Ms WALKER - 2009-05-06
Can you outline to the House the reaction to yesterday's budget, and whether you received any further positive economic news today?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Budget 2009-10 is about protecting the jobs of Territorians, building the Territory and, importantly, creating more jobs to ward against the tough economic conditions prevailing around our nation. We recognise that these are very tough economic times across Australia, and we are doing everything we can to minimise negative impact on Territory families.
The decision to increase fees and charges to reflect delivery cost was not taken lightly. The $20 per year increase on motor vehicle accident compensation is not a revenue measure. It is calculated by an independent assessor and goes directly into the MACA scheme to support the benefits of that important motor accident compensation scheme.
Protecting jobs and building the Territory was at the core of Budget 2009-10. The response from business and the wider community has been overwhelmingly positive. Our unprecedented $1.3bn in infrastructure spending has also been welcomed across the business and the wider community. Chris Young of the Chamber of Commerce has rated the budget 8 out of 10. This is a big tick of support from the Chamber for a budget delivered during the world’s first global recession in 75 years. At yesterday's Chamber of Commerce lunch, the budget was very well received by a wide cross-section of our business community. The audience feedback welcomed our focus on infrastructure, land release, and dedication to maintain the Territory's status as the lowest taxing jurisdiction for small business.
Chamber and Property Council members were also delighted that there were no new taxes and no tax increase in Budget 2009-10. Today, the Property Council President, Allan Garraway, congratulated the Henderson government for sticking to our promise not to introduce a land tax in the Territory - this supports development. Graham Kemp, from the Territory Construction Association, is a strong advocate for the construction industry. He stated today on 8 Top FM radio that: ‘It is a great budget, a courageous budget that we needed to have and it will keep the construction industry employed and moving forward’ ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: I know they do not like to hear what business is saying, but I would have thought that Territorians listening to the broadcast would be interested in what business is saying about the budget.
The record infrastructure spending will boost the construction industry across the Territory and protect jobs, maintaining our skilled workforce for when that all important private investment picks up and major projects like INPEX come online.
Budget 2009-10 boosted our roads budget to $322m compared to $80m under the CLP. As part of this record spend we have increased roads and maintenance funding, which is critical. It has been welcomed by the Automobile Association of the NT. Today on ABC radio, Ms Rita Excell of the AANT said: ‘We are really pleased that the Territory government has led and has actually increased from last year maintenance funding on our roads, and that drivers will benefit from improved maintenance on the network’.
Initiatives in Budget 2009-10 are to make housing more affordable with a $108m investment to fast-track land release, provide a new affordable housing rental company, and the new Homestart NT Scheme that lift the price and income caps. These have been welcomed by business and the community.
Tony Schelling, a Darwin home lender, stated on ABC television news last night: ‘The budget has some great things in it, particularly for the housing side for the middle to low income earners’.
We have also seen media reports of Territorians welcoming the increased price and income caps for Homestart, with a young primary school teacher with a young family in my electorate of Karama supporting the scheme. I thank the media for tracking down one of my constituents ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Whilst I appreciate the latitude offered to ministers in relation to answering questions, we are now 15 minutes into this Question Time and we have not yet answered the second question.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. There are no time limits on questions and answers.
Ms LAWRIE: Not only does the opposition not want to hear from the business community, but they do not want to hear the response to Budget 2009-10 from the mums and dads in the suburbs.
This young family in my electorate of Karama stated the new affordable housing rental company is a ‘great idea’.
Madam Speaker, the confidence Territorians have in our economy and the Henderson government’s economic management are reflected in retail trade figures released earlier today. They show retail trade has increased by a year-on-year figure of 13.2% - over three times the national figure. These numbers will inevitably moderate as the global financial crisis continues, but it shows that the NT is still leading the way in jobs and ongoing confidence in our economy ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask the Treasurer to table the document she was reading from.
