Mr BARRETT - 2014-10-22
Given the 11 years of Labor – which neglected to support business in the Northern Territory – we have just had to endure, can the Chief Minister please outline what the government has already done to make it easier to do business in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain, who is also the parliamentary secretary for Business. He takes a very keen interest in business in the Northern Territory.
I also thank the former Ministers for Business who have led the way in driving change in the last two years we have been in government.
We have been aggressively attacking red tape and red tape removal to support business in the Northern Territory. After 11 years of Labor, the Opposition Leader has a lot to answer for as a former Minister for Business. As Treasurer, she brought in most of the red tape we are now getting rid of.
I will tell you, member for Blain, the Chamber and those listening, about some of the red tape we have removed since being in government, in areas such as construction, mining, the motor vehicle registry, licensing for trades, property conveyancing; building approvals; land titles, tourism and government procurement.
In construction and planning areas we have already introduced Australia’s first online integrated building approval lodgement system, introduced a private building certification system, shaved three months off rezoning approval titles, introduced a one-stop shop for development applications and are introducing a statutory 12-week time line for development approvals. Under the Giles government you can now lodge titles online, and from this month new developments only need one title clearance instead of the current two clearances for the same project.
We have just established a construction and development advisory committee to make recommendations about reducing red tape across the Territory. In tourism the Northern Territory government has abolished travel agent licences and made it easier for new commercial visitor accommodation registration in the Territory.
In the resources sector the Giles government has invested $23m to maximise exploration discovery and development of new mineral and petroleum licences. This is something Labor is opposed to.
We amended the Petroleum Act to allow multiple applications for exploration permits on the same title, and we have also worked with the federal government for a one-stop shop for environmental approvals.
One of the most important initiatives in red tape reduction has been the creation of a single civil administrative appeals tribunal which has already replaced 35 boards and committees across the Territory.
At a personal level, the government has made new vehicles under five years old exempt from registration inspections and created a range of online services to reduce paperwork and waiting times in government lines.
The government has just introduced a new service which is a great improvement for local businesses’ cash flow. InvoiceNTG is an online payment service which speeds up the processing of the government’s invoice payments
This is just the start of some of the red tape reduction we have implemented in government. All on this side of the Chamber, and within the support service of the bureaucracy, should be applauded for helping us remove red tape and support businesses in the Northern Territory.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain, who is also the parliamentary secretary for Business. He takes a very keen interest in business in the Northern Territory.
I also thank the former Ministers for Business who have led the way in driving change in the last two years we have been in government.
We have been aggressively attacking red tape and red tape removal to support business in the Northern Territory. After 11 years of Labor, the Opposition Leader has a lot to answer for as a former Minister for Business. As Treasurer, she brought in most of the red tape we are now getting rid of.
I will tell you, member for Blain, the Chamber and those listening, about some of the red tape we have removed since being in government, in areas such as construction, mining, the motor vehicle registry, licensing for trades, property conveyancing; building approvals; land titles, tourism and government procurement.
In construction and planning areas we have already introduced Australia’s first online integrated building approval lodgement system, introduced a private building certification system, shaved three months off rezoning approval titles, introduced a one-stop shop for development applications and are introducing a statutory 12-week time line for development approvals. Under the Giles government you can now lodge titles online, and from this month new developments only need one title clearance instead of the current two clearances for the same project.
We have just established a construction and development advisory committee to make recommendations about reducing red tape across the Territory. In tourism the Northern Territory government has abolished travel agent licences and made it easier for new commercial visitor accommodation registration in the Territory.
In the resources sector the Giles government has invested $23m to maximise exploration discovery and development of new mineral and petroleum licences. This is something Labor is opposed to.
We amended the Petroleum Act to allow multiple applications for exploration permits on the same title, and we have also worked with the federal government for a one-stop shop for environmental approvals.
One of the most important initiatives in red tape reduction has been the creation of a single civil administrative appeals tribunal which has already replaced 35 boards and committees across the Territory.
At a personal level, the government has made new vehicles under five years old exempt from registration inspections and created a range of online services to reduce paperwork and waiting times in government lines.
The government has just introduced a new service which is a great improvement for local businesses’ cash flow. InvoiceNTG is an online payment service which speeds up the processing of the government’s invoice payments
This is just the start of some of the red tape reduction we have implemented in government. All on this side of the Chamber, and within the support service of the bureaucracy, should be applauded for helping us remove red tape and support businesses in the Northern Territory.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016