No report from Chief health officer Hugh Heggie until 2024 on Covid-19 pandemic
Hugh Heggie won’t need to justify his Covid-19 decisions to parliament until 2024, after the next Territory election, under controversial new laws.
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A REPORT outlining the reasons for the chief health officer’s decisions through the Covid-19 pandemic won’t be tabled until after the 2024 Territory election, the CLP has claimed.
But the government has vowed Hugh Heggie will have to file a report once the public health emergency ends later this year.
Under controversial reforms introduced to parliament this week, the chief health officer will receive “residual powers” for the next two years, granting him the ability to search homes, copy documents and declare lockdowns.
The government is also modifying laws so the chief health officer does not have to submit a full report after the public health emergency ends. Instead, the full report will be released once the “residual powers” end in late 2024.
CLP health spokesman Bill Yan said the new laws were “not good enough” and that the government were avoiding accountability.
“NT Labor’s proposed Covid changes, which give the CHO unfettered powers for the next two years, mean Territorians will now only receive a ‘summary’ of the health advice instead of a full report – and they’ll have to wait until after the 2024 election to see it,” Mr Yan said.
“Territorians deserve a government that is open, transparent and accountable.”
Mr Yan said the CLP had introduced new laws to parliament which would see the chief health officer provide a report to parliament during emergencies every 90 days.
In response to the CLP’s claims, Health Minister Natasha Fyles described the new laws as allowing “necessary and proportionate health measures if required”.
But Ms Fyles seemed to suggest a report would be tabled at the end of the current emergency, which could wrap up as soon as in May.
“This phase will begin at the end of the Public Health Emergency declaration with the CHO to provide a report to the Health Minister within 90 days of the current emergency declaration ending, as well as another report at the end of the two year period,” Ms Fyles said.
“The Territory Labor Government has handled COVID-19 better than any other jurisdiction in the world. Not only have we managed the health crisis, we have kept the Territory open and Territorians working.”
Labor’s ‘fragile and desperate’ tactic under fire
THE government has been accused of using its numbers to run roughshod over opposition calls for action on crime in Alice Springs.
A parliamentary motion introduced on Wednesday by the CLP called “on the Chief Minister to conduct a public meeting in Alice Springs” and urged Michael Gunner to acknowledge that crime in the Red Centre is “totally unacceptable”.
But the government used its majority to alter the motion, deleting the entire clause and replacing it with a commitment that “the Assembly agrees that any crime in Alice Springs is unacceptable”. Labor then voted for the motion.
Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said it was the ninth time in 11 sitting weeks that the government has altered a motion it didn’t agree with.
“In an entire week of parliament, the only time the CLP and independent members can run the agenda is for four hours on a Wednesday,” Ms Finocchiaro said. “Despite the fact that it is our time in parliament, our opportunity to raise the direct concerns of the community – the Government still has the ability to vote down those motions at the end of debate.
Ms Finocchiaro said it was “fragile and desperate” that Labor was changing Opposition motions.
Leader of Government Business Natasha Fyles rejected any notion that the Labor was shutting down debate.
“There continues to be long, healthy and robust debate in the Territory parliament on a range of issues affecting Territorians,” Ms Fyles said.
“Just this week we have spent two-days debating crime in Alice Springs.”
‘Abuse of power’ comments land two pollies in hot water
TWO Territory politicans have landed themselves in hot water after openly criticising the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Ngaree Ah Kit.
It follows Robyn Lambley being kicked from parliament for an entire day on Tuesday for reportedly interjecting across the chamber.
Kezia Purick told the NT News earlier this week that the decision for the Deputy Speaker Joel Bowden to suspend Ms Lambley from parliament for 24 hours was “I would say, an abuse of power”.
The CLP’s Jo Hersey also took to Facebook to label Ms Lambley’s banishment an “abuse of power”.
Ms Hersey alleged it was the government, not the Speaker or Deputy Speaker, who was behind the decision.
Under current parliamentary rules, politicans cannot reflect on the decisions of the Speaker.
On Thursday morning, Ms Purick stood in parliament and offered an apology for the comments.
“I accept my comments may have caused distress and that was not the intention,” she said.
“I do not wish to incur any penalties which would deny my constituents representation in this House.”
Following Ms Purick’s statement, Ms Ah Kit turned her focus to the Facebook post by Ms Hersey.
She offered the Katherine MLA a chance to meet with the Speaker privately before providing a public statement.
The NT News sought comment from the Speaker about the saga, however Ms Ah Kit left midway through a press conference on Thursday morning before she could be asked.
WEDNESDAY: CHO’s ‘extraordinary’ new post-Covid powers explained
THE chief health officer would not need a warrant to search homes and seize documents under “transitional” pandemic laws proposed by the Territory government.
The government previously flagged that once the pandemic’s state of emergency declaration comes to an end in May, it would legislate to provide Dr Hugh Heggie “transitional powers”.
The new laws would allow Dr Heggie to continue to enforce check-in apps, mask mandates, vaccine mandates and other health directions.
But under the amendments published on the NT government’s website, “authorised officers” of the chief health officer would also retain the ability to search homes and seize documents without needing a warrant.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE POST-PANDEMIC CHO POWERS
Under current laws, Dr Heggie’s extraordinary powers are only limited to when an emergency is declared. Dr Heggie has had these powers since the early days of the pandemic, in March 2020.
Introducing the legislation in parliament on Wednesday, Health Minister Natasha Fyles said the proposed changes would provide the CHO with “transitional” powers.