Ms LAWRIE: I was referring to my notes. Do you have a problem with that? Quoting people?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. The minister has finished her reply.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. Budget 2009-10 is about protecting the jobs of Territorians, building the Territory and, importantly, creating more jobs to ward against the tough economic conditions prevailing around our nation. We recognise that these are very tough economic times across Australia, and we are doing everything we can to minimise negative impact on Territory families.
The decision to increase fees and charges to reflect delivery cost was not taken lightly. The $20 per year increase on motor vehicle accident compensation is not a revenue measure. It is calculated by an independent assessor and goes directly into the MACA scheme to support the benefits of that important motor accident compensation scheme.
Protecting jobs and building the Territory was at the core of Budget 2009-10. The response from business and the wider community has been overwhelmingly positive. Our unprecedented $1.3bn in infrastructure spending has also been welcomed across the business and the wider community. Chris Young of the Chamber of Commerce has rated the budget 8 out of 10. This is a big tick of support from the Chamber for a budget delivered during the world’s first global recession in 75 years. At yesterday's Chamber of Commerce lunch, the budget was very well received by a wide cross-section of our business community. The audience feedback welcomed our focus on infrastructure, land release, and dedication to maintain the Territory's status as the lowest taxing jurisdiction for small business.
Chamber and Property Council members were also delighted that there were no new taxes and no tax increase in Budget 2009-10. Today, the Property Council President, Allan Garraway, congratulated the Henderson government for sticking to our promise not to introduce a land tax in the Territory - this supports development. Graham Kemp, from the Territory Construction Association, is a strong advocate for the construction industry. He stated today on 8 Top FM radio that: ‘It is a great budget, a courageous budget that we needed to have and it will keep the construction industry employed and moving forward’ ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: I know they do not like to hear what business is saying, but I would have thought that Territorians listening to the broadcast would be interested in what business is saying about the budget.
The record infrastructure spending will boost the construction industry across the Territory and protect jobs, maintaining our skilled workforce for when that all important private investment picks up and major projects like INPEX come online.
Budget 2009-10 boosted our roads budget to $322m compared to $80m under the CLP. As part of this record spend we have increased roads and maintenance funding, which is critical. It has been welcomed by the Automobile Association of the NT. Today on ABC radio, Ms Rita Excell of the AANT said: ‘We are really pleased that the Territory government has led and has actually increased from last year maintenance funding on our roads, and that drivers will benefit from improved maintenance on the network’.
Initiatives in Budget 2009-10 are to make housing more affordable with a $108m investment to fast-track land release, provide a new affordable housing rental company, and the new Homestart NT Scheme that lift the price and income caps. These have been welcomed by business and the community.
Tony Schelling, a Darwin home lender, stated on ABC television news last night: ‘The budget has some great things in it, particularly for the housing side for the middle to low income earners’.
We have also seen media reports of Territorians welcoming the increased price and income caps for Homestart, with a young primary school teacher with a young family in my electorate of Karama supporting the scheme. I thank the media for tracking down one of my constituents ...
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Whilst I appreciate the latitude offered to ministers in relation to answering questions, we are now 15 minutes into this Question Time and we have not yet answered the second question.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. There are no time limits on questions and answers.
Ms LAWRIE: Not only does the opposition not want to hear from the business community, but they do not want to hear the response to Budget 2009-10 from the mums and dads in the suburbs.
This young family in my electorate of Karama stated the new affordable housing rental company is a ‘great idea’.
Madam Speaker, the confidence Territorians have in our economy and the Henderson government’s economic management are reflected in retail trade figures released earlier today. They show retail trade has increased by a year-on-year figure of 13.2% - over three times the national figure. These numbers will inevitably moderate as the global financial crisis continues, but it shows that the NT is still leading the way in jobs and ongoing confidence in our economy ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I ask the Treasurer to table the document she was reading from.
Ms LAWRIE: I was referring to my notes. Do you have a problem with that? Quoting people?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order. The minister has finished her reply.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016