Mr ADAMSON - 1996-10-17
On a more constructive and positive note, the most recent labour market statistics reveal that the Northern Territory continues to enjoy the lowest unemployment in the country ...
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr ADAMSON: Is the Treasurer able to confirm that the Territory continues to enjoy some of the highest growth rates in the country?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this is the kind of issue that Territorians have an intense interest in. Territorians want to ...
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr REED: You are back in the gutter. We know where your position is today. The member for Wanguri has made his position well known to Territorians. He has no interest in their welfare or their future.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order ! Would the minister please answer the question.
Mr REED: Quite rightly, the member for Casuarina put the emphasis where it should be - on the interests of Territorians. Our population grew by 2.2% to 177 500 in the 12 months to March this year, and that level of growth is second only to that of Queensland which has a growth rate of 2.6%. Our gross state product increased by 5.8% in the 12 months to June, and remains the second highest in the country. These are the sorts of spectacular results and activities that Territorians are interested in. They are not interested in the gutter. State final demand, which is what Territorians spend to keep themselves going, to put the Territory on a sound footing and to maintain good levels of unemployment, is 10.5% in real terms. That excludes international trade such as oil exports from the Timor Sea. That is what we are generating amongst ourselves, with the exception, of course, of the Labor Party which cannot get out of the gutter. The unadjusted unemployment rate for September
was 5.4%. That compares with the national average of 8.7%. Surely members opposite must recognise that these are matters that Territorians are concerned about. Surely they recognise that people are concerned that their children, their friends and their relatives have good prospects for employment? At 5.4%, the Territory has the lowest unemployment rate of any state or territory in the country by far.
In the building sector, the number of dwelling unit commencements in the Territory increased by 18.5% to 384 in the June quarter. That represents people in the construction
Page 1714
industry and elsewhere doing things, unlike members opposite who are too occupied with grovelling in the gutter. New residential approvals increased by ...
Mr Ah Kit interjecting.
Mr REED: You would not be interested. All you are interested in is hand-outs. The member for Arnhem is not interested in the wellbeing of Territorians or economic development. All he is interested in is muckraking and interjecting, while Territorians are trying to obtain some information on their situation.
New residential approvals increased by 2.5% in August while the value of those approvals rose from $15.2m in July to $17.8m in August. These are figures that reflect what Territorians are doing to develop the Territory, to keep the economy strong and to create jobs. It is only members opposite who are in the gutter.
The value of mineral and energy production increased by 9.8% in 1995-1996 to $1400m and represents one-sixth of our GSP. Mineral production contributed heavily to this growth, primarily as a result of increased gold production at Mt Todd, combined zinc, silver and lead production from McArthur River Mine, and improved manganese, alumina and bauxite production. These activities are occurring right across the Northern Territory and they are what Territorians want to hear about. The primary industries also performed well, with the value of horticultural produce increasing by 12.6% to $44.3m, while the fishing sector reported a moderate increase to $111.7m.
The outlook for the Territory is favourable. We are going ahead. This is one of the few places in this country that has this level of growth, and further growth forecasts are also encouraging in the mineral, petroleum, tourism and primary industries. Complementing this, we had a strong action budget from this government, with millions of dollars of investment to provide new facilities and new services across the Northern Territory. That includes new schools in Arnhem Land, Alice Springs, Katherine and the Darwin rural area, health service extensions, with clinics being constructed across the rural sections of the Territory, and improved roads to service industry and to encourage further activity in the tourism industry.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr REED: All you want to talk to Territorians about is the slime in the gutter, and you are part of it. You do not want to hear anything positive. Contrary to the interjections of the member for Wanguri, people listening to this broadcast are interested in business opportunities. They are interested in jobs and security. That is what Territorians are concerned about, and they are concerned about the construction by this government of more facilities to service our growing population. This CLP government is all about making that happen, about sustaining high levels of population growth, about achieving low levels of unemployment and about generating more activity in the Territory. That is what Territorians want to hear. I encourage members opposite to get out of the gutter, become constructive and positive and look to the future. Stop this unproductive grovelling and start contributing to the welfare and wellbeing of Territorians.
