Mr MILLS - 2010-05-05
I am sure one of the key reasons companies like ConocoPhillips and INPEX choose to make massive investments in places like the Northern Territory is because of the perceived level of sovereign risk, and the availability of a trained and motivated workforce. Why is it that, in the 2010-11 budget allocation for training, it is $12.3m, which is nearly 12% lower than the expenditure forecast in 2009-10? How does this cut enhance efforts to attract industrial investment in the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the Leader of the Opposition. Obviously, he has not even read BP3, the basic book. He is asking a question in this House, and has not bothered to read the explanations in Budget Paper No 3. This is the person who would try to lead the Territory. He proved himself inadequate to the task earlier today with his Budget in Reply speech and, by his question, he is showing how he does not understand any of it. I will read from page 101 for the benefit of the Leader of the Opposition.
Under Outputs and Performance for the Department of Education and Training:
As the Leader of the Opposition should …
Mr Tollner: How much has been taken out of training?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Dr BURNS: As all members, not just the Leader of the Opposition, should be aware, the Commonwealth has programs they fund for finite times. They upgrade those programs and fund them over the next periods that they want to. This is the way the Commonwealth does business, and I fully expect further programs in this area of training to come from the Commonwealth and supplement the great job the Territory is already doing.
I well remember Syd Stirling standing here and making a target of 10 000 trainees. We did that in our first term. We are on target for our second term, and you should learn a little bit about budgets, Leader of the Opposition.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question from the Leader of the Opposition. Obviously, he has not even read BP3, the basic book. He is asking a question in this House, and has not bothered to read the explanations in Budget Paper No 3. This is the person who would try to lead the Territory. He proved himself inadequate to the task earlier today with his Budget in Reply speech and, by his question, he is showing how he does not understand any of it. I will read from page 101 for the benefit of the Leader of the Opposition.
Under Outputs and Performance for the Department of Education and Training:
- The decrease in the Training output group is primarily due to a decrease in Commonwealth funding, including $4.1m for the Teaching and Learning Capital Fund, $3.6m for Better TAFE facilities and $2.94m for Skills Centres and VET Infrastructure for Indigenous People Program.
As the Leader of the Opposition should …
Mr Tollner: How much has been taken out of training?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim!
Dr BURNS: As all members, not just the Leader of the Opposition, should be aware, the Commonwealth has programs they fund for finite times. They upgrade those programs and fund them over the next periods that they want to. This is the way the Commonwealth does business, and I fully expect further programs in this area of training to come from the Commonwealth and supplement the great job the Territory is already doing.
I well remember Syd Stirling standing here and making a target of 10 000 trainees. We did that in our first term. We are on target for our second term, and you should learn a little bit about budgets, Leader of the Opposition.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016