Records 1993

This decision was without a submission.

Cabinet decided that an agreement could be entered into with the Jawoyn Association which could commit the Northern Territory Government to land settlements, construction of accommodation and facilities for Aboriginal workers at Mount Todd mine, transfer of Nitmiluk Visitor Centre to the Jawoyn Association and provision of cultural advice at Nitmiluk Park.

The land settlements included the area of the Werenbun-Barnjaru Land Claim, 'Catfish Dreaming' (adjacent to the Rockhole community), and sections of land adjacent to Nitmiluk Park.

Read the Cabinet decision: Submission No. WOS / Decision No. 7612 of 12 January 1993 / Volume 403 PDF (993.3 KB)

This Submission sought approval to release for public comment, the draft Code of Practice for Retirement Village Schemes.

Following concerns about the operation of retirement village schemes, all Australian jurisdictions reviewed their regulations. The Northern Territory Government proposed that development of a Code of Practice and legislation for the NT would be substantially based on that of New South Wales.

The Code sets out good practice in the sale, promotion and operation of retirement villages and is complementary to the Retirement Villages Act. The Code will be mandatory and apply to developers, promoters, sellers, management and residents of retirement villages. Compliance with the Code will be monitored by the Commissioner for Consumer Affairs and can be enforced under the Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading Act 1990. Government approved release of the draft Retirement Village Industry Code of Practice, a copy of which is attached to this record.

Read the Cabinet decision: Submission No. 6754 / Decision No. 8006 of 28 November 1993 / Volume 426B PDF (34.1 MB)

This Submission considers the future development of the aquaculture industry in the Northern Territory. In the 1990's the aquaculture industry was a significant contributor to the Northern Territory economy and potential for future development and employment opportunities were recognised. The Submission outlines the current status of Northern Territory aquaculture in the 1990's. Annual aquaculture production in 1993 was valued at $40 million and provided employment for over 70 people.

Attached to the Submission is an options paper on future directions for the aquaculture industry. The paper outlines current and proposed research and development projects. The importance of water quality and environmental conditions to the sustainability of the aquaculture industry was noted. Consideration was given to industry and government support provided to aquaculture development in other Australian States and in Asia, including land/water packages and an aquaculture food production facility.

In recognition of the potential for future development and employment opportunities in the industry, Government approved funding for research projects aimed at taking mud crab and golden snapper through to commercial pilot trials, given the prospects for marketing to Australian and Asian markets.

Read the Cabinet decision: Submission No. 6576 / Decision No. 7772 of 3 June 1993 / Volume 412C PDF (25.8 MB)

The purpose of this Submission was to eradicate childhood infections of Haemophilus Influenzae Type b in the Northern Territory by funding the vaccination of young children.

The bacterium called Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) causes life threatening infections in children, particularly those under 5 years of age. The main diseases are meningitis, pneumonia and epiglottitis (a serious infection of the throat, which can cause blockage of the windpipe).

In Australia in the 1990's, about 700 children were affected by the Hib disease annually, with up to 15 to 30 deaths. A further 30 will develop severe complications ranging from hearing loss to mental retardation and severe brain damage.

A safe vaccine against the Hib disease became available in Australia in February 1993. The disease has virtually been eradicated in communities immunised against Hib such as in Scandinavia and in all population groups in the United States of America, including Native Americans.

Consideration was given to the prohibitive costs of the vaccination, the potential impact of not vaccinating children under 5 years of age including an increase in affected children, and the costs for hospital care and long-term care of a child with severe brain damage.

The Northern Territory Government approved the offering of the vaccine against Hib infections to children up to the age of 5 years.

Read the Cabinet decision: Submission No. 6572 / Decision No. 7768 of 3 June 1993 / Volume 412B PDF (11.1 MB)

This Submission sought funding to improve health centres in remote communities across the Northern Territory. Several health centres in the Katherine, Alice Springs and Barkly districts had served as bases for residential Aboriginal health workers and/or nurses but were never considered suitable for permanent use.

The clinics were either one room tin sheds or 'silver bullet' caravans structurally inappropriate or of unsatisfactory standard. Poor working conditions coupled with a lack of toilet and laundry facilities contributed to difficulties in staff recruitment and retention.

The Submission considered the design and construction of replacement clinics and approved $1 million to construct replacement clinics in communities characterised by high levels of disease. The Submission includes images of existing clinics and community profiles for several remote communities, and proposes a 5-year replacement program.

Read the Cabinet decision: Submission No. 6498 / Decision No. 7689 of 30 March 1993 / Volume 407 PDF (37.1 MB)

The purpose of this Submission was to seek approval of a shared equity home ownership scheme (the Scheme) to supplement existing housing policies.

In the 1990's shared equity home ownership schemes were operating in most States and Territories of Australia. With increasing property prices, shared equity home ownership was considered an appropriate method of allowing low to middle income earners to work towards home ownership, and would attract those not able to be accommodated under the HomeNorth Easy Start First Mortgage Loan Scheme. Funds were available under the Commonwealth's Housing Assistance Act 1989 for participants in shared ownership schemes.

In summary, the Scheme required potential home owners to purchase a minimum 25% initial equity in a dwelling using a government loan similar to the HomeNorth Easy Start first mortgage loan. The Government would hold the balance of the equity, with the title of the property held by the NT Housing Commission under a legal agreement with the home owner.

The title would transfer to the home owner when they had acquired 100% equity in the property. The Scheme only applied to Housing Commission housing stock and there was no limit set on the maximum purchase price. The Submission outlines starting interest rates and maximum loan amounts based on gross weekly family income. At the time of writing the Submission, the variable home loan interest rate was 8.75%.

Eligibility criteria included the requirement that applicants must not own or have previously owned a dwelling in the Northern Territory, and the home must be for owner occupation. A minimum cash deposit was required and repayments were between 25% and 35% of the home owner's income. The home owner would be liable for all municipal, water and sewerage rates, insurance charges and repairs and maintenance.

Government decided to approve the principles of the Scheme, subject to submission of the recommendations in Appendix B to the Commonwealth Minister for Housing, Local Government and Community Services and/or the Department.

To assist the reader, other 1993 Cabinet decisions relating to housing matters are listed below:

• Shared Equity Home Ownership Scheme - Cabinet Decisions 7940, 7985 and 7987
• HomeNorth Mortgage Loan Scheme
• Cabinet Decisions 7887, 7905, 7923 and 7969.
• Interest Subsidy Scheme – Cabinet Decisions 7986, 7987 and 8028.

Read the Cabinet decision: Submission No. 6664 / Decision No. 7907 of 5 October 1993 / Volume 421A PDF (1.7 MB)