Mr BARRETT - 2016-02-09
It is quite pertinent that my next question to the Treasurer follows on from the fantastic question the Leader of the Opposition just asked.
Given recent comments by the Opposition Leader about his commitment to grow 14 000 jobs a year, could you outline to the House the real facts about jobs growth under a Labor government and the reality of the state of the Northern Territory economy in relation to Australia and the rest of the world? You have three minutes. It is a big ask, so good luck.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for the question and the Opposition Leader for getting to the topic of jobs. There is nothing we on this side of the Chamber like talking about more than jobs.
To put things into context, it is interesting to note that the rest of the world is facing some pretty big economic headwinds. Europe is facing some enormous social and economic challenges, the US is coming out slowly from the bottom and China’s demand growth is dropping. The federal government has a huge debt and deficit problem courtesy of the previous Labor government. Things are looking tough around the world.
We had a plan when we came to government three years ago. We knew tough times would come at some stage, and we took steps to deal with these problems. First we tackled Labor’s projected $5.5bn debt with a plan to diversify and grow the economy. We have a plan to continue that.
The Opposition Leader claimed recently that in government he will create 14 000 jobs per year. That is a great aspiration, Leader of the Opposition. You should wind your clock back to a few years ago when Labor was in government and boasted about the jobs it created. The most it could ever brag about creating in one year was 3000 jobs. To do that, the then Treasurer spent $1.5bn priming the economy.
Effectively, the Opposition Leader is now saying he will create 14 000 jobs. Based on Labor’s calculations, that would equate to them having to spend about $5bn every year for 14 000 jobs. That is almost the entirety of Labor’s projected debt in just one year.
It is probably fair to say that his plan is economically unviable and not based on any reality at all. Again, it is another fantasyland idea from the Leader of the Opposition. As the Chief Minister highlighted, at the same time that he is creating 14 000 jobs, he is killing the onshore gas industry.
I was in Sydney late last week talking to some of our onshore producers who are threatening to pull out of the Territory. Clearly there is a threat to whether the pipeline will proceed now. There is a lot of uncertainty. If people are worried about business confidence and why it is slipping, the one place to look would be at all the members on the other side of the Chamber.
Given recent comments by the Opposition Leader about his commitment to grow 14 000 jobs a year, could you outline to the House the real facts about jobs growth under a Labor government and the reality of the state of the Northern Territory economy in relation to Australia and the rest of the world? You have three minutes. It is a big ask, so good luck.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for the question and the Opposition Leader for getting to the topic of jobs. There is nothing we on this side of the Chamber like talking about more than jobs.
To put things into context, it is interesting to note that the rest of the world is facing some pretty big economic headwinds. Europe is facing some enormous social and economic challenges, the US is coming out slowly from the bottom and China’s demand growth is dropping. The federal government has a huge debt and deficit problem courtesy of the previous Labor government. Things are looking tough around the world.
We had a plan when we came to government three years ago. We knew tough times would come at some stage, and we took steps to deal with these problems. First we tackled Labor’s projected $5.5bn debt with a plan to diversify and grow the economy. We have a plan to continue that.
The Opposition Leader claimed recently that in government he will create 14 000 jobs per year. That is a great aspiration, Leader of the Opposition. You should wind your clock back to a few years ago when Labor was in government and boasted about the jobs it created. The most it could ever brag about creating in one year was 3000 jobs. To do that, the then Treasurer spent $1.5bn priming the economy.
Effectively, the Opposition Leader is now saying he will create 14 000 jobs. Based on Labor’s calculations, that would equate to them having to spend about $5bn every year for 14 000 jobs. That is almost the entirety of Labor’s projected debt in just one year.
It is probably fair to say that his plan is economically unviable and not based on any reality at all. Again, it is another fantasyland idea from the Leader of the Opposition. As the Chief Minister highlighted, at the same time that he is creating 14 000 jobs, he is killing the onshore gas industry.
I was in Sydney late last week talking to some of our onshore producers who are threatening to pull out of the Territory. Clearly there is a threat to whether the pipeline will proceed now. There is a lot of uncertainty. If people are worried about business confidence and why it is slipping, the one place to look would be at all the members on the other side of the Chamber.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016