C:\Documents and Settings\Shane L. Stone\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\Y3JKS1XW\Stone First Speech 4 December 1990.doc First Speech 4 December 1990

Mr STONE (Port Darwin): Mr Speaker, I extend my congratulations on your election and thank this House and its members for their indulgence in permitting me to make this speech at this time. I share a belief with others in this Chamber that, one day, the Territory will take its place as a state in the Commonwealth. I came to the Territory with a very specific goal in mind. I wanted to be part of the formation of a new state of the Commonwealth. I wanted to live through the type of constitutional experience which the fathers of federation underwent in the late 1800s, culminating in the declaration of the Commonwealth in 1901.

I am an Australian first. I was born here, as were my parents and grandparents. Indeed, I am a descendant of a First Fleet convict, Aileen Wainwright alias Esther Eccles and, in times to come, much may be made of that fact by honourable members on the other side of this Chamber. But, while I am an Australian first, it is as a Territorian that I have entered this parliament.

I first came to the Territory in 1982 as associate to Sir Edward Woodward who presided, at the time, over the Royal Commission into the Australian meat industry. Sir Edward was well known in the Territory. He held commissions as a Federal and a Territory Court judge, and he remains my mentor and friend. I was admitted as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of the in that same year and, in the following 4 years, I travelled regularly to the Territory as a barrister briefed by the Northern Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service and by its Katherine counterpart.

In January of 1986, my wife Josephine and I moved from Melbourne to Alice Springs to live. The next 3 years were spent in central , where we established the law firm of Buckley & Stone, and it was in Alice Springs that I first sought election to this House in 1987. As history will record, I was soundly defeated by the then member for Sadadeen, now the honourable member for Greatorex. That I persevered was due largely to the support and encouragement of the retired Senator and former member of this House, . As well, I owe a great deal to the class of '74, to my predecessor, Tom Harris, to the former member for Katherine, Roger Steele, and to the honourable members for Braitling, Casuarina and Fannie Bay. C:\Documents and Settings\Shane L. Stone\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\Y3JKS1XW\Stone First Speech 4 December 1990.doc

Josephine and I moved to Darwin in February 1989 to further expand our legal practice. Some would claim that I am a relative newcomer to the Territory, but I am here by choice and commitment, having originally departed my home town of Wodonga, where both my parents served in public office, so that I would make my own mark in my own name. It would be remiss were I not to acknowledge the influence of both my parents, the late Les Stone and my mother Pam Stone. They have the unique distinction of having each served as Mayor of the rural city of Wodonga, which is part of the very successful decentralisation program initiated by Prime Minister Whitlam in the early 1970s. My late father left me with a sense of determination and commitment to public service, and he would have been very proud to see his son serve in this parliament.

My mother, Pam Stone, who still serves on the Wodonga City Council, has the added distinction of being the first woman ever elected to that city council and the first woman ever elected as Mayor. She has set an example for me of the importance of serving the community with honesty and integrity and has demonstrated the very valuable and equal role that women have to play in the political process. She travelled to Darwin to be with me on election night but, unfortunately, cannot be here with me today.

Page 43

Mine was a childhood developed by political activity of one kind or another. Whether it was local government, state or federal elections, the Stone family was always in the forefront of activity championing the cause of the then Victorian Country Party. Despite Labor sympathies of previous generations, my family was a casualty of the infamous DLP/ALP split of the 1950s. There was to be no turning back, but it did not follow that strong beliefs in the equality of men, the importance of the trade union movement, and the merits of the working class were to be thrown to the wind - quite to the contrary. It has been a fundamental mistake of the Australian Labor Party to believe that it alone holds a mortgage on the political aspirations and beliefs of ordinary working Australians. In that sense, I have been particularly lucky to have had the benefit of an upbringing tempered by a Christian Brothers and De La Salle Brothers education, which has prepared me well for the task that now lies ahead.

C:\Documents and Settings\Shane L. Stone\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\Y3JKS1XW\Stone First Speech 4 December 1990.doc I am very pleased that my wife, Josephine, is present in the Chamber today. Over the years, she has shared my efforts, excitements and disappointments with a special loyalty and commitment. My son, Jack, was born in Darwin in August of last year. It is a matter of immense pride to Josephine and I to lay claim to a Territory-born child. The fact is that population is the key to the Territory's continued success, growth and eventual statehood.

It is my privilege to represent the in this parliament, a party of great ideals and principles, which has shaped the destiny of the Territory before and after self-government. I had the very great honour of serving as president of the party until my preselection for the seat of Port Darwin in August of this year. I am the second president of this party to be elected to this House, following George Eric Manuell, member for Alice Springs, who was elected in 1976.

