Mr EDE - 1994-12-01
Mr Speaker, I remind the minister that the latest issue of the Budget Monitor, published by Access Economics, states in relation to the Territory: 'In the Territory, the debt-to-output ratio is in the process of becoming the highest of any state or territory'. Does the Treasurer agree that the Territory's debt-to-output ratio is on track to become the highest of any state or territory? When does the Treasurer project that the Territory's debt-to-output ratio will be brought under control?
ANSWER
Here we go, Mr Speaker. Today's tactic, of the government asking no questions at all, has resulted in 13 questions from opposition members. They complained yesterday. It has taken 13 questions before the Leader of the Opposition has asked a question on debt. In fact, he has not asked a single question on debt during this whole Assembly.
Mr Ede: You have it now. Answer it!
Mr COULTER: In the dying hours of this Assembly for calendar year 1994, we are back where we started. Debt is a problem. Doom and gloom! The life of Brian is upon us today and we are all condemned to debt! Theunrepentant people over there ...
Mr EDE: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The minister has complained all the week that I have not asked him questions about debt. The reason I have not done so is that he does not answer the question.
Mr SPEAKER: There is no point of order. I ask the Leader of the Opposition to resume his seat.
Mr COULTER: The point that I am making is that the question has had almost to be pried from him, and it was 13 questions later before he could ask it of me. He was returned with his disastrous polling showing that, personally, he suffered the biggest loss ever. If 80 voters had changed their vote, he would not be here today. He continues to talk about the fact that we do not look after Aboriginal people. That is an example of where they walked away from him in droves.
Mr EDE: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The minister is demonstrating why I do not ask him questions about debt. He has no intention of answering the question.
Mr SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition is quite right.
Mr COULTER: Turning to the specific details of the Access Economics Budget Monitor, members would be aware that we have spoken to the Access Economics people. In fact, we have gone out of our way to provide them with the information that we believe they have been lacking in the past. We introduced several things this year that we had not attempted previously. We put a cap on interest payments by saying that debt would remain at a certain amount and that we would borrow only for income-generating assets in which
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the Northern Territory government intended to become involved. I am very happy with the way in which debt has been handled by this government. There is no problem with debt in the Northern Territory, and I do not care what Access Economics says.
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ANSWER
Here we go, Mr Speaker. Today's tactic, of the government asking no questions at all, has resulted in 13 questions from opposition members. They complained yesterday. It has taken 13 questions before the Leader of the Opposition has asked a question on debt. In fact, he has not asked a single question on debt during this whole Assembly.
Mr Ede: You have it now. Answer it!
Mr COULTER: In the dying hours of this Assembly for calendar year 1994, we are back where we started. Debt is a problem. Doom and gloom! The life of Brian is upon us today and we are all condemned to debt! Theunrepentant people over there ...
Mr EDE: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The minister has complained all the week that I have not asked him questions about debt. The reason I have not done so is that he does not answer the question.
Mr SPEAKER: There is no point of order. I ask the Leader of the Opposition to resume his seat.
Mr COULTER: The point that I am making is that the question has had almost to be pried from him, and it was 13 questions later before he could ask it of me. He was returned with his disastrous polling showing that, personally, he suffered the biggest loss ever. If 80 voters had changed their vote, he would not be here today. He continues to talk about the fact that we do not look after Aboriginal people. That is an example of where they walked away from him in droves.
Mr EDE: A point of order, Mr Speaker! The minister is demonstrating why I do not ask him questions about debt. He has no intention of answering the question.
Mr SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition is quite right.
Mr COULTER: Turning to the specific details of the Access Economics Budget Monitor, members would be aware that we have spoken to the Access Economics people. In fact, we have gone out of our way to provide them with the information that we believe they have been lacking in the past. We introduced several things this year that we had not attempted previously. We put a cap on interest payments by saying that debt would remain at a certain amount and that we would borrow only for income-generating assets in which
Page 381
the Northern Territory government intended to become involved. I am very happy with the way in which debt has been handled by this government. There is no problem with debt in the Northern Territory, and I do not care what Access Economics says.
Page 382
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016