Mr HIGGINS - 2013-02-19
Can you explain to the House why it was important for the Territory government to roll back spending, reduce debt, and clean up the mess at Power and Water?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. Doing nothing was not an option for our new government. We came in less than six months ago and, lo and behold, found the mess left by Labor - absolutely no money in the coffers and the credit card racked up to the max. The people across the other side of the Chamber wonder why we have had to make these incredibly difficult decisions.
The decisions we have had to make have been around the deficit and the debt left by the former Labor government, which is well documented in this Chamber. We have been on about it for months. I am pleased the member for Daly asked the question because people have to be reminded of the lies and mistruths coming from the other side of the Chamber - I withdraw ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You have advised members not to use that language other than by substantive motion in the Chamber.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I am sorry, Madam Speaker, I withdraw. The misinformation driven from the opposition is confusing the people of the Northern Territory. We came into government six months ago faced with a debt of just less than $3bn, and that will rise to $5.5bn by 2015-16 - going through the roof. The former Treasurer, the worst Treasurer in the history of the Northern Territory, knew that revenue was declining because of declining GST revenue. She did not curtail her spending; she kept spending, spending, spending.
I have to ask the question: why has the member for Casuarina not been given any portfolio responsibilities? Are we looking at another by-election down the track? The only thing they know how to do well is spend, spend, spend, ‘Let us clock up another $100 000 in a by-election’ ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I apologise for the mistake in the list I was given to read out. The member for Casuarina has, of course, many important portfolio responsibilities including shadow Health.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Let us talk about misleading parliament; that is a deliberate attempt to mislead the parliament ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! She is accusing me of deliberately misleading parliament. That is unparliamentary.
Madam SPEAKER: Deputy Chief Minister, please withdraw that statement.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I withdraw the statement, but it is curious that she forgot to mention the portfolio responsibilities of one of her most senior colleagues. You can only draw certain conclusions from that.
I remind people that 40% of the deficit can be directly attributed to the Power and Water Corporation. That is why we had to raise the tariffs for electricity, water, and sewerage. The opposition was told that in 2009 in a report commissioned by them: the Reeves’ report. They failed to do so. We were put in a position where we had to make a prudent decision, regretfully and unhappily.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. Doing nothing was not an option for our new government. We came in less than six months ago and, lo and behold, found the mess left by Labor - absolutely no money in the coffers and the credit card racked up to the max. The people across the other side of the Chamber wonder why we have had to make these incredibly difficult decisions.
The decisions we have had to make have been around the deficit and the debt left by the former Labor government, which is well documented in this Chamber. We have been on about it for months. I am pleased the member for Daly asked the question because people have to be reminded of the lies and mistruths coming from the other side of the Chamber - I withdraw ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You have advised members not to use that language other than by substantive motion in the Chamber.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I am sorry, Madam Speaker, I withdraw. The misinformation driven from the opposition is confusing the people of the Northern Territory. We came into government six months ago faced with a debt of just less than $3bn, and that will rise to $5.5bn by 2015-16 - going through the roof. The former Treasurer, the worst Treasurer in the history of the Northern Territory, knew that revenue was declining because of declining GST revenue. She did not curtail her spending; she kept spending, spending, spending.
I have to ask the question: why has the member for Casuarina not been given any portfolio responsibilities? Are we looking at another by-election down the track? The only thing they know how to do well is spend, spend, spend, ‘Let us clock up another $100 000 in a by-election’ ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I apologise for the mistake in the list I was given to read out. The member for Casuarina has, of course, many important portfolio responsibilities including shadow Health.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Mrs LAMBLEY: Let us talk about misleading parliament; that is a deliberate attempt to mislead the parliament ...
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! She is accusing me of deliberately misleading parliament. That is unparliamentary.
Madam SPEAKER: Deputy Chief Minister, please withdraw that statement.
Mrs LAMBLEY: I withdraw the statement, but it is curious that she forgot to mention the portfolio responsibilities of one of her most senior colleagues. You can only draw certain conclusions from that.
I remind people that 40% of the deficit can be directly attributed to the Power and Water Corporation. That is why we had to raise the tariffs for electricity, water, and sewerage. The opposition was told that in 2009 in a report commissioned by them: the Reeves’ report. They failed to do so. We were put in a position where we had to make a prudent decision, regretfully and unhappily.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016