2013-03-26
CLP Leadership Challenge
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
Current Chief Minister …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: That was ruled out of order at the last sittings. Please refer to the Chief Minister as the Chief Minister.
Ms LAWRIE: Certainly, Madam Speaker. Chief Minister, your Japan coup was one of the most cowardly and despicable acts in Australian political history …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 112: epithets and that type of language are out of order.
Madam SPEAKER: Please withdraw, Opposition Leader.
Ms LAWRIE: Cowardly or despicable, Madam Speaker?
Madam SPEAKER: Both.
Ms LAWRIE: Okay, your grubby knifing of Terry Mills while he was representing the Northern Territory in Japan will forever define you. Knifing an elected leader, while he was overseas representing the Territory, was incredibly damaging to our relationship with Japan and the business community. You promised you would support Terry Mills as Chief Minister yet you knifed him, putting our economic future in jeopardy. How can you explain your actions when, on one hand you promise to support him, and the moment he heads off to Japan you do him in?
Madam SPEAKER: Your time has expired, Opposition Leader.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. I did not expect anything less from her. There have only ever been two changes of government in the Northern Territory: in 2001 and last year. I note the premise of the question mentions ‘forever defining’. When we came into government what was forever defining, for you as former Treasurer, was the $5.5bn debt you left the Northern Territory government. Seven months in, we are still trying to find ways to get our fiscal position to where we can pay your debt. That is the legacy you left this government and which we are trying to rectify.
We are making tough decisions trying to get our economy back on track and getting our financial status right. That is the situation we find ourselves in and it is a challenge. Since 14 March, we have made changes. We have reduced the tariff increase from 30% to 20% for electricity and have reduced the water and sewerage tariff increases. We have extended the time frame for our fiscal imbalance position to 2017-18. We have made some tough calls, but that is the legacy you left us - the negative position we have to rectify.
People talk about recessions and how things work in the broader economy. As a Liberal government taking over from the Labor government, we are no different. Every Liberal government coming in has to take on a Labor debt legacy and we are no different. Per head of population, we have the worst position to take over. People say recessions come and go. When do they come? Recessions and bad fiscal positions come when Labor is in power.
When do times get better? When the Liberals fix it. Our job is to fix your legacy. It is going to take us six years to get our fiscal balance right before we can start paying your $5.5bn debt. Do not talk about legacies. You left us with a legacy we have to deal with.
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, have you finished?
Mr GILES: Yes, Madam Speaker.
Ms WALKER: I was going to raise a point of order - Standing Order 113, relevance.
Cabinet and Portfolio Changes
Mrs PRICE to CHIEF MINISTER
Could you outline your reasons for making minimal changes to this Cabinet upon becoming Chief Minister and why you abolished the portfolio of Indigenous affairs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Stuart for her very good question. There is no doubt people had concerns with the way things were going and with ministerial changes. It had an effect on morale in our team, in the public service, and the broader Northern Territory. We have sought to make changes to give confidence to Territorians, the government, and our team. We want an era of stability.
We have put forward the best Cabinet we can. We have people in key positions. We have tried to make minimal changes in portfolio responsibilities so we can send the message that we are united and fighting for Territorians. That is the way we are going. We are trying to provide confidence in the bureaucracy which delivers our policy intent, and are trying to restore confidence in Territorians.
Member for Stuart, you asked about the Indigenous affairs portfolio. Yes, I decided to abolish it. I have always been passionate about Indigenous affairs. I have and will continue to fight hard, as I know you and every person in the wing and our Cabinet does. It is important this government recognises every Territorian for who they are.
A third of the Territory’s population is Indigenous. Much of the business we do is for Indigenous Territorians and non-Indigenous Territorians. We do not want to run a secular, separatist model. We want to serve for every person in the Northern Territory.
I note the critique by opposition members who say we have turned our backs, and all the silly media releases they are issuing talking with their heads chopped off. It is interesting to look back on their term and the Indigenous affairs portfolio. You could not get kids to school, people into work, or Indigenous health outcomes. You had the local governance models wrong and were not building roads in the bush. You did not get telecommunications right. Economic development was not working. You did not even achieve outcomes when you had a portfolio. We have taken the job on for us all and will deliver for every Territorian. We are not running separatism here, we stand up for everybody.
