Northern Territory Second Reading Speeches

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DESERT KNOWLEDGE AUSTRALIA BILL 2003

(This an uncorrected proof of the daily report. It is made available under the condition that it is recognised as such.)

Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time.

As has been said a number of times before - and I am very pleased to restate it - this is, indeed, an historic occasion. It is an honour for me to recognise these historic sittings with the introduction of a bill into this Assembly for the establishment of a statutory corporation entitled Desert Knowledge Australia. Desert Knowledge will seize upon the increasing importance of knowledge-based industries to the global economy, and will build a major new sector to the economy of Central Australia.

Madam Speaker, as you know first-hand, we are sitting in the heartland of desert Australia. There is, around this vast arid region of our island continent, an enormous amount of formal scientifically-based knowledge, and an equally important and large amount of know-how or tacit knowledge. The know-how or tacit knowledge comes of living and working in a desert environment and, of course, a good deal of this knowledge has been accumulated over thousands of years by indigenous Australians of the region.

This is just one of the exciting aspects of Desert Knowledge. It will provide a major opportunity for indigenous people to use their knowledge in a way that is empathetic to their cultural, social and economic interests. It will contribute to lifting the living standards and opportunities for indigenous people, and provide the basis for a partnership with other Australians in investing and distributing these benefits. It will be important for Australians living in remote and regional Australia, in working to enhance access to equivalent opportunities and services that their counterparts enjoy in the cities. This must go some way to supporting people in the areas who choose to continue living in the region. Stabilising the population of arid Australia is an important benefit arising from this development, from which all Australians will gain.

It is equally important to include the people of the inland desert network; those people living in places like Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Broken Hill, Mt Isa, the upper Spencer Gulf, Kalgoorlie and Laverton, and the people of more remote locations living in indigenous communities, pastoral leases and mining sites widely scattered throughout the interior. They will also be beneficiaries of this major new knowledge-based initiative for Australia’s arid region. It will also be international in its outlook, seeking to create wealth through the export of its intellectual capital and drawing intellectual capital to itself from around the globe.

While being broadly focussed in its outlook, there nevertheless remains the provision in the bill, as would be expected by honourable members, that the corporation must conduct its affairs in a manner that directs benefits to the Territory. It will reflect the important themes of social harmony, sustainability and wealth creation, ensuring that no individual thing gets out of balance with the others.

The statutory corporation is designed to be the umbrella body that will facilitate the development of numerous initiatives for social and economic growth in desert Australia. So far, these initiatives have included:

· the Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre, a $94m program over seven years, headquartered here in Alice Springs, to commence operations on 1 July this year;
· the Desert Knowledge Precinct, which will become the physical face of Desert Knowledge Australia in a major program of capital developments in the Arid Zone Research Institute area;
· the precinct development enabling the Desert Knowledge initiative to support the Desert Peoples Centre, a major initiative of indigenous people involving the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education and the Centre for Appropriate Technology. Plans for this institution are being prepared for its development in the Desert Knowledge Precinct;
· an investment of $2.2m in headworks for the Desert Knowledge Precinct, which will commence in the forthcoming financial year as stage 1 of the overall development; and
· future initiatives including a graduate school in Desert Knowledge, an international desert innovation centre, and a cultural centre.

It is not intended that Desert Knowledge Australia will have a tight regulatory role over these initiatives, because each will have its own management and reporting responsibilities to its own governing body. Rather, the Desert Knowledge Australia statutory corporation will be a facilitator that identifies opportunities for social and economic growth, brings the necessary interest groups together, and assists in establishing viable business developments. To be a part of the Desert Knowledge Australia umbrella, these business developments will need to be involved in innovation and the creation and dissemination of knowledge.

The corporation will promote Desert Knowledge through facilitating partnerships, networks and the like, drawing new resources and initiatives into the economy of arid Australia. It will enter into agreements with like-minded institutes and agencies worldwide as part of this promotion. It will encourage and facilitate the development of a body of knowledge and expertise relevant to deserts and arid lands; encourage improvements to the economies and livelihoods of communities in deserts and arid lands; establish, develop and manage the Desert Knowledge Australia precinct as a nationally and internationally renowned centre of knowledge; facilitate communication and collaboration between persons in communities; and support and promote research and training relevant to the deserts and arid lands of the Territory and Australia to enhance economically, socially and environmentally sustainable practices that are culturally sound.

