler April 2014
In contradiction to this earlier statement, on December 4 2015, the current CLP Minister for Lands and Planning, David Tollner, has instead claimed there’s no case to be made.
The DCA could not prepare a viable case to prosecute those responsible. – Office of Current Planning Minister David Tollner December 2015
“This proves the CLP can’t be trusted to keep their word and they can’t be trusted to protect our environment,” said Natasha Fyles.
“Territorians deserve to know why the CLP doesn’t think there is a case here when there is a clear breach of the rules in place to protect our environment.
“The impact of this clearing will have detrimental effects to our environment and locals who will now be subject to increased risk of flooding.
“The rules are in place for a reason, but when a Government doesn’t uphold those rules, then we must ask the question what is the point of having those rules?
“David Tollner and the CLP must explain why they believe there is no case – it is not good enough to wave the issue aside.
“We saw a very similar ‘nothing to see here’ attitude when the CLP was caught-out for not implementing a critical environmental impact statement for the port at Melville Island; instead they chose to argue that it was not a port. The CLP can’t be trusted to keep their word or protect our environment.”
Media contact: Gino Luglietti 0401 119 794
15 October 2015 - Territorians don’t trust Adam Giles when he says there will be no jobs lost as a result of his sale of the Darwin Port, Nicole Manison, Shadow Minister for Government Accountability, said today.
“This CLP government has form. They keep selling off our public assets and saying to the workers ‘Your job is safe, nothing will change’. Then before we know it Territorians are facing job losses and cuts to conditions,” Ms Manison said.
THEN: "Jobs are secure, employee entitlements are preserved and all permanent staff will be able to transfer to the new operator."
CLP Transport Minister Peter Styles, ABC News, 6 December 2013
LATER: “Darwin's bus drivers are "devastated" by the loss of paid lunch breaks following the bus service's privatisation, according to the transport workers' union.”
ABC News, 30 October 2014
THEN: “Under this new model nothing changes for customers. The TIO name remains, branches stay open, policies stay the same, flood and storm surge cover continues and staff keep their jobs.
CLP Chief Minister Adam Giles, Media release, 24 November 2014
LATER: “Fourty-three TIO/Allianz employees will lose their jobs just five months after the Giles Government sold the insurer and told them their jobs were safe.”
NT News, 30 April 2015
NOW: “This morning, Mr Giles told 105.7 ABC Darwin he could also guarantee permanent workers would keep their jobs to 2018.”
Asked if any workers would lose their jobs after 2018, Mr Giles answered in the negative.
ABC News, 14 October 2015
“The evidence is clear - you just can’t trust Adam Giles and the CLP to protect Territory jobs," Ms Manison said.
Media Contact: Gino Luglietti – 0401 119 794