As the member for Port Darwin, I follow in the footsteps of 2 great Territorians, the late Ron Withnall and the recently- retired Tom Harris. History will record that Ron Withnall was a fearless and uncompromising advocate of self-government and statehood for the Territory. He did a great deal to advance the cause of the Territory, both in this Chamber and in the Legislative Council. The motion of condolence moved in this House on Tuesday 25 September of this year tells of a man who gave unstintingly of himself to the Territory. As for my immediate predecessor, Tom Harris, he has been described invariably as an honest and dedicated politician who has given of himself over 13 years of parliamentary service. Yesterday, I heard the Chief Minister describe Tom as a 'fair dinkum good bloke, straight as a die'. He too had the example of a mother and father dedicated to the public and with a belief in the future of the Territory. Tom Harris will be remembered as an outstanding Minister for Education in the Territory.

As for the electorate of Port Darwin, it encompasses the very foundations on which this city is built. Many of the old families of northern Australia and their descendants are to be found in the Port Darwin electorate. These include the names Withnall, Harris, Tambling, Chin, Ah Toy, Jettner, Liveris, Fisher, Haritos, Anthony, Paspalis, Fong Lim, Savvas and Perkins, to record but a few. It is the home of our Chief Minister, the honourable member for Fannie Bay, and Senator Grant Tambling, and of Joe Fisher and Harry Giese, both of whom are former members of the Legislative C:\Documents and Settings\Shane L. Stone\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\Y3JKS1XW\Stone First Speech 4 December 1990.doc Council. All are men who have served the Territory with distinction and, in that sense, the electorate is a kaleidoscope of Territory history.

Page 44

Many of the Top End's historic buildings are to be found in the electorate. All other electorates in the Northern Territory are dependent on Port Darwin in one way or another. Most Northern Territory departments, this honourable Assembly, the Commonwealth government departments, the Darwin City Council Civic Centre, the Chief Minister and ministers of the Crown, the Administrator and the Law Courts are to be found in this electorate. Businesses which service the city include clothing stores, restaurants, variety stores and souvenir shops whilst, not far from the city centre, there are car saleyards, ships stores and service stations, not to mention the wharves and slipways. Of course, the electorate is also home to the defence forces, army and navy. Over 3000 Territorians reside in the electorate and many more than that number work here.

As I embark on my parliamentary career, in my capacity as member for Port Darwin, Minister for Education and the Arts and Minister for Employment and Training, I recognise and acknowledge the enormous responsibility that has been placed on me. Mr Speaker, as the member for Port Darwin, I have made a firm commitment to clean up the electorate's parks and gardens. I have endorsed publicly the underlying philosophy of the Future Directions of Darwin document and compliment members of the Darwin design group on their work. My electors will find me a tireless advocate on their behalf, without fear or favour.

Education and the process of schooling is as fundamental as good health. Like my father before me, I was a primary teacher before turning to law. I must confess a certain pride and yet a twinge of anguish at being returned to the classroom, but I recognise the enormous challenge that has been set before me. Teaching remains one of the highest professions to which one can be called as it embraces the weighty responsibility of the formation of young minds and their translation to the wider community.

The Northern Territory has a well-developed education system, notwithstanding certain conditions unique to the Territory. We have a higher proportion of students from non-English-speaking backgrounds than any Australian state. Despite the vast distances between major population C:\Documents and Settings\Shane L. Stone\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\Y3JKS1XW\Stone First Speech 4 December 1990.doc centres, communication difficulties, harsh weather, geographical and social isolation, the Territory must meet the needs of Territorians in urban and remote areas, including the Territory's large population of Aboriginal people. The programs required cover the whole range from preschool through primary and secondary levels to TAFE and higher education.

The education of our youth is a shared responsibility. This government will continue to encourage Northern Territory schools and school councils to develop action plans for school improvement and to accept the devolution of administrative responsibility for their schools. This government supports and promotes decision-making at the school level so that all those affected by those decisions - parents, teachers and students - can take part in the decision-making process. Developments in the areas of curriculum and assessment in the Northern Territory are being guided by a widely representative Board of Studies. The introduction of Year 10 exams was both well-timed and educationally sound. I look to the Board of Studies with confidence for new initiatives in curriculum design and assessment in the time ahead.

Technical and further education, commonly referred to as TAFE, is approaching a decade which will see major and lasting changes to the ways in which vocational education and training are delivered, and to the ways in which funding is obtained. This applies to the whole of Australia, not only to the Territory. The next decade will see the end of many traditional

Page 45 occupations and far more diverse methods of entry into skilled, semi-skilled and technical occupations. TAFE will become far more responsive to the changing industrial and training demands which will be increasingly reflected in Australian society. TAFE has a crucial role to play in developing and delivering the vocational education skills which are vital to a clever country and to Australia's economic survival.

