Mr STIRLING - 1999-02-25
Yesterday the Chief Minister said that Darwin and Alice Springs workers should not receive a district allowance. Is he going to move to knock it off?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, of course not. I made the point yesterday that when we are looking at allowances to compensate for particular circumstances, those circumstances will always exist in some areas of the Northern Territory. Certainly I would support the pursuit of a zone allowance for those areas if it were part of a tax exemption regime rather than additional monetary compensation through a salary package or other method, because those costs are borne by somebody, mostly employers, and that is then passed on in the prices of goods and so on. So, I see that as a very short term approach.
Certainly the need for some zone exemption, I believe, will always exist in some areas. But I reiterate my hope that, in terms of Darwin and Alice Springs in particular, we will develop to such an extent that those allowances are not necessary in the future.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, of course not. I made the point yesterday that when we are looking at allowances to compensate for particular circumstances, those circumstances will always exist in some areas of the Northern Territory. Certainly I would support the pursuit of a zone allowance for those areas if it were part of a tax exemption regime rather than additional monetary compensation through a salary package or other method, because those costs are borne by somebody, mostly employers, and that is then passed on in the prices of goods and so on. So, I see that as a very short term approach.
Certainly the need for some zone exemption, I believe, will always exist in some areas. But I reiterate my hope that, in terms of Darwin and Alice Springs in particular, we will develop to such an extent that those allowances are not necessary in the future.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016