I will continue my passion in a whole range of fields, one of which includes Indigenous affairs. I have spoken to every person in the team, whether in Cabinet or the wing, and they all want to fight for every Territorian not just 70%, not just 30% - everybody. That is the government I will lead. We are leading for everybody while we repay your debt.
CLP Leadership Challenge
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
Illegitimate Chief Minister …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, please withdraw that comment.
Ms LAWRIE: I withdraw ‘illegitimate’.
Days before your Japanese coup, you publicly promised Terry Mills your full support and committed to never challenging him for the leadership. Why should Territorians trust a single word you say, hollow man?
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Withdraw please, Opposition Leader.
Ms LAWRIE: I withdraw. Why should Territorians trust a single word you say?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is coming from the lady who left us with $5.5bn worth of debt. Talk about trust! She was in charge of the Territory Treasury ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Relevance, it is about you, Chief Minister, your actions. Account for your actions!
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Please sit down.
Mr GILES: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I missed that standing order number but I will take your interjection.
Talking about trust, I will go back to the point. You were trusted to run the Territory economy. You were trusted to run the books of the Northern Territory over the 11 years of your time as Treasurer. You left us with a debt legacy for every Territorian into the future - not today, not tomorrow, but six years to get the deficit back on track before we can start paying back your $5.5bn debt. Do not talk about trust! People had faith in you as Treasurer and this is what you have lumbered us with ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! He has had his rant. Standing Order 113. Account for your actions! Why did you promise publicly not to challenge Terry Mills then knife him while he was in Japan? How could Territorians begin to understand or trust a word you say?
Madam SPEAKER: Please be seated.
Mr GILES: Madam Speaker I have nearly finished my answer. When it comes to leadership, it is important that everyone in this Chamber, everyone listening, and everyone who reads Hansard is cognisant of the fact that when the Leader of the Opposition was on this side of the Chamber she could only muscle up one number: her own. Look at your own team. There are much better leaders: the member for Wanguri, I keep saying.
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance, and the misuse of oxygen in this Chamber.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Mr GILES: Further to the point about the Leader of the Opposition only getting one number, why? Why could she not garner any more support from her colleagues? Because they knew she was incompetent. They had seen the books she was running when Treasurer, they could see the deficit, see the debt growing, and they knew she was in no position to lead the Territory. She is in no position to lead the Opposition, and to all her colleagues in the background, get some backbone and take the job.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. The question was, why should Territorians trust a word he says when he publicly committed to not challenging Terry Mills and then knifed him?
Infrastructure Development
Ms FINOCCHIARO to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you inform the House of your plans for infrastructure development in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question. People can put faith in this new government, this new Cabinet, and in our wing because we have a plan for the Territory’s future. We are spirited from within about what we want to do in the Northern Territory. We want to grow the Northern Territory and this leadership team - our Cabinet, and our wing - is a pro-business, pro-development government. We want to create jobs. We do not want to perpetuate the lifestyle of people living in poverty and misery on welfare. The previous government built more beds in the gaol than outside it, particularly in the Indigenous section. That is the legacy they left us.
In infrastructure and transport, there are many areas we want to work on, including making improvements to the logistical framework of the way we do business in the Northern Territory, getting our port functioning properly and getting the rail operators to a broader level.
I have already asked the Transport department to - this is a long way off - start planning for a rail corridor between Mount Isa and Tennant Creek. This is a long way off and the bankable feasibility options around that are very difficult, but let us start planning for our future. We are looking at how we can expand the capacity of our port, increasing the quay line, the hardstand area, getting time frames in place for a more appropriate rail loop and dumping yard.
These are the important things which lay the foundations and framework for the future of the Northern Territory. We are putting these things in place. We are looking at where we can position a dirty port so we can keep Darwin as a clean harbour. These are the things we are doing. There is a range of things we need to do and we are firmly committed to it. We are concentrating on business and we want jobs not welfare, unlike the Labor people on the other side.
CLP Leadership Challenge
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
During the seven hour crisis meeting on 6 March, you challenged Terry Mills for the leadership and failed. As Alison Anderson said, and I quote:
- I’m in a room full of young men or young boys all of a sudden wanting to be Chief Minister.
