Mr BALCH - 1999-04-28
Yesterday the Treasurer delivered the Northern Territory government’s 1999-00 budget. Despite the usual attempts by the Leader of the Opposition and members opposite to talk it down, can the Treasurer please advise the House what has been the community’s reception to the budget?
ANSWER
I think, Mr Speaker, that those people who follow the media reports on the budget, both locally and the financial analysts from around the country, will know that the budget has been particularly well received. The Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Development this morning presented the budget to the construction industry. I attended a Chamber of Commerce breakfast at which I did a very extensive presentation on the budget. Yesterday at lunch time, 102 business people from Darwin were also present at another budget presentation, and I have to say that it was very well received.
To reinforce that and in direct contrast to comments put forward by the Leader of the Opposition in her attempt of course to be negative - but she’s mastered being negative, she doesn’t see any good in anything, and doesn’t have the capacity to understand the information that is put before her.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: The Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to quote from a media release, said:
The NT Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomes today’s budget as a steady, no frills and achievable budget, and answers industry concerns over the new Chief Minister’s focus on continuing to do business for the Northern Territory.
Ms Carole Frost, General Manager of the Chamber, said the business community has been waiting for this budget as a guideline on the direction of the NT government. It shows the ‘business as usual’ strategy with some incentives through payroll taxation changes and little or no new taxes or increase.
Mr Stirling interjecting.
Mr REED: Well, the member for Nhulunbuy laughs. But can I say that the Chamber also welcomes, quoting from the media release, 2 changes to the NT payroll taxation system to assist small business but is concerned that big business will bear the brunt as the changes are revenue neutral, and that’s acknowledged and I acknowledged that in the speech yesterday.
But general manager Frost, went on to say that the increase of a threshold from 520 000 to 600 000 and the introduction of a flat rate of 6.75% with simplified administration systems is a big change. However, the inclusion of employee superannuation and fringe benefit tax will water down the benefits somewhat. But, overall, it was very much welcomed and a very honest account of what the process was …
Mr Stirling interjecting.
Mr REED: Well, you’d want to move on, the interjection from the member from Nhulunbuy, because you find that there’s very little in this budget of substance that you can criticise.
From the point of view of the Property Council of Australia, that’s their problem. They don’t want to listen to what the business community has to say. They don’t go out and talk to the business community. They’re not aware of what the desires of the business community are, nor are they aware of how important the Northern Territory budget is to stimulate the economy, to generate income and, of course, to be able to create jobs for Territorians, to be able to maintain the lowest unemployment rates in Australia, and to be able to maintain the highest economic growth in Australia. Of course, this is not recognised by members opposite, not recognising the umpire’s decisions in relation to ABS statistics except when they think they can use them against government.
The Property Council of Australia said: ‘NT government hands down a sound but unspectacular budget and with no new taxes or tax hikes, …’
Members interjecting
Mr REED: Well, you say boring. Let me tell you this. This is what the business community’s view was in relation to a steady as she goes budget - they welcome the steady as she goes budget because it is entirely predictable. It will maintain economic growth, low unemployment and job opportunities for Territorians. They don’t want peaks and troughs. They’re happy with the excellent growth rates. Have a look at the figures on the construction industry, private dwelling development, have a look at the figures on unemployment, and have a look at the figures on population growth. We are leading the country in relation to job opportunities and development in the Northern Territory, and it’s a sad thing that the opposition members can’t recognise that and they keep trying to put the economy down.
I table copies of those media releases and, in closing Mr Speaker, I say let’s look at where a Joan Kirner-lead recovery - and that’s who I think the Leader of the Opposition must have been tutored by; if not Joan Kirner it was certainly John Bannan who sent both of their particular states broke when they were Labor heads in a Labor government.
From the point of view of the honourable the Leader of the Opposition, what does she want to do? She want’s to reduce debt quickly, she want’s more spending for the construction industry, more spending in health, more spending in education but she wants to cut revenue. So she wants the revenue, the income of government to fall, but she wants to spend more money at the same time. Can she tell me, tell this House, before we go broke in going through that process if she had the opportunity to do it, what would she stop doing that would save money to enable her to do the additional things that she wants to do?
Would she scrap the Senior’s Card and it’s benefits to seniors? Would she scrap the funding of Territory’s First Home Buyers Scheme, 400 new home purchases by new home buyers over the last 2 years, a wonderful attribute to the success of the HomeStart Scheme and the ability for Territorians to establish a home here. Would you scrap sponsorships to Territory sporting clubs? Would you scrap funding to the Arafura Games? Would you scrap funding to the Masters Games? Would you scrap funding to the ethnic communities? What would you scrap? If you’re going to spend more money, it means you have to have something coming off the ledger at the same time. The fact that she shakes her head, and she doesn’t have the capacity to respond to it, really indicates she’s an economic illiterate.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: She’s an economic illiterate. She hasn’t got the capacity to recognise that the proposals that she’s putting forward, in relation to both expenditure, and at the same time cutting revenue, would send the Territory broke if they were applied. The budget delivered yesterday provides Territorians with a stimulus for more development, for more services for Territorians, the creation of more jobs for Territorians and a bright future for all of us.
