Mr LUGG - 1998-12-03
Residents across regional Australia are complaining about the withdrawal of government and private sector services and the resultant loss of jobs for locals. What steps is the Treasurer taking to prevent this happening in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I think members would be very much aware of the concern across regional Australia about the closure of banks and small businesses and the loss of jobs to the city. We were very mindful in the Planning for Growth process that we did not follow that path and place our regional centres in a position of decline. In fact, we took definite steps to ensure that that would not occur.
One would have thought that, in relation to these very important matters, the member for Nhulunbuy might have asked if there were to be any staff losses in his constituency or if there were to be any additional resources provided. The member for Barkly may well have raised issues in Question Time over the last couple of weeks in relation to matters of great concern to members in her constituency.
Mr Bailey: You never answer a question.
Mr REED: Likewise, the member for Wanguri, who is now interjecting, might have done something constructive rather than grovelling around in the gutter. However, the member for Nelson has a higher level of interest in the wellbeing of Territorians than, sadly, the 7 Labor members opposite.
Looking back, the movement away from regional centres in Australia probably started with the closure of government services in regional centres. With the retraction of jobs, people who were formerly employed by governments in regional centres had to follow their jobs into the cities or go elsewhere to find another job if it was done away with. We didn’t want to place our regional centres and their economic development and the wellbeing of residents at risk.
We are very mindful of the opportunities that lie before us to strengthen the economies of regional centres like Nhulunbuy, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and Katherine. While we could have saved millions of dollars by withdrawing staff into Darwin and providing services centrally from Darwin, we chose not to do that. I think the benefits can be demonstrated in the outcomes of that. Regional centres across the Territory will benefit from the creation of extra clerical staff, teachers and school assistant positions, including more than 40 in Alice Springs, 2 in Nhulunbuy, and up to 8 in Katherine, with Tennant Creek likely to retain its present levels.
It is important to recognise that for regional centres to maintain their economic wellbeing and opportunities for employment, Planning for Growth has in fact enhanced the situation in those centres by providing additional positions and also, in the case of school-based positions, by improving the already high standard of education. This is not only in regional centres but also in remote schools, so that we can improve the outcomes for Aboriginal students whose parents have expressed a desire for improved capacity for English being taught in the schools, to provide their children kids with better long-term prospects of employment. Regional centres have not been forgotten in the Planning for Growth exercise. They will all benefit from additional employment opportunities and enhanced levels of service.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I think members would be very much aware of the concern across regional Australia about the closure of banks and small businesses and the loss of jobs to the city. We were very mindful in the Planning for Growth process that we did not follow that path and place our regional centres in a position of decline. In fact, we took definite steps to ensure that that would not occur.
One would have thought that, in relation to these very important matters, the member for Nhulunbuy might have asked if there were to be any staff losses in his constituency or if there were to be any additional resources provided. The member for Barkly may well have raised issues in Question Time over the last couple of weeks in relation to matters of great concern to members in her constituency.
Mr Bailey: You never answer a question.
Mr REED: Likewise, the member for Wanguri, who is now interjecting, might have done something constructive rather than grovelling around in the gutter. However, the member for Nelson has a higher level of interest in the wellbeing of Territorians than, sadly, the 7 Labor members opposite.
Looking back, the movement away from regional centres in Australia probably started with the closure of government services in regional centres. With the retraction of jobs, people who were formerly employed by governments in regional centres had to follow their jobs into the cities or go elsewhere to find another job if it was done away with. We didn’t want to place our regional centres and their economic development and the wellbeing of residents at risk.
We are very mindful of the opportunities that lie before us to strengthen the economies of regional centres like Nhulunbuy, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and Katherine. While we could have saved millions of dollars by withdrawing staff into Darwin and providing services centrally from Darwin, we chose not to do that. I think the benefits can be demonstrated in the outcomes of that. Regional centres across the Territory will benefit from the creation of extra clerical staff, teachers and school assistant positions, including more than 40 in Alice Springs, 2 in Nhulunbuy, and up to 8 in Katherine, with Tennant Creek likely to retain its present levels.
It is important to recognise that for regional centres to maintain their economic wellbeing and opportunities for employment, Planning for Growth has in fact enhanced the situation in those centres by providing additional positions and also, in the case of school-based positions, by improving the already high standard of education. This is not only in regional centres but also in remote schools, so that we can improve the outcomes for Aboriginal students whose parents have expressed a desire for improved capacity for English being taught in the schools, to provide their children kids with better long-term prospects of employment. Regional centres have not been forgotten in the Planning for Growth exercise. They will all benefit from additional employment opportunities and enhanced levels of service.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016