Records 1994

Following on from the Kennedy Report (1992), and the release of “Directions for Tourism Development – A Discussion Paper” released in 1993, Cabinet endorsed the release of the draft Northern Territory Tourism Development Masterplan.

The Masterplan was “designed to guide both Government and the industry in setting directions for tourism development of the Northern Territory over the next five years, to 1999”.

The plan provided statistics relating to international and national tourism trends, including the countries of origin of visitors, with the NT recording most visitors from the UK, followed by the rest of Europe, Japan and the United States. Growth markets were expected to be Japan and Asia. While domestic travel figures had been static for most states, the NT had seen the highest average annual growth of 17% between 1988 and 1993.

There were approximately 917,000 visitors to the Northern Territory in 1992/93, with interstate visitors making up 46% of the total, 24% were from overseas and 30% from the NT.

The plan recommended the implementation of a Park Development Strategy to establish a framework for sustainable use and enjoyment of the Territory’s natural features.

Niche markets such as fishing, fossicking, bird watching, gambling, sporting events, nature-based tourism, conventions, cattle stations and farm stays and backpackers were identified.

Henley on Todd, 1994 Image courtesy of Library & Archives NT, NT Tourist Commission, NTRS 4967/P1, Box 2, Item [15] unnumbered

A separate discussion paper on Aboriginal Cultural Tourism was to be tabled (Submission no. 6958). One of the recommendations was to ensure that Aboriginal Cultural Tourism occurred at a pace and in a manner dictated by the aspirations of Aboriginal people themselves.

The strategy included a heritage trail and heritage attractions, four-wheel drive tracks, passport to Territory parks, air links and investor packages.

A separate strategy was submitted for the “Northern Territory Tourism Aviation Strategy” (Submission no. 6959).

Read the Cabinet decision: Submission No. 6957/Decision No. 8277 of 13th May 1994/Volume 440C PDF (67.5 MB)

Cabinet endorsed the tabling of the “Aboriginal Tourism - Discussion Paper” and circulation of the paper to generate discussion and comment from Aboriginal organisations and authorities involved in the delivery of tourism related services to Aboriginal groups.

The draft discussion paper was jointly prepared by the NT Tourist Commission and the Office of Aboriginal Development.

The discussion paper drew on deliberations of the June 1993 Indigenous Australians and Tourism Conference in Darwin, and work on Aboriginal tourism undertaken in conjunction with the Tourism Development Masterplan.

“Government’s role in the development of Aboriginal cultural tourism is one of support. Recommendations which follow in this document reflect that position, addressing infrastructure development, assistance with business planning and education and training.”

The 17 recommendations related to marketing, research, joint ventures, parks, land, cultural centres, festivals, service infrastructure, aboriginal awareness, education and training, new enterprises and ongoing liaison.

Read the Cabinet decision: Submission No. 6958/Decision No. 8278 of 13th May 1994/Volume 440C PDF (62.0 MB)

Cabinet endorsed the tabling of the Northern Territory Tourism Aviation Strategy and its public release.

The Tourism Aviation Strategy was jointly collated by the Northern Territory Tourist Commission and the Department of Transport and Works, with comments sought from pertinent industry and key stakeholders.

The objectives of the strategy were:

• The establishment of Darwin as a significant domestic/international hub for Northern Australia
• The expansion of frequency and capacity of existing international, interstate and intra-territory air services
• The development of new air routes to and within the Northern Territory, including International Services to Central Australia
• The development of regional services linking key tourist destinations.

Read the Cabinet decision:

Submission No. 6959/Decision No. 8279 of 13th May 1994/Volume 440C (deferred, contains submission) PDF (25.7 MB)

Submission No. 6959/Decision No. 8295 of 1st July 1994/Volume 442 PDF (1.2 MB)

Cabinet endorsed the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia’s Biological Diversity.

The strategy was prepared by the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council in consultation with key industry stakeholders. The goal of the Strategy was to “protect biological diversity and maintain ecological processes and systems”.

The 9 principles of the strategy included that the close, traditional association of Australia’s Indigenous peoples with components of biological diversity should be recognised, as should the desirability of sharing equitably benefits arising from the innovative use of traditional knowledge of biological diversity.

The strategy also supported research into the potential impacts of climate change on biological diversity. The final strategy was published in 1996.

Read the Cabinet decision: Submission No. 6843/Decision No. 8125 of 4th March 1994/Volume 434 PDF (61.7 MB)

Cabinet approved the provision of Capital Works funding for the development of the Desert Wildlife Park and released the Masterplan and Executive Report for public comment.

