Ms WALKER - 2012-11-01
So far you have sacked about 170 public servants while hiring your hand-picked mates for highly paid plum jobs. Many of the people you have sacked now face a bleak Christmas. When will you admit it is all about you paying for plum jobs for your mates and unfunded election commitments?
ANSWER
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I see you have workshopped this. It is the same thrust.
Ms Lawrie: How much are you paying them?
Mr MILLS: That is a completely different question. I said I would provide the answer to that.
This is about the future of the Northern Territory, make no mistake about it. We are not doing this for fun; we are doing it because it has to be done. It is as simple as that
A member: Would rather not do it.
Mr MILLS: Absolutely. If we were a shallow political outfit which says, ‘Could we find another way to increase our credit limit?’, says yes to everyone who comes along, and has a strong emphasis on making the government look good today and trying to get out as quickly as possible before something starts to slip and people recognise we are having difficulty living within our means - change has come and commitments have been made. We honour those commitments. There are contract positions ...
Ms Lawrie: Katherine Hospital, Port Keats.
Mr MILLS: ... that does not constitute a sacking ...
Ms Lawrie: Yes, it does.
Mr MILLS: If money has been made available ...
Ms Lawrie: Yes, it does.
Mr MILLS: Rant on if you like, but it is annoying.
Ms Lawrie: They have no job. It is a sacking.
Mr MILLS: If Commonwealth money comes into Treasury which provides, through the agencies, delivery of a service, and positions are filled around those funding programs and streams and the funding concludes - it is wrapped up in a contract - you have to make decisions. You cannot continue on. It would be sweet as anything to reach for the credit card and say, ‘Look no one is getting too upset here, we will ratchet it up and won’t worry about the children. Don’t worry about the debt for next year or the year after and the children’s children. Don’t worry about it, hopefully it will work out’. We cannot take that approach.
It is a serious government and I take offence to the assertion we are driven by finding friends so they can do something for us we enjoy. We are making hard decisions and getting the best possible advice. I suggest if you are going to characterise these people who have provided quality and long-term excellent service to the Northern Territory in the way you have, you will find yourself in a small group. I have enough manners not to mention some of the names of characters employed by the former government without any advertising on $1m contracts.
I will not mention their names. I will not characterise their service, but the same things you have accused me of without the characterisation I will provide, you have done precisely the same. You have no shame.
ANSWER
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I see you have workshopped this. It is the same thrust.
Ms Lawrie: How much are you paying them?
Mr MILLS: That is a completely different question. I said I would provide the answer to that.
This is about the future of the Northern Territory, make no mistake about it. We are not doing this for fun; we are doing it because it has to be done. It is as simple as that
A member: Would rather not do it.
Mr MILLS: Absolutely. If we were a shallow political outfit which says, ‘Could we find another way to increase our credit limit?’, says yes to everyone who comes along, and has a strong emphasis on making the government look good today and trying to get out as quickly as possible before something starts to slip and people recognise we are having difficulty living within our means - change has come and commitments have been made. We honour those commitments. There are contract positions ...
Ms Lawrie: Katherine Hospital, Port Keats.
Mr MILLS: ... that does not constitute a sacking ...
Ms Lawrie: Yes, it does.
Mr MILLS: If money has been made available ...
Ms Lawrie: Yes, it does.
Mr MILLS: Rant on if you like, but it is annoying.
Ms Lawrie: They have no job. It is a sacking.
Mr MILLS: If Commonwealth money comes into Treasury which provides, through the agencies, delivery of a service, and positions are filled around those funding programs and streams and the funding concludes - it is wrapped up in a contract - you have to make decisions. You cannot continue on. It would be sweet as anything to reach for the credit card and say, ‘Look no one is getting too upset here, we will ratchet it up and won’t worry about the children. Don’t worry about the debt for next year or the year after and the children’s children. Don’t worry about it, hopefully it will work out’. We cannot take that approach.
It is a serious government and I take offence to the assertion we are driven by finding friends so they can do something for us we enjoy. We are making hard decisions and getting the best possible advice. I suggest if you are going to characterise these people who have provided quality and long-term excellent service to the Northern Territory in the way you have, you will find yourself in a small group. I have enough manners not to mention some of the names of characters employed by the former government without any advertising on $1m contracts.
I will not mention their names. I will not characterise their service, but the same things you have accused me of without the characterisation I will provide, you have done precisely the same. You have no shame.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016