ANSWER
I think, Mr Speaker, that those people who follow the media reports on the budget, both locally and the financial analysts from around the country, will know that the budget has been particularly well received. The Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Development this morning presented the budget to the construction industry. I attended a Chamber of Commerce breakfast at which I did a very extensive presentation on the budget. Yesterday at lunch time, 102 business people from Darwin were also present at another budget presentation, and I have to say that it was very well received.
To reinforce that and in direct contrast to comments put forward by the Leader of the Opposition in her attempt of course to be negative - but she’s mastered being negative, she doesn’t see any good in anything, and doesn’t have the capacity to understand the information that is put before her.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: The Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to quote from a media release, said:
The NT Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomes today’s budget as a steady, no frills and achievable budget, and answers industry concerns over the new Chief Minister’s focus on continuing to do business for the Northern Territory.
Ms Carole Frost, General Manager of the Chamber, said the business community has been waiting for this budget as a guideline on the direction of the NT government. It shows the ‘business as usual’ strategy with some incentives through payroll taxation changes and little or no new taxes or increase.
Mr Stirling interjecting.
Mr REED: Well, the member for Nhulunbuy laughs. But can I say that the Chamber also welcomes, quoting from the media release, 2 changes to the NT payroll taxation system to assist small business but is concerned that big business will bear the brunt as the changes are revenue neutral, and that’s acknowledged and I acknowledged that in the speech yesterday.
But general manager Frost, went on to say that the increase of a threshold from 520 000 to 600 000 and the introduction of a flat rate of 6.75% with simplified administration systems is a big change. However, the inclusion of employee superannuation and fringe benefit tax will water down the benefits somewhat. But, overall, it was very much welcomed and a very honest account of what the process was …
Mr Stirling interjecting.
Mr REED: Well, you’d want to move on, the interjection from the member from Nhulunbuy, because you find that there’s very little in this budget of substance that you can criticise.
From the point of view of the Property Council of Australia, that’s their problem. They don’t want to listen to what the business community has to say. They don’t go out and talk to the business community. They’re not aware of what the desires of the business community are, nor are they aware of how important the Northern Territory budget is to stimulate the economy, to generate income and, of course, to be able to create jobs for Territorians, to be able to maintain the lowest unemployment rates in Australia, and to be able to maintain the highest economic growth in Australia. Of course, this is not recognised by members opposite, not recognising the umpire’s decisions in relation to ABS statistics except when they think they can use them against government.
The Property Council of Australia said: ‘NT government hands down a sound but unspectacular budget and with no new taxes or tax hikes, …’
Members interjecting
Mr REED: Well, you say boring. Let me tell you this. This is what the business community’s view was in relation to a steady as she goes budget - they welcome the steady as she goes budget because it is entirely predictable. It will maintain economic growth, low unemployment and job opportunities for Territorians. They don’t want peaks and troughs. They’re happy with the excellent growth rates. Have a look at the figures on the construction industry, private dwelling development, have a look at the figures on unemployment, and have a look at the figures on population growth. We are leading the country in relation to job opportunities and development in the Northern Territory, and it’s a sad thing that the opposition members can’t recognise that and they keep trying to put the economy down.
I table copies of those media releases and, in closing Mr Speaker, I say let’s look at where a Joan Kirner-lead recovery - and that’s who I think the Leader of the Opposition must have been tutored by; if not Joan Kirner it was certainly John Bannan who sent both of their particular states broke when they were Labor heads in a Labor government.
From the point of view of the honourable the Leader of the Opposition, what does she want to do? She want’s to reduce debt quickly, she want’s more spending for the construction industry, more spending in health, more spending in education but she wants to cut revenue. So she wants the revenue, the income of government to fall, but she wants to spend more money at the same time. Can she tell me, tell this House, before we go broke in going through that process if she had the opportunity to do it, what would she stop doing that would save money to enable her to do the additional things that she wants to do?
Would she scrap the Senior’s Card and it’s benefits to seniors? Would she scrap the funding of Territory’s First Home Buyers Scheme, 400 new home purchases by new home buyers over the last 2 years, a wonderful attribute to the success of the HomeStart Scheme and the ability for Territorians to establish a home here. Would you scrap sponsorships to Territory sporting clubs? Would you scrap funding to the Arafura Games? Would you scrap funding to the Masters Games? Would you scrap funding to the ethnic communities? What would you scrap? If you’re going to spend more money, it means you have to have something coming off the ledger at the same time. The fact that she shakes her head, and she doesn’t have the capacity to respond to it, really indicates she’s an economic illiterate.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: She’s an economic illiterate. She hasn’t got the capacity to recognise that the proposals that she’s putting forward, in relation to both expenditure, and at the same time cutting revenue, would send the Territory broke if they were applied. The budget delivered yesterday provides Territorians with a stimulus for more development, for more services for Territorians, the creation of more jobs for Territorians and a bright future for all of us.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016