Ms FINOCCHIARO - 2012-10-23
Treasurer, on 6 August 2008 the former Treasurer, now Leader of the Opposition, issued a media release which claimed the former Labor government would not return to the dark days of the CLP black holes and budget deficits. Can you detail for the House the state of the Territory finances and the challenges this brings.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale, an outstanding member in our new government, for her question this morning. I know the member has a very grave concern for the state of the Territory budget we inherited just eight weeks ago.
It is true the Treasurer, now Opposition Leader, made some big promises in 2008 in respect of the Territory budget. On 6 August 2008, she issued a statement to the media I am happy to table saying:
How things have changed! Those words were rather flimsy back in 2008 and continue to be extremely flimsy in October 2012.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Although the CLP believes the global financial crisis did not exist, it did hit and every government in the nation went into deficit as a result of it.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Karama, please be seated. There is no point of order.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I take on board the very defensive comments of the Leader of the Opposition, and so she should be defensive. It must be extremely embarrassing for the Leader of the Opposition, and indeed the former Chief Minister, to be faced with the reality of every Territorian knowing exactly what the state of play is when it comes to the Territory budget.
The reason I highlight this statement is because coming into government, most Territorians, I expect, thought they were getting a true picture of the state of affairs. However, that is not the case. Even going back to May 2012, we were told the budget deficit was $767 million. Barely three months later, we found …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Treasurer is misleading the House. She is referring to the fiscal deficit in the financial sector. The budget deficit was always based on the government sector. Do not mislead the House.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Mrs LAMBLEY: Madam Speaker, I feel it is the Leader …
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, please be seated. Member for Port Darwin.
Mr ELFERINK: Again, the Leader of the Opposition seeks to make a comment which she cannot make other than by way of substantive motion. I ask she withdraws that assertion.
Ms Lawrie: Madam Speaker, I have the 2012-13 budget and I will read the underlying cash outcome ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This is not about the budget; this is about an unsubstantiated allegation made by the Leader of the Opposition. If she wants to make an allegation of misleading this House she can do so by way of substantive motion or withdraw the allegation.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Karama, do you wish to make a substantive motion?
Ms LAWRIE: I am not going to cut Question Time short for that; however, she is not telling the truth. I withdraw ‘misleading’. She is not telling the truth. The budget clearly identifies a deficit for 2012-13 at $449m.
Madam SPEAKER: Please be seated, member for Karama.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale, an outstanding member in our new government, for her question this morning. I know the member has a very grave concern for the state of the Territory budget we inherited just eight weeks ago.
It is true the Treasurer, now Opposition Leader, made some big promises in 2008 in respect of the Territory budget. On 6 August 2008, she issued a statement to the media I am happy to table saying:
- We won’t return to the dark days of CLP black holes and budget deficits.
How things have changed! Those words were rather flimsy back in 2008 and continue to be extremely flimsy in October 2012.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Although the CLP believes the global financial crisis did not exist, it did hit and every government in the nation went into deficit as a result of it.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Karama, please be seated. There is no point of order.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I take on board the very defensive comments of the Leader of the Opposition, and so she should be defensive. It must be extremely embarrassing for the Leader of the Opposition, and indeed the former Chief Minister, to be faced with the reality of every Territorian knowing exactly what the state of play is when it comes to the Territory budget.
The reason I highlight this statement is because coming into government, most Territorians, I expect, thought they were getting a true picture of the state of affairs. However, that is not the case. Even going back to May 2012, we were told the budget deficit was $767 million. Barely three months later, we found …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Treasurer is misleading the House. She is referring to the fiscal deficit in the financial sector. The budget deficit was always based on the government sector. Do not mislead the House.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Mrs LAMBLEY: Madam Speaker, I feel it is the Leader …
Madam SPEAKER: Treasurer, please be seated. Member for Port Darwin.
Mr ELFERINK: Again, the Leader of the Opposition seeks to make a comment which she cannot make other than by way of substantive motion. I ask she withdraws that assertion.
Ms Lawrie: Madam Speaker, I have the 2012-13 budget and I will read the underlying cash outcome ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This is not about the budget; this is about an unsubstantiated allegation made by the Leader of the Opposition. If she wants to make an allegation of misleading this House she can do so by way of substantive motion or withdraw the allegation.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Karama, do you wish to make a substantive motion?
Ms LAWRIE: I am not going to cut Question Time short for that; however, she is not telling the truth. I withdraw ‘misleading’. She is not telling the truth. The budget clearly identifies a deficit for 2012-13 at $449m.
Madam SPEAKER: Please be seated, member for Karama.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016