Ms LEE - 2012-11-27
Can you explain to the House why the government will not change the introduction date or the size of the power and water increases? Can you explain how the increases will affect childcare costs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. The former Treasurer, now the Leader of the Opposition, single-handedly destroyed the Power and Water Corporation, refusing to allow incremental increases which would have meant …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker, misleading the House! The Labor government, in 2009, increased tariffs for power and water and, incrementally, CPI every year thereafter. She is misleading the House.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I did not finish my sentence.
Madam SPEAKER: Deputy Chief Minister, please be seated.
Mr ELFERINK: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker, the member well knows if she wishes to make that allegation she must do so by way of substantive motion or withdraw the allegation.
Madam SPEAKER: That is correct. Withdraw the allegation, Leader of the Opposition.
Ms LAWRIE: I withdraw ‘misleading’. She is being dishonest.
Madam SPEAKER: ‘Dishonest’ is not acceptable either. Please withdraw.
Ms LAWRIE: Okay. She is not being fulsome with the truth.
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You asked the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. I have not heard her withdraw yet.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Deputy Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The former Treasurer, now Leader of the Opposition, failed to implement increases of tariffs over the time she was Treasurer …
Ms Lawrie: 2009 tariff adjustments.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mrs LAMBLEY: Let me finish my sentence, Leader of the Opposition. You are being rude and deliberately distracting because you have a great deal to hide ...
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask you to direct the Treasurer to direct her comments through the Chair and not across the Chamber directly to members of the opposition.
Madam SPEAKER: Deputy Chief Minister, you have the call. Please direct your comments through the Chair.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Certainly. The introduction date and the size of the power and water increases were very difficult decisions for a new government. Just three months into government we had to make this enormous decision we knew would be politically unpopular, and very hurtful and harmful to every Northern Territory resident. Despite that, we knew it was a decision we had to make, and despite the campaign launched against us by the Northern Territory News, despite the bleating and the efforts of the opposition to milk it for what it is worth, this is a responsible and prudent decision.
The former government was told in many documents over many years it had to implement larger increases in tariffs than it did. The former government failed to do so, which is why we had to implement these dramatic increases in power, water and sewerage tariffs.
In relation to the …
Madam SPEAKER: Your time has expired.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. The former Treasurer, now the Leader of the Opposition, single-handedly destroyed the Power and Water Corporation, refusing to allow incremental increases which would have meant …
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker, misleading the House! The Labor government, in 2009, increased tariffs for power and water and, incrementally, CPI every year thereafter. She is misleading the House.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I did not finish my sentence.
Madam SPEAKER: Deputy Chief Minister, please be seated.
Mr ELFERINK: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker, the member well knows if she wishes to make that allegation she must do so by way of substantive motion or withdraw the allegation.
Madam SPEAKER: That is correct. Withdraw the allegation, Leader of the Opposition.
Ms LAWRIE: I withdraw ‘misleading’. She is being dishonest.
Madam SPEAKER: ‘Dishonest’ is not acceptable either. Please withdraw.
Ms LAWRIE: Okay. She is not being fulsome with the truth.
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You asked the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw. I have not heard her withdraw yet.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Deputy Chief Minister, you have the call.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The former Treasurer, now Leader of the Opposition, failed to implement increases of tariffs over the time she was Treasurer …
Ms Lawrie: 2009 tariff adjustments.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mrs LAMBLEY: Let me finish my sentence, Leader of the Opposition. You are being rude and deliberately distracting because you have a great deal to hide ...
Ms WALKER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask you to direct the Treasurer to direct her comments through the Chair and not across the Chamber directly to members of the opposition.
Madam SPEAKER: Deputy Chief Minister, you have the call. Please direct your comments through the Chair.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Certainly. The introduction date and the size of the power and water increases were very difficult decisions for a new government. Just three months into government we had to make this enormous decision we knew would be politically unpopular, and very hurtful and harmful to every Northern Territory resident. Despite that, we knew it was a decision we had to make, and despite the campaign launched against us by the Northern Territory News, despite the bleating and the efforts of the opposition to milk it for what it is worth, this is a responsible and prudent decision.
The former government was told in many documents over many years it had to implement larger increases in tariffs than it did. The former government failed to do so, which is why we had to implement these dramatic increases in power, water and sewerage tariffs.
In relation to the …
Madam SPEAKER: Your time has expired.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016