Given your initial failed challenge, do you find it surprising not a single person believes you somehow woke up in the morning and were Chief Minister, and that Terry Mills was your friend and you did not knife him despicably while he was in Japan? These are all lines you have trotted out in the media since the dreadful day you took down the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory who had been elected in the very presidential style campaign. No one voted for you - apart from the good folk of Braitling - to be Chief Minister. How do you explain your actions to Territorians rather than ranting and raving with your obsession about me?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the most telling issue in the Northern Territory at the moment is our debt: $5.5bn worth of debt. We have had to move sitting dates; we had to change the date of the budget so we can start fixing your problems. People on the street are not asking the questions you are, they are asking about the budget. ‘How are you going to pay back Delia’s debt?’ That is the question they ask on the street. ‘What about the deficit? What about the debt? What about Delia? How can she stand here as Leader of the Opposition’ …
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, please refer to members in this Chamber by their electorate name.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. I know he is obsessed with me but, at some stage, he has to explain his actions to Territorians.
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, please be seated. There is no point of order.
Mr GILES: Madam Speaker, what is relevant is $5.5bn worth of debt. I would love to work with Treasury to roll out a budget in several weeks’ time, paving the streets with gold, palm trees on every corner, and everyone with $100 in their pocket but we cannot. We are paying your debt ...
Ms Walker interjecting.
Mr GILES: I am waiting for your question, member for Nhulunbuy, and am ready. This is about the people of the Northern Territory. I heard loud and clear, as did the people in this wing, that there needed to be change; people were hurting and there was poison out there. It was not the best way for things to happen; however, we are focused, united, and are repaying your debt and getting our deficit in order so we can govern for all Northern Territorians into the future.
Development in the Northern Territory
Mr KURRUPUWU to CHIEF MINISTER
You made a speech last week in Alice Springs where you said the future of the Northern Territory is in the regions. Can you please expand on this and inform the House of your vision for the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for his question. Yes, I made an important speech to the Chamber of Commerce in Alice Springs one day last week. We saw, under the previous government, a reluctance to support business development and growth in all areas of the Northern Territory.
They seemed to forget about so many people - the little people and the jobs for the future, and about the kids.
On 14 March, I said there would be no more Berrimah Line. Yes, I am a Chief Minister from Alice Springs who now spends his time in Darwin. The Berrimah Line has moved to the South Australian border. That is what the member for Arafura is referring to - what I said in that speech.
This is about developing the whole of the Northern Territory and the future of Darwin as the capital and our gateway to Asia. It is working on our port and our railway to ensure we have jobs and growth for the future.
However, it is also about developing the regions. In many ways Darwin, Alice Springs, Katherine and Tennant Creek are service centres for what happens in the regions where our economy is stimulated.
Yesterday, the Minister for Mines and Energy announced a new ilmenite mine. What a fantastic thing for the growth of the region. The head office is in Darwin and it will stimulate the Darwin economy, the regional economy, and about 20 jobs will come out of this new project. That is good for the future of the Northern Territory. These are the things I want to see as I lead the Country Liberal Party. It is about creating development and business opportunities and ensuring there are jobs in the future. On the one hand our kids are lumbered with Labor’s debt burden but, on the other, they can see a bright future in a job. That is what it is about, and we will continue to lead the Northern Territory by investing in our future and creating jobs so everyone has hopes, dreams and aspirations for the future.
CLP Leadership Challenge
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
Days before you knifed Terry Mills, Alison Anderson said she opposed you becoming Chief Minister because you were ‘a little boy’. She is in your Cabinet. How can you, with a straight face, possibly pretend you are a united team, and why are you refusing to answer any questions about your knifing of Terry Mills, the elected Chief Minister of the Northern Territory? Are you so deeply ashamed of your actions you will not even countenance an answer in the parliament?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, this is about Territorians. I do not want to verbal the member for Namatjira, the Minister for Regional Development and Women’s Policy and Local Government, but what she cares about - we have a quiet chat from time to time, she is a good friend of mine, a good colleague, and she cares about the $5.5bn Labor debt. If you ask her she will tell you she really cares about Labor debt.
