Mr WOOD - 2009-05-05
This is a rural question. In the budget, you say you have now dropped the fuel road subsidy which enables the government to save $3.9m. You then say that your government will redirect that money into roads and public transport. Considering rural people use most of the fuel, or rely on that fuel that you are now taking that subsidy away from, why is your government not redirecting some of that money to the construction of a bicycle path along the North Australian Railway? This is something you promised to build in the last term of government, and something that rural people have been asking the government for since you were first elected.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. This government will be investing in Top End rural area significantly. We have $1m to manage the Douglas Daly Research Farm and we have really paid particular attention …
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I believe the definition of rural is being taken to the widest possible definition by the minister. I asked about the North Australian Railway bicycle path. It was a specific question.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, there is no point of order. Minister, you have the call but if you could answer the question as closely as possible.
Ms LAWRIE: One of the most significant areas of assistance in the Territory budget for the rural area will be the public transport park-and-ride facilities. They will be providing the opportunity for safe and secure park-and-ride locations for people in the rural area to get on a modern, clean and efficient public transport service to commute to work. We will have buses running through those bus interchanges as a result of this government’s $12m-plus investment in the public transport system. That investment in infrastructure in the rural area with facilities like the park-and-ride facilities were not previously provided for in the Northern Territory. It is an initiative of this Labor government. It is an initiative that Budget 2009-10 is delivering.
Mr Wood: It is a good initiative but we want a bicycle path.
Ms LAWRIE: In terms of the bicycle path, it is on the forward works program.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. This government will be investing in Top End rural area significantly. We have $1m to manage the Douglas Daly Research Farm and we have really paid particular attention …
Mr WOOD: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I believe the definition of rural is being taken to the widest possible definition by the minister. I asked about the North Australian Railway bicycle path. It was a specific question.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Nelson, there is no point of order. Minister, you have the call but if you could answer the question as closely as possible.
Ms LAWRIE: One of the most significant areas of assistance in the Territory budget for the rural area will be the public transport park-and-ride facilities. They will be providing the opportunity for safe and secure park-and-ride locations for people in the rural area to get on a modern, clean and efficient public transport service to commute to work. We will have buses running through those bus interchanges as a result of this government’s $12m-plus investment in the public transport system. That investment in infrastructure in the rural area with facilities like the park-and-ride facilities were not previously provided for in the Northern Territory. It is an initiative of this Labor government. It is an initiative that Budget 2009-10 is delivering.
Mr Wood: It is a good initiative but we want a bicycle path.
Ms LAWRIE: In terms of the bicycle path, it is on the forward works program.
Dr BURNS (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016