Mr EDE - 1994-06-28
Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table a copy of the $1000m-worth of promises that the Chief Minister made during the campaign.
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Mr Perron: Are costings marked on them?
Mr EDE: I pick up the Chief Minister's interjection. In fact, unlike the ALP, he did not provide us with costings during the campaign. Nor did he provide details of how he intends to fund those policies. Obviously, we have to find out where the money will come from and when it will be spent.
Leave granted.
Mr EDE: Mr Speaker, does the Chief Minister stand behind the promises he made? As I said, these are totally uncosted and totally unfunded. Will the Chief Minister show us any indication he gave in any program that taxes and charges would be increased? If he cannot do that, how can he say that he has any mandate from Territorians to increase taxes and charges?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition may not realise that, without any tax increases whatsoever, close to $9000m will be received and spent in the next 4-year term of the Northern Territory government. The capital works program alone is some $200m a year which amounts to $800m without any tax increases. This government made a raft of undertakings during the election campaign, not only on capital works projects but other activities such as increases in police etc. We have had some experience in government over the past 16 years and I can assure members that, when the CLP prepares its election campaign undertakings, it knows exactly what it can afford and what it cannot afford. We have been able to run the Northern Territory and have the best performing economy in the country for 10 years according to a document produced by a Commonwealth authority.
Mr Ede: Which 10 years?
Mr PERRON: I believe the figures were up to 1992-93.
Mr Ede: No. 1991-92.
Mr Coulter: Let us say that it was 1991-92.
Mr PERRON: Let us say that it was 1991-92. It was the best performing economy in Australia for 10 years. I can assure members that the CLP knows how to prepare affordable election undertakings. All the undertakings that we gave during the campaign will be fulfilled and fulfilled comfortably.
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Page 1
Mr Perron: Are costings marked on them?
Mr EDE: I pick up the Chief Minister's interjection. In fact, unlike the ALP, he did not provide us with costings during the campaign. Nor did he provide details of how he intends to fund those policies. Obviously, we have to find out where the money will come from and when it will be spent.
Leave granted.
Mr EDE: Mr Speaker, does the Chief Minister stand behind the promises he made? As I said, these are totally uncosted and totally unfunded. Will the Chief Minister show us any indication he gave in any program that taxes and charges would be increased? If he cannot do that, how can he say that he has any mandate from Territorians to increase taxes and charges?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition may not realise that, without any tax increases whatsoever, close to $9000m will be received and spent in the next 4-year term of the Northern Territory government. The capital works program alone is some $200m a year which amounts to $800m without any tax increases. This government made a raft of undertakings during the election campaign, not only on capital works projects but other activities such as increases in police etc. We have had some experience in government over the past 16 years and I can assure members that, when the CLP prepares its election campaign undertakings, it knows exactly what it can afford and what it cannot afford. We have been able to run the Northern Territory and have the best performing economy in the country for 10 years according to a document produced by a Commonwealth authority.
Mr Ede: Which 10 years?
Mr PERRON: I believe the figures were up to 1992-93.
Mr Ede: No. 1991-92.
Mr Coulter: Let us say that it was 1991-92.
Mr PERRON: Let us say that it was 1991-92. It was the best performing economy in Australia for 10 years. I can assure members that the CLP knows how to prepare affordable election undertakings. All the undertakings that we gave during the campaign will be fulfilled and fulfilled comfortably.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016