Member for Fong Lim, what do you care about? Labor debt. The members for Araluen and Greatorex - we could keep going, it is all Labor debt. In Cabinet we talk about Labor debt. How do we fix Labor debt? There is $5.5bn of Labor debt, divide that by 230 000 Territorians and see how much impact and debt you have laid on every person in the Northern Territory.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. He is not answering the question. Are you so deeply ashamed of your behaviour that you will not even come into the Chamber and explain it?
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Mr GILES: Thank you very much. How can the Leader of the Opposition use the word ‘ashamed’ in a relevance question. You must be talking about yourself. You have to be ashamed of the financial state you left the Northern Territory in. You should say sorry. You should apologise to Territorians for leaving us in this position.
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113. A very direct question has been asked of the Chief Minister. I ask you to direct the Chief Minister to answer the question not deflect from it.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. The Chief Minister has the latitude and is, no doubt, getting to the answer.
Mr GILES: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I wish the member for Nhulunbuy understood the rules of parliament and how it works. Returning to the initial question, I do not need to harp on too much about Labor’s $5.5bn debt which Delia Lawrie left us with when we came to government.
I would like to finish on this point, Leader of the Opposition, I am six foot three inches and 102 kilos. Work out who is little! You left us with this debt legacy.
Stylo Farm Water Licence
Mr WOOD to MINISTER for LAND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
You awarded a 5800 ML water licence from the Tindall aquifer to Stylo Farm, which is owned by the CLP candidate for Lingiari. The MacFarlane application for a water licence was originally rejected and an appeal was dismissed by the Supreme Court. Ms MacFarlane told a Senate committee that the Water Controller, Ian Lancaster, lied. The member for Fong Lim said the controller, for no good reason, saw fit to reject the applications. The MacFarlanes were granted a 500 ML licence. They rejected an extra 500 ML licence. The CLP government was elected and they sacked Ian Lancaster and Diana Leeder. The MacFarlanes applied for a 5800 ML licence and the CLP government approved it.
Can you say there is nothing suspicious and, therefore, no politics? Can you please explain how someone, according to NT farmers, who has not used the existing 500 ML allocation - has sunk no production bores, has grown no irrigated crops - now receives the largest water allocation from the Tindall aquifer?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question and welcome it. If I ask the opposition to look across the Chamber they will see something they never saw - a government keen for development. This government is committed to developing the economy of the Northern Territory through our three hubs and, of course, food production and agriculture is one of those hubs. It might not be too surprising to members opposite that, in order to reach that goal, you need water.
The Tindall aquifer has been contentious over a number of years. However, it is in a very healthy state, has an amazing amount of water and, through changes in the interaction between the Tindall aquifer and the Roper River assessed in recent times, we have found there is far more water there for consumptive use than previously thought.
This government is prepared to put its neck out and make tough and correct policy decisions for the Territory rather than what we had under 11 years of Labor - a policy vacuum. Where there is a policy vacuum you will find it filled with ad hoc decisions and departments with no direction and uncertainty. The worst thing about all this is the uncertainty which existed under the former Labor government across the Northern Territory in a range of areas, certainly agricultural development.
They had an opportunity for 11 years to start some processes developing the Ord. What did they do? Nothing. We have created an Ord Development Unit to specifically target agricultural development in that area.
Madam Speaker, I have 45 seconds left, I am going to go to the nub of the member for Nelson’s question. He is suggesting political interference - absolutely not! In fact, member for Nelson, in conversations I had with the Water Controller I told him there would be no political direction on this issue. If an application for a water licence was to stand on its own feet, it should be granted. If not, it should not be granted. The decision of the Water Controller was taken on advice from the Bureau of Meteorology and expert hydrologists within the department.
Pension and Carer Concession
Scheme - Cuts
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
As seen last night on Nine News Darwin, you are planning to slash the Pensioner and Carer Concession Scheme, putting up power and water prices by about $460 a year for some 6600 seniors. You went around the bush prior to the election promising everything to everyone. Your government now has to deliver billions of dollars in unfunded election commitments in the bush. That is why you are taking an axe to the Territory budget, it is not about debt. You knew the Territory debt prior to the election, yet you submitted $400m in costings to Treasury, with billions unfunded. Do you admit taking an axe to senior concessions is a blow too low?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as the Leader of the Opposition knows, I will not be commenting on budget deliberations. Coming into government we have asked for a range of ideas on how we can repay Labor debt. We have a $5.5bn Delia Lawrie rolled gold debt …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, please refer to members in the Chamber by their electorate name.