Page 1715
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr ADAMSON: Is the Treasurer able to confirm that the Territory continues to enjoy some of the highest growth rates in the country?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this is the kind of issue that Territorians have an intense interest in. Territorians want to ...
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr REED: You are back in the gutter. We know where your position is today. The member for Wanguri has made his position well known to Territorians. He has no interest in their welfare or their future.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order ! Would the minister please answer the question.
Mr REED: Quite rightly, the member for Casuarina put the emphasis where it should be - on the interests of Territorians. Our population grew by 2.2% to 177 500 in the 12 months to March this year, and that level of growth is second only to that of Queensland which has a growth rate of 2.6%. Our gross state product increased by 5.8% in the 12 months to June, and remains the second highest in the country. These are the sorts of spectacular results and activities that Territorians are interested in. They are not interested in the gutter. State final demand, which is what Territorians spend to keep themselves going, to put the Territory on a sound footing and to maintain good levels of unemployment, is 10.5% in real terms. That excludes international trade such as oil exports from the Timor Sea. That is what we are generating amongst ourselves, with the exception, of course, of the Labor Party which cannot get out of the gutter. The unadjusted unemployment rate for September
was 5.4%. That compares with the national average of 8.7%. Surely members opposite must recognise that these are matters that Territorians are concerned about. Surely they recognise that people are concerned that their children, their friends and their relatives have good prospects for employment? At 5.4%, the Territory has the lowest unemployment rate of any state or territory in the country by far.
In the building sector, the number of dwelling unit commencements in the Territory increased by 18.5% to 384 in the June quarter. That represents people in the construction
Page 1714
industry and elsewhere doing things, unlike members opposite who are too occupied with grovelling in the gutter. New residential approvals increased by ...
Mr Ah Kit interjecting.
Mr REED: You would not be interested. All you are interested in is hand-outs. The member for Arnhem is not interested in the wellbeing of Territorians or economic development. All he is interested in is muckraking and interjecting, while Territorians are trying to obtain some information on their situation.
New residential approvals increased by 2.5% in August while the value of those approvals rose from $15.2m in July to $17.8m in August. These are figures that reflect what Territorians are doing to develop the Territory, to keep the economy strong and to create jobs. It is only members opposite who are in the gutter.
The value of mineral and energy production increased by 9.8% in 1995-1996 to $1400m and represents one-sixth of our GSP. Mineral production contributed heavily to this growth, primarily as a result of increased gold production at Mt Todd, combined zinc, silver and lead production from McArthur River Mine, and improved manganese, alumina and bauxite production. These activities are occurring right across the Northern Territory and they are what Territorians want to hear about. The primary industries also performed well, with the value of horticultural produce increasing by 12.6% to $44.3m, while the fishing sector reported a moderate increase to $111.7m.
The outlook for the Territory is favourable. We are going ahead. This is one of the few places in this country that has this level of growth, and further growth forecasts are also encouraging in the mineral, petroleum, tourism and primary industries. Complementing this, we had a strong action budget from this government, with millions of dollars of investment to provide new facilities and new services across the Northern Territory. That includes new schools in Arnhem Land, Alice Springs, Katherine and the Darwin rural area, health service extensions, with clinics being constructed across the rural sections of the Territory, and improved roads to service industry and to encourage further activity in the tourism industry.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr REED: All you want to talk to Territorians about is the slime in the gutter, and you are part of it. You do not want to hear anything positive. Contrary to the interjections of the member for Wanguri, people listening to this broadcast are interested in business opportunities. They are interested in jobs and security. That is what Territorians are concerned about, and they are concerned about the construction by this government of more facilities to service our growing population. This CLP government is all about making that happen, about sustaining high levels of population growth, about achieving low levels of unemployment and about generating more activity in the Territory. That is what Territorians want to hear. I encourage members opposite to get out of the gutter, become constructive and positive and look to the future. Stop this unproductive grovelling and start contributing to the welfare and wellbeing of Territorians.
Page 1715
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016