Reshuffle: Giles takes tourism, health to Elferink

By ERWIN CHLANDA
 
Robyn Lambley (at left) is switching from health to corrections and Adam Giles (at right) is taking over the crucial tourism portfolio from Matt Conlan in yesterday’s cabinet re-shuffle.
 
Against expectations, former Deputy Chief Minister Dave Tollner did not get a guernsey.
 
He could not be reached for a comment but an insider says this is not so much a decision by Mr Giles, but that Mr Tollner didn’t put up his hand.
 
John Elferink is taking over health after an outstanding performance in corrections, with “sentenced to a job” as the flagship initiative.
 
He says in the Attorney General portfolio, which he retains, he is looking forward to making progress with pre-trial disclosure which aims at reducing police and court time.
 
Meanwhile, in the reshuffle Matt Conlan’s responsibilities have been reduced to transport, infrastructure and housing.
 
There have been few changes to the responsibilities of Bess Price (Local Government and Community Services, Women’s Policy, Men’s Policy, Parks and Wildlife and Statehood).
 
Others:
 
Adam Giles (Chief Minister, Northern Australia Development, Central Australian Development, Economic Development and Major Projects, Asian Engagement and Trade, Treasurer, Tourism, Arts and Museums).
 
Peter Chandler (Lands and Planning, Police Fire and Emergency Services, Defence Industries and Veterans Support).
 
Johan Elferink (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Public Employment, Children and Families, Health, Mental Health Services, Disability Services).
 
Willem Westra van Holthe (Primary Industry and Fisheries, Mines and Energy, Land Resource Management, Essential Services).
 
Peter Styles (Business, Racing Gaming and Licensing, Multicultural Affairs, Corporate and Information Services, Young Territorians).
 
Robyn Lambley (Education, Employment and Training, Corrections).
 
New Minister John Higgins (Sport and Recreation, Senior Territorians, Environment, assisting Mr Giles on Arts and Museums).
 
Mr Elferink says pre-trial disclosure will require not just the prosecution, but the defence as well to disclose what evidence they will be relying on.
 
He explains this with an example:-
 
Fred punches Bill. Fred’s defence attorney announces there will be a not guilty plea.
 
What does he plead not guilty to? Everything.
 
So the police must produce evidence of the place of the alleged crime, the time, the punch and a doctor’s report of the injury, and so on.
 
On the day of the hearing all witnesses are in the courthouse, waiting to be called, when it turns out that the only fact in dispute is that Bill had a broken bottle in his hand.
 
Pre-trial disclosure of all facts by both sides would not only have substantially reduced investigation time, it is also likely to have brought about an out-of-court settlement.
 
Mr Elferink says pre-trial disclosure has, in Victoria, reduced the number of hearings from 7000 to 3500 a year in those of that state’s courts which are the equivalent of the NT’s magistrate’s court.