Mr GILES: Thank you, Madam Speaker. We have the Leader of the Opposition’s rolled gold $5.5bn debt. The Leader of the Opposition would know hundreds of submissions come to Cabinet on a range of different issues. Everybody is trying to say, ‘This is how you can pay back Delia’s debt’. That is what they say, and I am not referring to the Leader of the Opposition. ‘How can you pay back Delia’s debt of $5.5bn?’ There is a whole range of things.
I am not going to comment on that Cabinet document. We are banging our heads together working out how we provide for the future of the Northern Territory: how we look after the kids; where we can get jobs; how we ensure we have the lowest cost impact on business so we can keep the jobs going; and how we have the lowest impact on Territorians so they can have a reduction in their cost of living pressures.
You are the one who has forced us into this position through your $5.5bn debt. I will go back to a previous answer. This is of a cyclical nature. Whenever Labor is in power, debt accumulates. As the conservatives come in - the Country Liberals - we are left to clean up the mess and that is what we are doing. We are looking at a range of measures - a dust pan and broom, ‘There’s a bit more Delia debt’. That is what we do, what we are stuck with ...
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You have already reminded the Chief Minister he must refer to members by their electorate titles.
Mr GILES: Madam Speaker, I withdraw, and refer to it as the member for Karama’s debt. We are running around with a dust pan and broom cleaning up your debt.
We will continue to look at a range of measures which provide the least impact to Territorians to pay back Labor debt ...
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. Will the Chief Minister be taking overseas trips?
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Asian Relationship Enhancement
Mr HIGGINS to CHIEF MINISTER
Can you explain the importance of the Territory’s relationship with Asia, how the government plans to enhance that relationship, and how is the government improving transport links with Asia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. As a man who has come from a tourism background, I know you fully understand the importance of links and the principles of economic development.
I see economic development as being underpinned by four things: the economic component, the social component, the cultural component, and the environmental component. We have to build on those four pillars to drive the future for the Northern Territory. In relation to this question about Asia, it is about improving the transport links because that is like building roads or bridges. It is about connecting people and what we need to continue doing that.
The deputy, some of our colleagues, and I have started to work out what our Asian relations and engagement strategy will be. There are a number of key countries to the north of Australia we really want to engage with.
We will be talking about this more in the future but, today marks the first anniversary of SilkAir flying between Singapore and the Northern Territory. What a fantastic opportunity. Philippine Airlines starting operations between Manila and Darwin on 1 June this year is a fantastic outcome. That is about connecting the Philippines to the Northern Territory and opening up areas around the economy - social, cultural and environmental aspect of the pillars of our economy in the future. I see great opportunity.
The member for Arafura asked a question about my speech in Alice Springs last week and I said the future is bright. Negativity breeds negativity. I can see investment coming whether it is in Alice Springs, Darwin, Tennant Creek, Katherine, Nhulunbuy or the regions.
The future is really bright. We are laying the framework and developing the underpinning principles about how we will govern into the future. When these start to bear fruit you will see some fantastic outcomes for the Northern Territory and job growth. You will see not only job growth, you will see cultural exchange and social cohesiveness between the Northern Territory and nations abroad, and you will see the environmental components.
It is a really exciting time to be in government in the Northern Territory. This side of the Chamber is fully committed to working in Asia and driving forward a reform agenda so we have a greater partnership through working with Asia into the future.
Japan – Chief Minister’s Travel Plans
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
You talk about the importance of links and trade to Asia. Not once in your comments did you mention our vital trade partner, Japan. Is it because you knifed the then Chief Minister, Terry Mills, while he was on a very important mission to Japan representing the Northern Territory? On the day of the coup, you announced you would go to Japan very soon. When are you travelling to Japan and how will you apologise to the Japanese government and the leaders of Japanese industry, particularly INPEX, but also JKC and JGC, for the actions you have taken to insult them by knifing the Northern Territory Chief Minister while he was representing Territory business in Japan?
