Ms MARTIN - 2001-02-27
Mr Speaker, the Territory Construction Association has been conducting a survey of members including employment outcomes and NT government management of the economy. In response to the question, how did you rate the economic management of the NT government, the preliminary results show that only 13% of members rate your economic management as ‘good.’ Thirty per cent of respondents indicated it was ‘not good.’ Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table this report.
Leave granted.
Ms MARTIN: I ask the Chief Minister, will you now admit that as Chief Minister you have failed to provide the economic leadership and management required to deliver jobs and economic growth for Territorians?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, it is disappointing that the Leader of the Opposition - I haven’t seen that survey, I don’t know, she used the word ‘preliminary’, so I’m not quite sure what that means. But on the track record of the Labor Party in this House we generally find out that these things are quite inaccurate when one analyses them at the end of the day.
But it is disappointing that the Labor Party in the Northern Territory tends to take delight in the misfortune of anything that happens which might give them a chance to rub their hands in glee with regards to the economic downturn. They seem to grab it with glee and I believe that’s quite sad and also quite irresponsible to talk down the economy at every opportunity. It is also interesting that when it comes to initiatives that the Labor Party would do in the Northern Territory, they really don’t ever come up with any initiative. I did hear one this morning where the Leader of the Opposition commenting on the new convention centre said, ‘Just do it.’ Now that is a really interesting statement because it was only a few weeks ago where the Leader of the Opposition had an opportunity to give the Labor Party’s position with regards to assisting the railway project to come to fruition, and when that got close, when the opportunity to provide assistance to ‘just do the railway’ came close it was interesting that she ran a mile, saying that the Territory government should make note were the contribution to assist that project come to fruition.
Yet today, she comes out and says with regard to the convention centre, ‘just do it’. That is incongruous when one considers the track record of the Leader of the Opposition in opposing any changes to the Darwin Hotel. If one goes back a few months and considers her position on that particular project, one wonders how one could ever have been in that position today negotiating with a preferred tenderer to ‘just do it’.
May I add, that when it comes to that particular project, this government will ensure that we negotiate a position that is a win situation for the Territorians. We are doing that earnestly with regards to that particular project. But until we reach that point we will not commit to that project because I intend to get the best deal for Territorians. I don’t intend to go out and just build, as the Leader of the Opposition would say. If anything, what the Leader of the Opposition does demonstrate is gross incompetence and a lack of any understanding of the responsibilities and decisions that government has to make. And, God willing, on behalf of Territorians, one hopes that she is never in the position whereby she is making those kinds of decisions on behalf of Territorians.
When it comes to surveys with regards to how the Northern Territory is considered, it is interesting to see the latest Yellow Pages index. Confidence levels in the Northern Territory amongst small and medium enterprises regarding their business prospects over the next 12 months have increased from 26% net from the November quarter to 40% net for the February quarter. This level of confidence is 4% above the national net balance. The Northern Territory government maintains its position as the most strongly supported state or territory government. Steven Shepherd, senior economist for Pacific Access said:
The Northern Territory government remains the most popular government amongst the small and medium enterprises community in Australia, helped in no small measure by its commitment to provide advice and guidance to the small and medium enterprise sector.
That is a demonstration of the way this government operates and it is backed up by these sorts of headlines: ‘Darwin’s ...
Mr STIRLING: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The essence of the question went to the TCA survey showing what a lousy job this government was doing. The Chief Minister has made no attempt to answer the question.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Chief Minister is attempting, in my view, to counter that argument, and I think that is really the way that he has chosen to answer the question. There is no point of order.
Mr BURKE: In response to the point of order, I certainly do not intend to attempt to counter a survey I haven’t even seen. But I can point out the activity that is going on - the confidence that is being displayed in the Northern Territory when you see projects like the $60m in private development to plan a new Chinatown for Darwin with five firms chasing a city development in that area; when we see the confidence that is being displayed by major department stores looking to either locate or enhance their presence in the CBD; when we see 31% increase in finance approvals in December for new homes; when we see the Northern Territory government spending another $105m in Darwin before the end of this financial year, and up to $167m across the Northern Territory.
Dr Toyne interjecting.
Mr BURKE: The member for Stuart said this government dreams.
Dr Toyne: No, I said you put out a lot of plans but you don’t deliver jobs.
