Rod Kemp (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for the Arts and Sport) Share this | Hansard source

Senator, I try to help you and you try to help me. That is because we are in a chamber where we like to see what we can do to assist each other. I have indicated that essential services will be supplied. They are not dependent on 99-year leases. I have indicated to you that the vast proportion of those essential services will probably be provided through the Northern Territory government. Where there are decisions on essential services provided by the Commonwealth government, they will not require 99-year leases.

We can nut all of this out—what an essential service is and the rest of it—but I hope my assurance gives you a degree of comfort; I am not convinced that it does. In relation to, for example, schooling in the Tiwi Islands, I understand that that is essentially a private service. So we are talking about matters which can be considered over and above essential services. It seems to me that they are things that the Northern Territory government certainly wants. As I said, it certainly seems to me to be an important principle.

As far as essential services go, there is the famous quote that I read out on my briefing note that Senator Evans has decided to provide some blistering insight on. It says, ‘The new township leasing arrangements are entirely voluntary and no-one will be required to enter into a township lease in order to obtain essential services.’ That is what I read out and the Hansard will show that.