“The Covid-19 virus is now becoming endemic in the Territory, living with Covid-19 is the new norm,” she said.
“The proposed amendments will ensure that the CHO can retain refined powers in an adjustment period transitioning out of the pandemic to an endemic.
“The powers are necessary to protect our community ... and to manage the risk of the health system potentially becoming overwhelmed.”
Ms Fyles said the new legislation was accountable because she and Dr Heggie could be asked questions by journalists during press conferences and the opposition in parliament.
CLP health spokesman Bill Yan said the CLP had concerns about the legislation
Minister draws blank on Govt’s ‘big legislative agenda’
DEPUTY Chief Minister Nicole Manison has spruiked the government’s “big legislative agenda”, but been unable to provide any detail on what it is.
Ms Manison on Wednesday said the government had so many pieces of legislation that “we have to have regular meetings to try to look at the order because we have so much that is coming on”.
“We have got such a big legislative agenda,” she said.
But when asked what the laws were, Ms Manison had to take the question on notice.
“I just can’t remember off the top of my head right now,” she said.
“I will get back to you.”
Ms Manison was speaking from the NT government’s mining rock storage facility in Winellie, where she spruiked a strong year of growth in 2021 for local resource extraction and exploration.
It follows the Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro taking a swipe at the government’s progress legislating the recommendations of the Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission.
Speaking in parliament on Tuesday evening, Ms Finocchiaro said the changes were nothing more than “smoke and mirrors”.
“It is astonishing that after 14 months of having the TERC report … this is what they serve up cold,” Ms Finocchiaro said.
She described changes as “tinkering around the edges” and showed a “gross lack of commitment” from the government in implementing the TERC recommendations.
Ms Manison described Ms Finocchiaro’s comments as “garbage”.
Parliament resumes on Wednesday.
TUESDAY EVENING: Lambley banned from parliament as govt vote down crime inquiry
THE government has voted down a push by Independent MLA Roybn Lambley to investigate the crime crisis in Alice Springs.
It comes despite the Opposition claiming there are an average of 18 property offences being committed each day in Central Australia.
And in a shock move, Deputy Speaker Joel Bowden has kicked Ms Lambley from the chamber for 24 hours after she interjected during debate into the motion.
Former speaker Kezia Purick described the decision as “outrageous”.
“The deputy speaker went from a warning to leave the chamber for one hour to being named in the space of one minute,” Ms Purick said.
“Unprecedented and I would say an abuse of power.”
Ms Purick’s comments are particularly noteworthy, because MLAs are not allowed to reflect on actions and decisions made by the speaker.
The Speaker’s office has been contacted for comment.
EARLIER: THE NT Government will not support a push to investigate a crime crisis in Alice Springs despite revelations that 18 property offences were being committed each day in Central Australia.
Independent MLA Robyn Lambley’s motion to implement a wide-ranging parliament committee into crime in Central Australia looks set to fail, despite the growing crime crisis.
NT Police Minister Nicole Manison said the government would not support the motion.
The government has indicated it will vote down the legislation using their numbers, despite support for Ms Lambley’s proposal from the CLP.
Speaking on the motion, Ms Manison said there was “no silver bullet” to crime but said the government was “getting on with it”.
The CLP’s Josh Burgoyne said he supported the motion, citing “alarming” increases in crime.
Mr Burgoyne said there were 18 property offences being committed a day in Central Australia.
“It is deplorable that those opposite refuse to acknowledge that,” he said, referring to the government benches.
Ms Lambley had previously said she wanted the inquiry to examine the factors affecting crime in Central Australia and create a three-to-five-year strategy for how to manage it moving forward.
Speaking straight off the bat on Tuesday morning, Ms Lambley was downbeat about the prospect of the government voting in favour of the committee.
She said if the government were to side with her in implementing the inquiry, it could report to the House by May 2022.
“We need for the government to listen to the people of Alice Springs,” Ms Lambley said.
“We need to hold the government to account on what is happening in Alice Springs and how (the government) are allocating resources.”
‘Desperate’: Lambley’s bid to fix crime in Alice Springs
INDEPENDENT Member for Araluen Robyn Lambley will use sittings week to call for a parliamentary inquiry into crime in Alice Springs.
Ms Lambley said she would on Tuesday move a motion that parliament form a committee to examine the factors affecting crime in Central Australia and create a three-to-five-year strategy for how to manage it moving forward.
“The community of Alice Springs is desperate for greater guidance, understanding and leadership of how we can work together to address crime and create better outcomes for all,” the independent MLA said.
The latest crime statistics showed commercial break-ins in Alice Springs increased by 60.2 per cent and house break-ins increased by 46.4 per cent in the 12 months to February. Alcohol-related assaults remained steady, with 920 offences recorded for the year.
It comes as Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said the CLP would use the parliamentary sittings as an opportunity to highlight the current crime crisis.
“Territorians are suffering under the crippling weight of being victimised at the serious levels we’ve been seeing over the past five years,” Ms Finocchiaro said.
“Something’s got to give and the first step is for the Gunner government to realise there is a crime crisis and the second is for them to outline their short, medium and long-term plans.”
She also outlined that the Opposition will introduce its Covid legislation to “breed transparency into the reporting and advice process that goes into government”.
“We want to make sure that despite there being emergency periods that the CHO is required to report regularly to parliament and give Territorians the chance to see what the health advice is,” Ms Finocchiaro said.
She also said her party will use question time as the first opportunity to question Chief Minister Michael Gunner directly on what took place in the four days between the shooting of Kumanjayi Walker and the charging of Constable Zach Rolfe.
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