Ms LEE - 2012-11-01
Can you explain to the House why we need to look at the deficit in the non-financial public sector rather than confining ourselves to the general government sector?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. It is a good question because the former government and the Leader of the Opposition like to hide behind the general government sector which does not include accounting for the terrible state of the finances within the Power and Water Corporation. It is very important that the people of the Northern Territory understand just how this mechanism works - the non-financial public sector.
It is an important question because we need to look at the figures which include Power and Water because that is where the problem is - that is where 40% of the fiscal imbalance lies - rather than concentrating on the lower figures the Leader of the Opposition would prefer to use because they conceal her mismanagement and inability to properly ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Every government in Australia deals with the government sector deficit numbers.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I listened to the opposition claim the members of the Renewal Management Board were hacks. The only hacks I am seeing at the moment are the people across the other side of the room because they have seriously threatened the future of the Northern Territory’s financial situation.
In normal times, the state of the budget can be assessed by reference to the general government sector. This sector is generally reliant on untied revenue such as tax, and goods and services tax revenue. It also includes agencies such as Health and Education. The non-financial public sector is a broader sector as it includes both general government and public non-financial corporations which, in the Territory, include the Power and Water Corporation and the Darwin Port Corporation. They are meant to fully rely on their own revenue sources to operate. This has not been occurring under the watch of the former government.
In the Territory’s case, the Power and Water Corporation, the most significant entity in the public non-financial corporation sector, relies heavily on taxpayers’ support. We are propping up Power and Water Corporation every day, which is why this government is intent on fixing the problem and ensuring Territorians do not continue to bail out this corporation. The former government knew this corporation was in serious trouble. It was advised of that time and time again by the former board of the corporation and it chose not to act. This is a terrible state of affairs we have landed with. We do not enjoy it. The people of the Northern Territory do not enjoy having to go through these savings and possible tariff increases. The only one to blame is the former Treasurer.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. It is a good question because the former government and the Leader of the Opposition like to hide behind the general government sector which does not include accounting for the terrible state of the finances within the Power and Water Corporation. It is very important that the people of the Northern Territory understand just how this mechanism works - the non-financial public sector.
It is an important question because we need to look at the figures which include Power and Water because that is where the problem is - that is where 40% of the fiscal imbalance lies - rather than concentrating on the lower figures the Leader of the Opposition would prefer to use because they conceal her mismanagement and inability to properly ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Every government in Australia deals with the government sector deficit numbers.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I listened to the opposition claim the members of the Renewal Management Board were hacks. The only hacks I am seeing at the moment are the people across the other side of the room because they have seriously threatened the future of the Northern Territory’s financial situation.
In normal times, the state of the budget can be assessed by reference to the general government sector. This sector is generally reliant on untied revenue such as tax, and goods and services tax revenue. It also includes agencies such as Health and Education. The non-financial public sector is a broader sector as it includes both general government and public non-financial corporations which, in the Territory, include the Power and Water Corporation and the Darwin Port Corporation. They are meant to fully rely on their own revenue sources to operate. This has not been occurring under the watch of the former government.
In the Territory’s case, the Power and Water Corporation, the most significant entity in the public non-financial corporation sector, relies heavily on taxpayers’ support. We are propping up Power and Water Corporation every day, which is why this government is intent on fixing the problem and ensuring Territorians do not continue to bail out this corporation. The former government knew this corporation was in serious trouble. It was advised of that time and time again by the former board of the corporation and it chose not to act. This is a terrible state of affairs we have landed with. We do not enjoy it. The people of the Northern Territory do not enjoy having to go through these savings and possible tariff increases. The only one to blame is the former Treasurer.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016