Exactly when are you travelling to Japan?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. I have been in communication with INPEX and the Japanese government and ensured them, collectively, that we are fully committed to INPEX. We are fully committed to our relationship and we plan to grow our relationship even further.
Not only will we extend that opportunity to INPEX and the Japanese government, we will extend it right across Asia. We have a platform to work with our Asian neighbours and develop the four pillars of economic development. That is an important component.
Ms Lawrie: When are you going?
Mr GILES: I do not usually take interjections from someone who put the Territory into $5.5bn of debt, but I will on this occasion. I will make my decision to go when I feel like making my decision to go.
As I said, we have been in communication. I have received a letter of congratulations from INPEX. I have been in communication with the Japanese government and I look forward to an ongoing, cordial and fruitful relationship with INPEX and the Japanese government as we seek to grow the Northern Territory economy into the future. Furthermore, we have already started looking for the next INPEX for the Northern Territory.
We are putting the foundations in place so the next project can come to the Northern Territory, further stimulate our economy, and ensure we develop jobs for our kids into the future, albeit at the same time we are repaying your $5.5bn Labor debt. The opportunities and the relationships are there, it is up to us to grow them. I see a fruitful future for the Northern Territory.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order, the question is finished.
Power Price Reduction
Ms LEE to CHIEF MINISTER
Can the Chief Minister inform the parliament why, on his first day as Chief Minister, he announced the 30% increase in power prices would be reduced to 20%. Can you please explain to Territorians the new pricing structure for power and water changes?
ANSWER
Thank you very much, member for Arnhem. She is a passionate advocate for ensuring we do what is right for the Northern Territory, and that is what we did. We did what was right for the Northern Territory.
I am not afraid of taking action when required. We knew our decision to put tariffs up by 30%, 40% and 25% was hurting Territorians. We did it because we were trying to repay the $5.5bn Labor debt. We were trying to do it quickly to get the Territory on a firm footing so we could invest into the future.
I made the decision, along with my Cabinet colleagues, to reduce those tariff increases from 30% to 20%, 40% to 30%, 25% to 15%. We have provided certainty for Territorians in the future. They know, on 1 January next year, there will be a 5% increase, and on 1 January the following year there will be a 5% increase.
I cannot do much about the carbon tax coming in on 1 July. The only people who can do something about the carbon tax which increases the price of electricity in the Northern Territory is Territorians. They can vote Julia Gillard out. They can save themselves some money on electricity.
We did not just work in the urban centres, member for Arnhem; we also took action in the bush and have $50 credit vouchers going out to all bush residents.
We analysed how much people had spent with the increase and it was about $47. Minister for Essential Services - $46 and some change. We rounded it up to $50 and are crediting people with $50. That is us saying we support all Territorians, member for Nhulunbuy, all Territorians.
We knew those charges were causing pain to Territorians but we were trying to repay Labor’s debt. We have taken the step back, moved it from a four-year to a six-year cycle to get our fiscal imbalance right, and then start paying back Labor’s $5.5bn debt. We have taken the pain up front because while we are trying to repay your Labor debt we do not want to hurt Territorians, but we are in a tough position paying back your debt.
I believe it is very important that the Leader of the Opposition fronts the media and apologises to every Territorian for the fiscal state she left the Northern Territory in - $5.5bn. Apologise to people for the way you left the Territory’s finances.
Member for Wanguri, why not challenge the Opposition Leader? You are a dead bunch walking with someone who left the Territory in such a poor fiscal state. You need a new leader.
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister must know he should direct his comments through the Chair.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Nhulunbuy.
CLP Leadership Challenge
Ms LAWRIE to CHIEF MINISTER
Immediately after your coup, while Terry Mills was still in Japan, you said Terry Mills was a friend. With mates like you who needs enemies? Your knifing, cowardly and despicable actions …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 112(2)(d) imputations, (e) epithets, and (f) ironical expressions are all breaches of the standing orders.
Madam SPEAKER: Opposition Leader, if you could get to the point of your question please without any imputations, epithets or ironical expressions.
Ms LAWRIE: Well, then, Madam Speaker, I move that so much of Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent this House from censuring the member for Braitling, the now Chief Minister, for his cowardly knifing of the former Chief Minister, Terry Mills, while he was overseas representing the Territory.
Mr ELFERINK (Leader of Government Business): I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016