Mr BURKE: You said yesterday this government dreams. Well, I am proud of that. I am proud that we dream on behalf of Territorians. And we make some mistakes, but we want to make sure we have realised every Territorian’s dream - every Territorian’s dream is to continue to live in the best place in Australia, to have jobs and prosperity for their children and that is what we will continue to do.
Leave granted.
Ms MARTIN: I ask the Chief Minister, will you now admit that as Chief Minister you have failed to provide the economic leadership and management required to deliver jobs and economic growth for Territorians?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, it is disappointing that the Leader of the Opposition - I haven’t seen that survey, I don’t know, she used the word ‘preliminary’, so I’m not quite sure what that means. But on the track record of the Labor Party in this House we generally find out that these things are quite inaccurate when one analyses them at the end of the day.
But it is disappointing that the Labor Party in the Northern Territory tends to take delight in the misfortune of anything that happens which might give them a chance to rub their hands in glee with regards to the economic downturn. They seem to grab it with glee and I believe that’s quite sad and also quite irresponsible to talk down the economy at every opportunity. It is also interesting that when it comes to initiatives that the Labor Party would do in the Northern Territory, they really don’t ever come up with any initiative. I did hear one this morning where the Leader of the Opposition commenting on the new convention centre said, ‘Just do it.’ Now that is a really interesting statement because it was only a few weeks ago where the Leader of the Opposition had an opportunity to give the Labor Party’s position with regards to assisting the railway project to come to fruition, and when that got close, when the opportunity to provide assistance to ‘just do the railway’ came close it was interesting that she ran a mile, saying that the Territory government should make note were the contribution to assist that project come to fruition.
Yet today, she comes out and says with regard to the convention centre, ‘just do it’. That is incongruous when one considers the track record of the Leader of the Opposition in opposing any changes to the Darwin Hotel. If one goes back a few months and considers her position on that particular project, one wonders how one could ever have been in that position today negotiating with a preferred tenderer to ‘just do it’.
May I add, that when it comes to that particular project, this government will ensure that we negotiate a position that is a win situation for the Territorians. We are doing that earnestly with regards to that particular project. But until we reach that point we will not commit to that project because I intend to get the best deal for Territorians. I don’t intend to go out and just build, as the Leader of the Opposition would say. If anything, what the Leader of the Opposition does demonstrate is gross incompetence and a lack of any understanding of the responsibilities and decisions that government has to make. And, God willing, on behalf of Territorians, one hopes that she is never in the position whereby she is making those kinds of decisions on behalf of Territorians.
When it comes to surveys with regards to how the Northern Territory is considered, it is interesting to see the latest Yellow Pages index. Confidence levels in the Northern Territory amongst small and medium enterprises regarding their business prospects over the next 12 months have increased from 26% net from the November quarter to 40% net for the February quarter. This level of confidence is 4% above the national net balance. The Northern Territory government maintains its position as the most strongly supported state or territory government. Steven Shepherd, senior economist for Pacific Access said:
The Northern Territory government remains the most popular government amongst the small and medium enterprises community in Australia, helped in no small measure by its commitment to provide advice and guidance to the small and medium enterprise sector.
That is a demonstration of the way this government operates and it is backed up by these sorts of headlines: ‘Darwin’s ...
Mr STIRLING: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The essence of the question went to the TCA survey showing what a lousy job this government was doing. The Chief Minister has made no attempt to answer the question.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Chief Minister is attempting, in my view, to counter that argument, and I think that is really the way that he has chosen to answer the question. There is no point of order.
Mr BURKE: In response to the point of order, I certainly do not intend to attempt to counter a survey I haven’t even seen. But I can point out the activity that is going on - the confidence that is being displayed in the Northern Territory when you see projects like the $60m in private development to plan a new Chinatown for Darwin with five firms chasing a city development in that area; when we see the confidence that is being displayed by major department stores looking to either locate or enhance their presence in the CBD; when we see 31% increase in finance approvals in December for new homes; when we see the Northern Territory government spending another $105m in Darwin before the end of this financial year, and up to $167m across the Northern Territory.
Dr Toyne interjecting.
Mr BURKE: The member for Stuart said this government dreams.
Dr Toyne: No, I said you put out a lot of plans but you don’t deliver jobs.
Mr BURKE: You said yesterday this government dreams. Well, I am proud of that. I am proud that we dream on behalf of Territorians. And we make some mistakes, but we want to make sure we have realised every Territorian’s dream - every Territorian’s dream is to continue to live in the best place in Australia, to have jobs and prosperity for their children and that is what we will continue to do.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016