There is an increasing number of non-government schools of high standing throughout the Territory that offer parents a range of educational alternatives for their children. This government supports choice in education. The Northern Territory University is one of this government's proudest achievements. Developments in higher education include the C:\Documents and Settings\Shane L. Stone\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\Y3JKS1XW\Stone First Speech 4 December 1990.doc establishment of a Chair of Tourism, and the proposed introduction of a Batchelor of Hospitality Management and a Master of Business Management. These will complement a wide range of undergraduate courses already on offer. The government will continue its considerable financial commitment to the university to encourage our youth to remain in the Territory.

The Menzies School of Health Research is a first for the Territory, and it is recognised nationally and internationally as a centre of scientific excellence. In health research, the school has made an invaluable contribution to promoting improvement in health and advancing knowledge in the fields of health research and health education, and in facilitating training and post-graduate research relevant to people living in tropical and central Australia.

One ministerial responsibility that I am embracing with considerable enthusiasm is the arts. A community can be judged by the arts - whether in the design of its buildings, parks or gardens, whether in the visual or performing arts, all reflect the society in which we live. Despite our small population in the Territory, the arts are both dynamic and diverse. There is growing interest in the artistic product of the Territory, both interstate and overseas, and I can see a time in the not-too-distant future when the arts will be recognised as a vital industry and a valuable economic asset to the Northern Territory.

I turn now to the employment and training portfolio. The combination of education and arts and the employment and training portfolios did not occur by accident. It was a response to a clear request from industry for some rationalisation between employment and training and educational activities at all levels. In the light of my earlier remarks on TAFE, one of my highest priorities over the next few months will be to review these activities with a view to putting in place more appropriate structures. Needless to say, any proposals in this regard will need to be actioned after consultation with the various interested parties likely to be affected by any changes.

Within this framework, honourable members would be aware that employment and training legislation is under review. Originally, it was proposed to have this review completed for introduction to this House in the early part of 1991. However, it is more appropriate for the review to be held aside until the issues of restructuring have been addressed, and this may C:\Documents and Settings\Shane L. Stone\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\Y3JKS1XW\Stone First Speech 4 December 1990.doc lay the basis for much broader legislation in line with the express requirements of industry and government.

Another issue being addressed is the development of a future directions paper on employment and training in the Northern Territory. While this is only in draft form, it is my intention to seek comment from industry, TAFE authorities, and other interested parties as to its content when it has been

Page 46 further refined. I see this paper as a very useful foundation for any review of the relationship between employment and training.

The restructuring of the Department of Labour and Administrative Services and the transfer of some of its functions to other ministries will give a sharper focus to the role of the Office of the Public Service Commissioner. This change reflects the need for an even greater emphasis to be given to sound human resource management policies and practices - for the uninitiated, that is personnel management - in the public sector in order to meet the challenges of the 1990s.

In the past 2 years, this government has endorsed and implemented a number of significant reforms in the public service and the teaching service. We have supported proposals for developing more definitive strategies and programs in respect of staff development and training. We have endorsed significant structural changes, and the introduction of a comprehensive job evaluation system as part of the award restructuring process. We have reviewed and changed a number of conditions of service in an endeavour to improve recruitment and retention rates. We have supported the re- establishment of the Public Service Consultative Council and the Teachers Advisory Council as proper forums for the development of new personnel policy initiatives. We have now commenced the introduction of the 10-point plan for employment and further education opportunities for Year 12 school leavers, and the process of recruiting such young people to base-grade jobs in the public service has already commenced. Much remains to be done, but the basis for positive change and increased efficiency and effectiveness has been firmly established. We are well on the way to achieving a modern, competitive public service that is well-attuned to the needs of the wider community and the government.

C:\Documents and Settings\Shane L. Stone\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\Y3JKS1XW\Stone First Speech 4 December 1990.doc There have been many structural and legislative changes in most Australian public services over the past 10 years. I do not advocate change for the sake of change, but we can learn from the experience of others. The government has announced its intention to bring in public sector employment legislation during this term of office. I look forward to that event with confidence, as I believe we can develop legislation which will place the Territory at the forefront of good public sector management practices in this country.

The Territory has been built by those who had the opportunity and seized on it without complaint. I hope that my time in this House will coincide with a more productive level of debate than occurred in the latter part of the life of the last parliament. There is no room in this Chamber for the politics of slur, innuendo and hate. As we have seen, the electorate deals severely with proponents of that type of debate. It is also my earnest hope that my time in this House will coincide with a new sense of enthusiasm and spirit in the Territory, such as that experienced by our pioneers, and the realisation of our destiny in the Asia-Pacific region.

Members: Hear, hear!