Ms LAWRIE - 2012-11-27
This is your election five-point plan. The first point says, ‘more money in Territorians pockets’. The last point says, ‘if we do not deliver, throw us out’. Do you still agree with your words that you should be thrown out of office?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. The tough but necessary decisions we are taking - I thank you for keeping that in front of you because time will bear it out.
More money in Territorian’s pockets - absolutely. We have been left with $750 000 every single day going to the banks to repay interest. We had to make necessary but tough decisions to ensure more of that money goes to benefit the Northern Territory, such as health, education or our community sector.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Mr MILLS: I bet this is not a point of order.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, please be seated.
Ms LAWRIE: Health, Education and every agency has had power prices hiked up by your decision.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, please be seated. It is not a point of order. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Mr MILLS: Madam Speaker, if this continues I do not believe we can operate because they are either legitimate points of order or they are not, and they are certainly not legitimate.
Ms Lawrie: You are trying to gag. It is a House of debate.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Please continue, Chief Minister.
Mr MILLS: No, you call it a point of order; it is no such thing.
The fact is these necessary, granted unpopular, but necessary - you know very well they are necessary - decisions we are taking are to ensure the money goes to the benefit of Territorians and not just servicing interest repayments of $750 000 every single day. You are solely responsible for this flow of money out of the Territory that is not benefitting the Territory. You have elevated debt to an unsustainable level. You know it for a fact, and Territorians can see this quite plainly. No matter what charade, what figures you conjure up, or what story you twist, they will see this in the long run. I do not believe they, essentially, trust you. They may be fed by the lines you are running because it is in their best interests; no one likes an unpopular or difficult decision. However, time will tell.
There will be more money because it will be going to servicing the long-term interests of the Northern Territory not the short-term political interests of the former government.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Regarding the order of the House, your predecessor was quite strident in policing frivolous points of order. Perhaps you may want to turn your attention to that as well.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, Leader of Government Business.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. The tough but necessary decisions we are taking - I thank you for keeping that in front of you because time will bear it out.
More money in Territorian’s pockets - absolutely. We have been left with $750 000 every single day going to the banks to repay interest. We had to make necessary but tough decisions to ensure more of that money goes to benefit the Northern Territory, such as health, education or our community sector.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Mr MILLS: I bet this is not a point of order.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, please be seated.
Ms LAWRIE: Health, Education and every agency has had power prices hiked up by your decision.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, please be seated. It is not a point of order. Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Mr MILLS: Madam Speaker, if this continues I do not believe we can operate because they are either legitimate points of order or they are not, and they are certainly not legitimate.
Ms Lawrie: You are trying to gag. It is a House of debate.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Please continue, Chief Minister.
Mr MILLS: No, you call it a point of order; it is no such thing.
The fact is these necessary, granted unpopular, but necessary - you know very well they are necessary - decisions we are taking are to ensure the money goes to the benefit of Territorians and not just servicing interest repayments of $750 000 every single day. You are solely responsible for this flow of money out of the Territory that is not benefitting the Territory. You have elevated debt to an unsustainable level. You know it for a fact, and Territorians can see this quite plainly. No matter what charade, what figures you conjure up, or what story you twist, they will see this in the long run. I do not believe they, essentially, trust you. They may be fed by the lines you are running because it is in their best interests; no one likes an unpopular or difficult decision. However, time will tell.
There will be more money because it will be going to servicing the long-term interests of the Northern Territory not the short-term political interests of the former government.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Regarding the order of the House, your predecessor was quite strident in policing frivolous points of order. Perhaps you may want to turn your attention to that as well.
Madam SPEAKER: Thank you, Leader of Government Business.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016