Ms LAWRIE - 2003-08-19
The government is rolling out a massive capital works program to provide jobs for Territorians. Can you please update the House on how the cash flowing from the 2003-04 capital works program is supporting Territory businesses and providing jobs for Territorians?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. As you are probably aware, in my budget speech for 2003-04, I announced that the government is putting out a program in excess of $500m with a real cash allocation of $434m. This is the second-highest cash allocation against a capital works program on record. This not only allows the government to obtain the revoted projects from 2002-03, but also to start the initiatives’ infrastructure in the Northern Territory. We heard criticism before of the two years of the Martin government, but let us compare the last two years of the Burke government and the first two years of this Labor government.
This Labor government has spent $102m more in real cash in this period of time. However, not only that; with $434m, we will be supporting 2500 jobs in the Territory. My colleague, the member for Nhulunbuy, mentioned my Greek colleagues, and I know was happening before the elections. I know very well that now, if I go to the Galleria, I sit down by myself, because everybody else is out there working. I will ask members of the opposition to confirm it, because their staff are going to sit with the Greek contractors and there are not any - only the two coffee shop owners are there, sitting by themselves.
The leader of government, Clare Martin, announced $100m foreshadowed for the construction of the convention centre: that means support for jobs, retail businesses and tourism. Not only that, the port continues: $38m in the economy of the Territory, $2.5m for the completion of the Wickham Point road and the service for the LNG plant; Darwin Business Park has $6m for subdivisional works; rail passenger terminal, $9m - $6m in Darwin and nearly $3m in Katherine; Finke River Bridge on the Stuart Highway, $5m. Not only that, $1.5m for the Larapinta subdivision I announced a few minutes ago. There are initiatives like the Tiwi Islands road, $1.5m; 10 km sealing of the Tanami Road; and I do not have to mention the Mereenie Loop Road.
Again, the Leader of the Opposition criticised the government and mentioned everything about doom and gloom. I would like to quote from a leaflet produced by the Territory Construction Association. They were not our friends in the past; I would say they were friends of the other side. What they said in their August newsletter is:
The NT government forecast in the budget in May that residential construction would increase by 25% over 2003-04.
The May residential building approvals suggest the upward trend has started, with an original increase of 125.6%.
In the same month, Housing finance for the construction and purchase of new houses rose by 32%.
This all adds to anecdotal evidence that there has been a significant recovery in the housing market in the mid- to
premium range. Investors are also coming back into the housing market in a significant way.
Madam Speaker, these are not our words; these are the words of the Territory Construction Association. I am prepared to table this document so the member for Greatorex and his colleagues can have a very good look at what is happening in the Territory today.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. As you are probably aware, in my budget speech for 2003-04, I announced that the government is putting out a program in excess of $500m with a real cash allocation of $434m. This is the second-highest cash allocation against a capital works program on record. This not only allows the government to obtain the revoted projects from 2002-03, but also to start the initiatives’ infrastructure in the Northern Territory. We heard criticism before of the two years of the Martin government, but let us compare the last two years of the Burke government and the first two years of this Labor government.
This Labor government has spent $102m more in real cash in this period of time. However, not only that; with $434m, we will be supporting 2500 jobs in the Territory. My colleague, the member for Nhulunbuy, mentioned my Greek colleagues, and I know was happening before the elections. I know very well that now, if I go to the Galleria, I sit down by myself, because everybody else is out there working. I will ask members of the opposition to confirm it, because their staff are going to sit with the Greek contractors and there are not any - only the two coffee shop owners are there, sitting by themselves.
The leader of government, Clare Martin, announced $100m foreshadowed for the construction of the convention centre: that means support for jobs, retail businesses and tourism. Not only that, the port continues: $38m in the economy of the Territory, $2.5m for the completion of the Wickham Point road and the service for the LNG plant; Darwin Business Park has $6m for subdivisional works; rail passenger terminal, $9m - $6m in Darwin and nearly $3m in Katherine; Finke River Bridge on the Stuart Highway, $5m. Not only that, $1.5m for the Larapinta subdivision I announced a few minutes ago. There are initiatives like the Tiwi Islands road, $1.5m; 10 km sealing of the Tanami Road; and I do not have to mention the Mereenie Loop Road.
Again, the Leader of the Opposition criticised the government and mentioned everything about doom and gloom. I would like to quote from a leaflet produced by the Territory Construction Association. They were not our friends in the past; I would say they were friends of the other side. What they said in their August newsletter is:
The NT government forecast in the budget in May that residential construction would increase by 25% over 2003-04.
The May residential building approvals suggest the upward trend has started, with an original increase of 125.6%.
In the same month, Housing finance for the construction and purchase of new houses rose by 32%.
This all adds to anecdotal evidence that there has been a significant recovery in the housing market in the mid- to
premium range. Investors are also coming back into the housing market in a significant way.
Madam Speaker, these are not our words; these are the words of the Territory Construction Association. I am prepared to table this document so the member for Greatorex and his colleagues can have a very good look at what is happening in the Territory today.
Mr HENDERSON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016