I would like to take this opportunity of acknowledging the central role played by the Desert Knowledge Australia Steering Committee in putting this legislation before the Assembly for its consideration today. It has been an outstanding example of community cooperation over the last four years, and this bill is an appropriate mark of the fruits of their labours. The steering committee includes members from six local indigenous agencies: Lhere Artepe, Batchelor Institute, Centre for Appropriate Technology, Tangentyere Council, ATSIC and the Central Land Council, together with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the NTU, CSIRO, the Alice Springs Town Council and three NT government agencies. I would like to welcome members of that committee to the Chamber today.

The overall activities of Desert Knowledge Australia have been a remarkable exercise in community engagement. This is a hallmark of my government. For the first time, a community representative group - in this case the Desert Knowledge Australia Steering Committee - has had a close hand in preparing the drafting instructions to Parliamentary Counsel as part of preparing the bill. It therefore not only reflects the aspirations of my government for Desert Knowledge, but also those of the broader community of Central Australia. I am pleased and proud to say that this is a practical example of community engagement by my government.

I would also like to acknowledge the support of the opposition, when in government, in backing some of these initiatives. For all of these reasons, I am confident that the bill will receive the strong support of the Assembly.

I now turn to the details of the bill. The functions of the corporation I have already dealt with. The powers of the corporation will include: the right to enter into contracts and the ability to hold real or personal property that may be leased or otherwise disposed of; the power to seek and hold grants, sponsorships and other assignments for the purposes of Desert Knowledge Australia; the ability to create and hold intellectual property that may then be developed commercially; the right to borrow, invest and grant funds and enter into commercial agreements with the approval of the Treasurer; the power to manage property and to charge for information, goods, services and work undertaken by Desert Knowledge Australia; and establish membership groups and to collect membership fees.

There are standard provisions in the legislation for the minister to give directions to the board, but this is expected to be a rare occurrence. This is, of course, a requirement to exercise transparency in these matters by tabling the direction in the Legislative Assembly and reporting on the direction in the corporation’s annual report.

The bill makes provision for the nomination of members to the corporation who will be appointed by the minister. The board itself will comprise between five and 11 members, including a chairperson and a deputy chairperson, with half of the members nominated by participants. There is a provision to ensure that at least a minimum number of indigenous people are appointed to the board. A board of five members will have at least two indigenous persons; a six, seven or eight member board will have at least three indigenous people; and a board of nine, 10 or 11 members will have at least four indigenous people. There is also allowance for the minister to seek nominations to the board from other jurisdictions in Australia, including nominations from the Prime Minister, a Premier of a state or any other person considered appropriate.

It is the express intention that the Northern Territory government will do all in its power to facilitate a board that has a broad range of skills and represents the interests of all those in desert Australia. In this regard, the bill makes provision for the appointment of persons who, in the view of the minister, provide for an appropriate balance that represents communities in desert and arid lands, indigenous peoples of desert and arid lands, people with special expertise and interest in desert and arid lands, and people from different levels of government. The chairperson and deputy chairperson will be appointed by the minister from the board members, and at least one must be an indigenous person.

The board must meet at least four times per year and may appoint committees to perform its functions and exercise its powers. The board may also appoint staff, including a person to be the chief executive, to assist in meeting its obligations. The board may delegate some of its powers to committees or to individuals, where this will assist the board to carry out its responsibilities.

There are flexible provisions for the board to generate a cash flow from grant, sponsorship and other business activities. Rigorous accounting practices must be observed, including the submission of an annual report containing a financial report that will be laid before the Legislative Assembly. This report will be subject to a review by the Auditor-General, whose findings will also be submitted to the Assembly. I am confident that this process will ensure proper and reliable accountability of Desert Knowledge Australia to this House.

Subject to the passage of the legislation by the Assembly, the government will review the legislation in three years time. Desert Knowledge is a new and innovative project, appropriate for an economy moving into the developing field of knowledge and innovation. It is also a project that has been conceived, nurtured and developed with close community consultation. Accordingly, three years would seem to be an appropriate time after which the government intends to once again consult with the community on the legislation. I am confident that we will be reviewing a successful project by that time.

Once again, let me say what a pleasure and privilege it is for me to stand before this Assembly in Alice Springs and introduce legislation that will provide for a flagship agency to lead Desert Knowledge initiatives for Australia for a long time to come. It will be truly national and not parochial in its vision. I find it particularly rewarding that such an innovative and watershed initiative has arisen from a spirit of cooperation among the communities of the Northern Territory. It will bring growth and employment and other significant benefits for the people of inland Australia, with obvious direct benefits to those of Central Australia.

Madam Speaker, I commend the bill to the Assembly.

Debate adjourned.

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