Mr HIGGINS - 2013-10-10
The Country Liberals recorded a swing towards the party in the seat of Lingiari at the recent election. Could you please outline the new policy directions that have contributed to this surge of support in the bush and how this approach contrasts with Labor’s neglect of the bush over its 11 years in office?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his great question. The member for Daly is a passionate advocate for having work done in his electorate, starting to drive economic growth, and getting real jobs happening. That is what he wants to happen.
After 11 years of failed economic management and social dysfunction in remote communities, the economic outlook in the bush is starting to rise. We are starting to see general interest and people want to see things happen.
The government is determined to see regional towns prosper, with economic opportunities in regional and remote areas, and to start sharing in the success of economic drivers we are seeing in the Northern Territory. The key to that is creating jobs, starting businesses and getting people off welfare and sit-down money.
As you know, I have started working with communities to drive economic growth. We recently visited Wadeye with the Minister for Health, talking to traditional owners, looking at economic prospectivity in Wadeye, and looking at how we can drive some of that reform. We have been working with the member for Arnhem on how we can assist in her electorate, and the member for Arafura about what can be done there.
We will soon be having conversations with the member for Namatjira about some of the economic advancement opportunities which can be conducted in Central Australia through the seat of Namatjira. These are very exciting times.
However, that goes against anything in the Labor veins. It goes against Labor principles to get people off welfare and into work. I recall over the last 11 years of government all they did was remove jobs from bush communities, break down the local decision-making capacity, get rid of the community councils, albeit not all were performing, bring in a failed shire model and take away jobs and the people’s voice.
Our government is committed to reversing that. We have a debate later today about local government reform which will, should the legislation pass, see the creation of regional councils by 1 January 2014. It will see more jobs in local areas. With some of the reforms ministers are undertaking, we will see more jobs and economic development in local areas.
One of the key things we are looking at is not just driving reforms in all communities, but focusing on larger communities which want advanced economic opportunities. We are already having some of those conversations on the Tiwi Islands. The member for Arafura is at a funeral today, but he will tell you about the economic ideologies of the Tiwi Islanders and what they want achieved. He can also talk about Maningrida, Jabiru and Oenpelli, and other areas of his electorate and what he wants to see drive change.
These are firm commitments we are working towards. It will take a number of years to fix generational concerns about welfare dependency, but those changes will occur. We will put in place the strategic framework to ensure that activity happens.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, acting Leader of Government Business, you need to advise the House who will be taking questions for members who are absent.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Sorry, I missed the jump, Madam Speaker.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his great question. The member for Daly is a passionate advocate for having work done in his electorate, starting to drive economic growth, and getting real jobs happening. That is what he wants to happen.
After 11 years of failed economic management and social dysfunction in remote communities, the economic outlook in the bush is starting to rise. We are starting to see general interest and people want to see things happen.
The government is determined to see regional towns prosper, with economic opportunities in regional and remote areas, and to start sharing in the success of economic drivers we are seeing in the Northern Territory. The key to that is creating jobs, starting businesses and getting people off welfare and sit-down money.
As you know, I have started working with communities to drive economic growth. We recently visited Wadeye with the Minister for Health, talking to traditional owners, looking at economic prospectivity in Wadeye, and looking at how we can drive some of that reform. We have been working with the member for Arnhem on how we can assist in her electorate, and the member for Arafura about what can be done there.
We will soon be having conversations with the member for Namatjira about some of the economic advancement opportunities which can be conducted in Central Australia through the seat of Namatjira. These are very exciting times.
However, that goes against anything in the Labor veins. It goes against Labor principles to get people off welfare and into work. I recall over the last 11 years of government all they did was remove jobs from bush communities, break down the local decision-making capacity, get rid of the community councils, albeit not all were performing, bring in a failed shire model and take away jobs and the people’s voice.
Our government is committed to reversing that. We have a debate later today about local government reform which will, should the legislation pass, see the creation of regional councils by 1 January 2014. It will see more jobs in local areas. With some of the reforms ministers are undertaking, we will see more jobs and economic development in local areas.
One of the key things we are looking at is not just driving reforms in all communities, but focusing on larger communities which want advanced economic opportunities. We are already having some of those conversations on the Tiwi Islands. The member for Arafura is at a funeral today, but he will tell you about the economic ideologies of the Tiwi Islanders and what they want achieved. He can also talk about Maningrida, Jabiru and Oenpelli, and other areas of his electorate and what he wants to see drive change.
These are firm commitments we are working towards. It will take a number of years to fix generational concerns about welfare dependency, but those changes will occur. We will put in place the strategic framework to ensure that activity happens.
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, acting Leader of Government Business, you need to advise the House who will be taking questions for members who are absent.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Sorry, I missed the jump, Madam Speaker.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016