Mr chairman: Good morning. I welcome Mr Vatskalis, and invite you to introduce the officers accompanying you, and if you wish to make an opening statement on behalf of the Department of Health and Families. Minister vatskalis’ portfolios

ESTIMATES COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS – 17 JUNE 2010 
 
Mr RYAN: That has got all our own source revenue, where they are charging for services, as well as 
Commonwealth revenue and NT output appropriation.
 
 
Mr CONLAN: All right. Thank you, minister. I do have quite a few questions here, but I know we have 
to move on.
 
 
Mr WOOD: I have one more question. In relation to plumbing, specifically septic tanks, in areas 
outside of our major areas, our communities, do you …
 
 
Mr CHAIRMAN: That is Output 4.1.
 
 
Mr WOOD: No, I just want to know, I know it is a (inaudible) but I just want to know, whose role is it in 
regulating the installation of those services, say, from houses?
 
 
Mr VATSKALIS: I will call Xavier Schobben, Environmental Health Director, to respond to that. 
 
 
Mr SCHOBBEN: Outside of building control areas, it is subject to the Public Health Act, the Public 
Health (General Sanitation, Mosquito Prevention, Rat Exclusion and Prevention) Regulations, and we 
have got a self-certification system where my people that will install type 1, type A septic tanks, or 
type approved septic tanks. They need to notify us, but they do not need site specific approval, 
whereas, if it is not a standard approved septic tank type, then it needs site-specific approval.
 
 
Mr WOOD: Minister, do you think that perhaps only licensed plumbers should install septic tanks in 
those areas?
 
 
Mr SCHOBBEN: At this stage, there is no requirement outside of water control districts for licensed 
plumbers to install septic tanks.
 
 
Mr WOOD: And like the SIHIP houses, do they need a licensed plumber to install septics in those 
places, if they are going to be on septic, or not?
 
 
Mr SCHOBBEN: Because it is government funded, yes, there was a requirement that those septic 
tanks be approved or self-certified.
 
 
Mr CHAIRMAN: That concludes consideration for the Department of Health and Families. Thank you 
very much for your attendance today. We will have a five minute break as we change witnesses.
 
_____________________________
 
The committee suspended.
 
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DEPARTMENT OF RESOURCES
 
 
Madam DEPUTY CHAIR: Right, we might get started then. Welcome everyone. I invited the minister 
to introduce the officials accompanying him, and if he wishes to make an opening statement on behalf 
of the Department of Resources.
 
 
Mr VATSKALIS: Thank you, Madam Deputy Chair. My Department of Resources is responsible for 
supporting and facilitating the development of resource-based industries throughout the Northern 
Territory. The resource sector: primary industry, fisheries and minerals and energy are expected to 
contribute around $7.5bn to our economy over the next 12 months.
 
 
Our primary industry sector not only contributes nearly $0.5bn a year to the Territory economy, it also 
remains the backbone of so many of our regional and remote communities. In the 2009-10 financial 
year the value of production is expected to be $425.9m, and this is expected to rise to $447.8m in 
2010-11. Cow production for 2009-10 is expected to reach $278m, and predicted to grow to $296m 

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ESTIMATES COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS – 17 JUNE 2010 
over the next 12 months. In 2009-10 horticultural has continued to grow, with an estimated annual 
value in production of $170m, and forecast to increase to $121m in 2010-11.
 
 
Mixed farming has also continued to rise, with production for 2009-10 estimated to be $50m, with a 
similar outcome for 2010-11. 
 
 
In 2000 recreation fishing was estimated to inject at least $35m into our economy annually, including 
$9m from visitors. The figure provided by operators of the guided fishing industry indicate 34 000 
(inaudible) days were generated last year and around three quarters of this were from visitors. 
 
 
We recognise the important information and data about fisheries and, for that reason, the government 
is currently updating catch and effort (inaudible) data and this includes information on expenditure by 
recreational fishers. We are the first government to make the tough decision to require restaurants to 
identify whether seafood is local or imported, to give consumers a choice and this decision has been 
widely applauded by the commercial and recreation sectors in the wider community. Consumers now 
have a choice to buy local or imported barramundi and I always ask for the local product. In 2008-09 
the estimated production value for commercial fishing was $35m and with an estimated value of 
aquaculture production exceeding $20m, the economic benefits in the commercial sector are obvious.
 
 
In terms of adding to the economy the mining and energy sectors are clearly the most significant. Not 
only in terms of its direct contribution to the economy, but also for all the spin-off benefits being listed 
in businesses in the Territory. The value of production is estimated to exceed $7bn per annum. This 
government is committed to strategic programs to raise the profile of Territory minerals and energy 
potential and to promote it as a preferred location for exploration and investment. These programs are 
necessary to maintain the growth, momentum and expansion of this sector. The programs cover a 
range of best practices from attracting local interest and investment in drilling and geoscience 
initiatives, to continue the highly successful China and Japan investment strategies. These dedicated 
programs are delivering real results. 
 
 
Mineral exploration expense in the Territory for the 2009 calendar year is now a new record of 
$148.4m, 1% up on the previous record amount realised in 2008. While other states suffered a 
significant drop in expenditure over the same period, the Australian expenses were 22% down and in 
South Australia, 49% down. Similarly, an independent worldwide survey of mineral exploration 
companies (inaudible) reveals the best ever results for the Northern Territory. The Northern Territory 
ranked highest out of all Australian jurisdictions. It was in the top 10 in the world when it comes to 
investment attractiveness, perception of mineral potential and certainty of regulation environment. 
 
 
Alternative energy programs are critical of the future wellbeing of the Territory. My department 
continues to manage the implementation of the Solar Cities program. It also administers 
Commonwealth funding for three major projects: the solar project at Ti Tree and Kalkarindji, and the 
solar and wind power program at Lake Nash.
 
 
The economic outlook remains positive and, as I stated earlier, the Territory is expected to contribute 
about $7.5bn in value to our economy in the coming year. I am confident our economic outlook will 
remain positive and, once the international economic turbulence recedes, we will well positioned to 
take advantage of the existing market across our resource base sector. 
 
 
I would like to introduce to the Estimates Committee, the Department of Resources officials who are 
here today: Mr Richard Galton, the CEO of the department; Mr Bernard Ho, Chief Financial Officer; Mr 
Rob Gobbey, Acting Chief Executive Officer; Mr Alister Trier, Executive Director Minerals and Energy; 
and Mr Ian Curnow, Executive Director Fisheries. I would be happy to respond to any questions and I 
will at times be calling other department officials who are appropriate to provide information you 
request.
 
 
Madam DEPUTY CHAIR: Are there any questions relating to the statement?
 
 
Mr WOOD: Minister, why are you called the Department of Resources and not the department of 

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