Mr BARRETT - 2014-10-21
First, congratulations to the new member for Casuarina. It is lovely to see a new member in the House this morning. There was, however, a swing towards the Giles government in the recent Casuarina by-election, and I am wondering what message this sent about public support for the government’s plans and Delia Lawrie’s leadership?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. I know the member for Blain watched on intently before his election to the seat of Blain. Thank you very much for also complimenting the new member for Casuarina; I wish you the best in your position, Lauren. I hope it goes well.
In regard to the election, there is no doubt that when we came in on 25 August 2012 we had a problem. We had huge levels of government debt, a non-performing economic sector, a huge focus on social services and the Territory was going backwards, completely unprepared for the future. We knew INPEX was coming. Was enough land being released for Territorians? Were enough houses being constructed? Look at the tourism industry. Were enough hotel rooms being built or prepared for the construction and economic booms that were coming? No, we did not.
We had to deal with all these issues. We had to deal with a lot of debt issues, and when you make tough decisions you will be unpopular, which we were at that point in time. There was a by-election in Wanguri, and we saw a 13% swing against the government. Might I say, incumbent governments that run by-elections during their term in an opposition seat can expect an 11% swing against them. We had a 13% swing against us in Wanguri.
Member for Blain, you asked the question, and in the seat of Blain, where you were successful in taking that seat from the former Chief Minister Terry Mills, there was a 5% swing against the government. What we saw on Saturday 18 October this year in the seat of Casuarina was unheard of. Never in the Territory’s history has there been a swing to an incumbent government, except now under the watch of the Leader of the Opposition, the member for Karama.
What does that say? That says two things; there are two messages. The message for government is that our message and our platform of developing northern Australia, paying back debt, driving down crime and growing jobs is starting to get out there. It is starting to penetrate. Not only from an electoral point of view are we holding our vote, but we are converting Labor voters from an electoral study point of view. Our message is getting out there. It also showed a 17-point swing against Labor in the primary vote. That is a vote of no confidence in the Opposition Leader.
The question now is to the member for Casuarina. It is a real question and test for the member for Casuarina. What does she do? It is decision time. Does she jump in the corner with the member for Karama? Does she sit alongside the member for Barkly, the bloke who handed over the Stella Maris to the dodgy unions, or does she saddle up with the member for Fannie Bay, who is now being accompanied by the member for Wanguri.
That is a tough decision you have to make, but, clearly, a 17-point swing is not where you want to be marking your vote, member for Casuarina.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr Vowles: Sit down.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Johnston, you are on a warning. I heard that.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. I know the member for Blain watched on intently before his election to the seat of Blain. Thank you very much for also complimenting the new member for Casuarina; I wish you the best in your position, Lauren. I hope it goes well.
In regard to the election, there is no doubt that when we came in on 25 August 2012 we had a problem. We had huge levels of government debt, a non-performing economic sector, a huge focus on social services and the Territory was going backwards, completely unprepared for the future. We knew INPEX was coming. Was enough land being released for Territorians? Were enough houses being constructed? Look at the tourism industry. Were enough hotel rooms being built or prepared for the construction and economic booms that were coming? No, we did not.
We had to deal with all these issues. We had to deal with a lot of debt issues, and when you make tough decisions you will be unpopular, which we were at that point in time. There was a by-election in Wanguri, and we saw a 13% swing against the government. Might I say, incumbent governments that run by-elections during their term in an opposition seat can expect an 11% swing against them. We had a 13% swing against us in Wanguri.
Member for Blain, you asked the question, and in the seat of Blain, where you were successful in taking that seat from the former Chief Minister Terry Mills, there was a 5% swing against the government. What we saw on Saturday 18 October this year in the seat of Casuarina was unheard of. Never in the Territory’s history has there been a swing to an incumbent government, except now under the watch of the Leader of the Opposition, the member for Karama.
What does that say? That says two things; there are two messages. The message for government is that our message and our platform of developing northern Australia, paying back debt, driving down crime and growing jobs is starting to get out there. It is starting to penetrate. Not only from an electoral point of view are we holding our vote, but we are converting Labor voters from an electoral study point of view. Our message is getting out there. It also showed a 17-point swing against Labor in the primary vote. That is a vote of no confidence in the Opposition Leader.
The question now is to the member for Casuarina. It is a real question and test for the member for Casuarina. What does she do? It is decision time. Does she jump in the corner with the member for Karama? Does she sit alongside the member for Barkly, the bloke who handed over the Stella Maris to the dodgy unions, or does she saddle up with the member for Fannie Bay, who is now being accompanied by the member for Wanguri.
That is a tough decision you have to make, but, clearly, a 17-point swing is not where you want to be marking your vote, member for Casuarina.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Mr Vowles: Sit down.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Johnston, you are on a warning. I heard that.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016