Ms CARNEY - 2003-10-09
Today’s ABS figures show not only that 4800 fewer women had jobs in September this year than they did at the beginning of the year, but that 4300 women had given up even looking for work. What do you have to say to those Territory women who have given up looking for work under your government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, if the member for Araluen had been listening to the last three answers from this side of the House, she would have had that question quite clearly answered. However, obviously, you were not listening so it gives me an opportunity to talk through the issue of the last two years again. It is interesting, because the member for Araluen has been the opposition spokesperson on tourism, and does understand the impact that the last two years have had on the tourism market. Despite the fact that we have hotels in Katherine that cannot get the staff they need to fill a lot of the positions that are traditionally done by women, the last two years have seen a very severe impact on our tourism prospects. However, we believe that the corner is again being turned in that area.
It has been tough. Certainly, the very flat economy that we inherited is picking up. Once an economy has been allowed to fall away, it does take time to pick it up. This was a specialty of the previous administration, that the economy was allowed, from 1997, to head in a downward direction. It takes a little longer than immediately coming to government to be able to turn that around. The whole economic picture is picking up. BIS Shrapnel is talking about a 4.5% growth in our economy for the next five years. Even though the opposition continues to say that nothing is happening and that the outlook is gloomy, it contrasts starkly with the opinion of a man I have a lot of respect for, the outgoing President of the Territory Construction Association, who gave his farewell speech at last Friday night’s TCA dinner. I would like to quote from Steve Margetic, who said:
He went on:
Can I just say that again? From last Friday, these are the words of Steve Margetic, a man with a very astute grasp, particularly on the labour market when it comes to construction:
He talks about confidence, about his industry being busy, and this will flow on more generally to our economy.
I have confidence that tourism will pick up. We have seen housing pick up. Major projects are on line, accompanied by a lot of innovative Territory businesses. Look at the report from the Minister for Communications about the ICT in Singapore and the opportunities for Territory businesses that are growing in information and communication technologies. They are there and, working in partnership with business, we are seeing this turn around.
So, continue the gloom and doom, opposition. It is not a reality. Yes, there are some areas we need to grow, but we are confident the overall picture is heading in the up direction. We would appreciate a little more confidence in our Territory economy - that is your Territory economy too – from the opposition.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, if the member for Araluen had been listening to the last three answers from this side of the House, she would have had that question quite clearly answered. However, obviously, you were not listening so it gives me an opportunity to talk through the issue of the last two years again. It is interesting, because the member for Araluen has been the opposition spokesperson on tourism, and does understand the impact that the last two years have had on the tourism market. Despite the fact that we have hotels in Katherine that cannot get the staff they need to fill a lot of the positions that are traditionally done by women, the last two years have seen a very severe impact on our tourism prospects. However, we believe that the corner is again being turned in that area.
It has been tough. Certainly, the very flat economy that we inherited is picking up. Once an economy has been allowed to fall away, it does take time to pick it up. This was a specialty of the previous administration, that the economy was allowed, from 1997, to head in a downward direction. It takes a little longer than immediately coming to government to be able to turn that around. The whole economic picture is picking up. BIS Shrapnel is talking about a 4.5% growth in our economy for the next five years. Even though the opposition continues to say that nothing is happening and that the outlook is gloomy, it contrasts starkly with the opinion of a man I have a lot of respect for, the outgoing President of the Territory Construction Association, who gave his farewell speech at last Friday night’s TCA dinner. I would like to quote from Steve Margetic, who said:
- Twelve months ago there was a light on the horizon that we thought would spark the growth required to sustain a vibrant construction industry with a permanent and highly-skilled work force. The turnaround in investor confidence in the later part of this past year has been significant, and economic confidence in the Territory continues to be boosted by the certainty generated by projects such as the construction of the Darwin LNG plant and the significant upcoming Defence projects.
He went on:
- Perhaps the sector where this is being felt the most at the moment is in housing, with many builders booked up for months in advance, and an emerging shortage of some skilled trades. This is a marked turnaround from 12 months ago when month to month activity was significantly less stable.
Can I just say that again? From last Friday, these are the words of Steve Margetic, a man with a very astute grasp, particularly on the labour market when it comes to construction:
- This is a marked turnaround from 12 months ago when month to month activity was significantly less stable.
He talks about confidence, about his industry being busy, and this will flow on more generally to our economy.
I have confidence that tourism will pick up. We have seen housing pick up. Major projects are on line, accompanied by a lot of innovative Territory businesses. Look at the report from the Minister for Communications about the ICT in Singapore and the opportunities for Territory businesses that are growing in information and communication technologies. They are there and, working in partnership with business, we are seeing this turn around.
So, continue the gloom and doom, opposition. It is not a reality. Yes, there are some areas we need to grow, but we are confident the overall picture is heading in the up direction. We would appreciate a little more confidence in our Territory economy - that is your Territory economy too – from the opposition.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016