The submission consisted of the Appendices to the Desert Wildlife Park and Botanic Gardens Alice Springs Masterplan (January 1994) which described the habitat characteristics and display potential; building schedule of accommodation; goals and objectives; site analysis; site selection, alternative concept plans, staged cost estimates; exhibition capacity and duration; project development structure and costs; representative plants and animals; environmental construction and stormwater design guidelines; infrastructure and service requirements; and broad site selection.

The concept drawings included a nocturnal exhibit, restaurant, woodland trail, wetlands exhibit and show venue. Representative species consisted of thorny devils, red kangaroos, dingoes, bilbies, princess parrots, wedge-tailed eagles, malas, red tailed phascogale, pygmy mulga monitor and western quoll.

In the December decision, Cabinet approved further funding for the establishment and ongoing operations of the Park.

The Alice Springs Desert Park opened in March 1997.

Read the Cabinet decision:

Submission No. 6867/ 15th March 1994 (page 3 only) PDF (674.4 KB)

Submission No. 6869/Decision No. 8156 of 15th March 1994/Volume 435B PDF (59.8 MB)

Submission No. 7120/Decision No. 8492 of 2nd December 1994/Volume 454 PDF (29.5 MB)

Cabinet noted the document “Bushfire Management in the Northern Territory” and approved it for distribution.

The primary purposes of the strategy document were to prevent and control wildfires; to manage fire in non-urban areas in order to maintain diversity of species and ecosystems, and to manage fire so as to improve future rural productivity. The actions identified were fire management and control; fire suppression; smoke management; monitoring and research; promotion; training, and education.

A discussion paper aimed at identifying and considering community concern regarding the prevention and control measures used to effect fire management in the Territory was circulated for public comment during 1993. The responses were considered by the Committee of Bushfires Council in the development of the strategy document submitted. The Committee included representatives from the CSIRO, NT Fire Service, NT Cattlemen’s Association, Conservation Commission, and the Bushfires Council.

Issues raised included the use of fire as a bona fide tool of land management; a method of not only protecting life and property, but reducing the risk of economic loss as a consequence of uncontrolled bushfires. Concerns had been raised about smoke pollution and “burning off” as “aesthetically unpleasing and therefore damaging to a rapidly growing tourism industry”.

Low intensity prescribed burning was recognised as being one of the most important tools available to land managers for the safe and effective control of wildfires. The Strategy was to be released to the public in conjunction with the annual Bushfire Awareness Campaign conducted by the Bushfires Council early in the dry season. The primary considerations of the strategy were the fire management objectives of the Bush Fires Council – the protection of life, assets and the environment from the effects of uncontrolled fire and the maintenance of ecosystems and associated resources through the use of appropriate fire regimes.

The strategy stressed the need for public acceptance of fuel reduction taking place at a time of the year when fires are safer and easier to control, and the daily cycle of weather conditions presents greater opportunities for control and self-extinguishment.

Read the Cabinet decision: Submission No. 6852/Decision No. 8139 of 15th March 1994/Volume 435A PDF (37.5 MB)

Cabinet approved the Conservation Strategy for the Northern Territory, noting the key actions identified in the document to be undertaken as funding becomes available.

The strategy recommended a new government initiative for State of Environment (SOE) reporting. The strategy was underpinned by a range of programs including the Crocodile Management Plan, Bushfire Management, Waste Minimisation and Recycling and the Decade of Landcare Plan.

The strategy had four major goals:

• The conservation of existing biological diversity
• The conservation of natural and cultural heritage
• The sustainable utilisation of natural resources
• The maintenance of a clean, healthy environment.

Read the Cabinet decision: Submission No. 6886/Decision No. 8187 of 29th March 1994/Volume 437

In February 1994, Cabinet approved the drafting of amendments to the Evidence Act to enable evidence of vulnerable persons to be given by closed-circuit television. Vulnerable witnesses would be relieved of the threat of intimidation of being in the same room as the accused. The decision was based on recommendations of the Working Party on Sexual Abuse: the Giving of Evidence. The Evidence Amendment Bill 1994 (Serial 309) was passed on 3 March 1994.

In July, Cabinet approved leasing arrangements and funding for the installation of closed-circuit television facilities for court buildings in Darwin, Alice Springs and Katherine to allow witnesses to give evidence via closed circuit television, and sought further information regarding the requirement for similar equipment in other centres.

