Ms SCRYMGOUR - 2001-11-27
Has the government delivered on its commitment to reduce - not add, but reduce - the number of ministers? What savings for taxpayers has been produced?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is an important question. In terms of reducing the number of ministers, it was a commitment we made in the run-up to the election and a commitment we have kept. Last year, the financial cost to taxpayers of the nine - I was going to say hardworking, but it is a bit of an extravagant description – ministers in the previous administration was $9.9m, just over $1m for each minister. Labor recognised that we had ministers who were really sitting around not doing a lot. What we decided was, that if other jurisdictions can work with seven ministers so can we. We can save $2m-plus a year in doing so.
It was an initiative that was introduced from day one, and the savings are flowing. I know that the Country Liberal Party passionately opposes this savings measure. They want to defend, forever, the fact that they had nine underachieving ministers. Certainly, when you look at the budget capacity of the former Chief Minister and the former Treasurer you know that they did not understand much.
Mr Burke: At least we read what was put in front of us. At least we knew when we were pinching people’s houses, that we read it first!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: It is interesting that the Leader of the Opposition now says that it is wrong to make ministers work harder. You precious little pup! This is a Leader of the Opposition who thinks it is a bit rough to make ministers work harder. Let me tell you, I am proud of the work capacity of the ministers in this new government. They have worked hard and I think that this document today, and all the other achievements in just three months since we were sworn in - and it has only been three months to the day - is an indication of how much work has been done.
The opposition’s stance is exactly the wrong signal for the Territory public sector workers and the broader community, this business about ‘don’t work too hard, you’ll over strain yourself’. The Territory faces a huge challenge to rebuild and repair the damage caused by the CLP’s unsustainable financial situation that they left us. Your financial management really is just an indictment on the way that you ended your term in government.
We all have to share this load. I am very pleased that this savings measure is working, that we have saved more than $2m, and that these ministers here in this House work very hard and, I say, very effectively.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is an important question. In terms of reducing the number of ministers, it was a commitment we made in the run-up to the election and a commitment we have kept. Last year, the financial cost to taxpayers of the nine - I was going to say hardworking, but it is a bit of an extravagant description – ministers in the previous administration was $9.9m, just over $1m for each minister. Labor recognised that we had ministers who were really sitting around not doing a lot. What we decided was, that if other jurisdictions can work with seven ministers so can we. We can save $2m-plus a year in doing so.
It was an initiative that was introduced from day one, and the savings are flowing. I know that the Country Liberal Party passionately opposes this savings measure. They want to defend, forever, the fact that they had nine underachieving ministers. Certainly, when you look at the budget capacity of the former Chief Minister and the former Treasurer you know that they did not understand much.
Mr Burke: At least we read what was put in front of us. At least we knew when we were pinching people’s houses, that we read it first!
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: It is interesting that the Leader of the Opposition now says that it is wrong to make ministers work harder. You precious little pup! This is a Leader of the Opposition who thinks it is a bit rough to make ministers work harder. Let me tell you, I am proud of the work capacity of the ministers in this new government. They have worked hard and I think that this document today, and all the other achievements in just three months since we were sworn in - and it has only been three months to the day - is an indication of how much work has been done.
The opposition’s stance is exactly the wrong signal for the Territory public sector workers and the broader community, this business about ‘don’t work too hard, you’ll over strain yourself’. The Territory faces a huge challenge to rebuild and repair the damage caused by the CLP’s unsustainable financial situation that they left us. Your financial management really is just an indictment on the way that you ended your term in government.
We all have to share this load. I am very pleased that this savings measure is working, that we have saved more than $2m, and that these ministers here in this House work very hard and, I say, very effectively.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016