Read the Cabinet decision:

Submission No. 6802/Decision No. 8071 of 1st February 1994/Volume 431 [Evidence Act] PDF (38.7 MB)

Submission No. 6977/Decision No. 8309 of 7th July 1994/Volume 442 [CCTV] PDF (13.4 MB)

In April, Cabinet approved the amendment of the Pay-roll Tax Act to increase the threshold for liability to pay tax, and to provide a concession for graduate trainees.

The amendments to the Act addressed the increase in wages in line with inflation and aimed to overcome the effect of bracket creep for those employers whose payrolls had increased as a consequence of inflation. The proposal was seen as reducing the impact of tax on employment by small employers.

The amendment bill was approved at the May meeting. The Pay-roll Tax Amendment Bill was passed on 29th June and commenced on 1 July.

Amendments to the Pay-roll Tax Regulations 1994 commenced 14 December 1994 provided concessions for graduate trainees. The increased concessions provided an incentive for employers to train recent graduates and provide avenues for employment of the increasing graduate output from the Northern Territory University and TAFE. The amended regulations also enabled the Commissioner of Taxes to refund trainee graduates for the first six months of their employment after 1 July 1994.

Read the Cabinet decision:

Submission No. 6902/Decision No. 8213 of 19 April 1994/Volume 438A PDF (9.8 MB)

Submission No. 5955/Decision No. 8275 of 13 May 1994/Volume 440C PDF (20.2 MB)

Cabinet approved the tabling of “Looking Ahead, A Plan of Action for Women in the Northern Territory 2000” in the Legislative Assembly. The plan was tabled in Parliament on 1 December 1994.

The plan built on the work of the draft “Northern Territory Women’s Strategy” and followed the “Initiatives for Women in the Northern Territory 1983-1993”. The NT Government’s plan had four key goals:

• To improve women’s status in society
• To increase women’s economic security and independence
• To eliminate violence against women
• To improve the health and well-being of Territory women.

Read the Cabinet decision:

Submission No. 6899/Decision No. 8204 of 12th April 1994/Volume 437 (Deferred) PDF (61.4 MB)

Submission No. 6899/Decision No. 8210 of 19th April 1994/Volume 438A PDF (34.9 MB)

Submission No. 7090/Decision No. 8450 of 15th November 1994/Volume 45 PDF (73.0 MB)

In March 1994, the Chief Minister launched the policy for community consultation. Cabinet endorsed the Northern Territory Women in Sport and Recreation draft policy that aimed to enhance the participation of women in sport and recreation. The policy reflected the intent of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1992. At the time of the submission, women made up 47.9% of the Northern Territory population with three quarters of the female population being under the age of 40. Participation in physical activity for females was 17.4% lower than that by males (according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics).

The policy focused on the areas of education, funding, sponsorship and promotion, media, program development and evaluation, access, and leadership and administration.

Read the Cabinet decision: Submission No. 7132/Decision No. 8507 of 13th December 1994/Volume 455 PDF (23.5 MB)

Cabinet endorsed the Northern Territory Integrated Settlement Plan (1994-1998) to enable it to be tabled at the Conference of Ministers for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs.

The plan aligned with the National Integrated Settlement Strategy developed in 1991.

The background to the plan states that the NT comprised only 1% of Australia’s population, as at the 1991 Census. The top five countries of origin for the NT were the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Vietnam. This differed from the general Australian population total which was led by the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Vietnam, New Zealand and then the Philippines.

At the time, 18.6% of the Northern Territory population were born overseas and 50% were from non-English speaking backgrounds. Migrant components were 48% family migrants, 39% skilled migrants, 8.3% special eligibility (primarily New Zealand migrants) and 4% humanitarian migrants.

Hong Kong and the United Kingdom were the biggest source countries of skilled migrants.

The plan focused on issues such as access and equity, English language and literacy, housing, health, isolation, employment and overseas qualifications, refugee needs, legal issues, and police.

The plan involved the three tiers of government as well as community organisations.

Read the Cabinet decision: Submission No. 6850/Decision No. 8133 of 8th March 1994/Volume 434 PDF (52.5 MB)

Cabinet endorsed the Aboriginal Employment and Career Development Strategy for the Northern Territory Public Sector.

The strategy sought to increase the employment rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within the mainstream NT Public Sector by providing a range of appropriate recruitment and career development programs.

The strategy was developed within the framework of the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 1993 which required the development of equal opportunity programs. The strategy was developed in consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation and individuals.

Read the Cabinet decision: Submission No. 6944/Decision No. 8264 of 13th May 1994/Volume 440A PDF (45.9 MB)