Dr LIM - 2002-08-13
In his response earlier to my question on minibuses, the minister admitted that he knew something about the event, and all but admitted that he had something to do with it. From information available to me, a Darwin businessman surrendered four of his minibus licences, took one down to Alice Springs to operate as a minibus, and intended to purchase another licence from a local operator there. However, that second deal fell through. He has now been told that he must come back to Darwin to run his minibus operation, although he has operated for the last three weeks in Alice Springs.
Does the minister realise that he could only transfer minibus licences within the region and, now that this man has returned to Darwin, what compensation will the government be liable for because of the damage that has been caused to this businessman for having given up his business in Darwin, gone to Alice Springs, rented a house, now having to come all the way back, and now has a business that is one-fifth of what he previously had? Is this how the Martin government intends to grow business in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, half of the question was answered by the member for Greatorex. What he said is exactly what happened. Nobody forced that businessman to surrender licences in Darwin to go down to Alice Springs. He went of his own free will with the understanding he was going to buy a minibus in Alice Springs because the person who ran the minibus in Alice Springs was going to surrender his licence. The deal fell through. The fact that he went to all this expense to go to Alice Springs - nobody forced him to do it, it’s a free economy. You make your own economic decisions, you make your own financial decisions. He took the risk, it did not work out and, unfortunately, he has to come back to Darwin. That is how it works. If you open a shop tomorrow you do not blame the government because it fails.
The point, again, is: nobody forced him to make the financial decision; he made it himself. He went there, the deal fell through, he has to come back because when he went down there, he knew that he had permission to stay for three months only until the deal went through.
Mr STIRLING (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
Does the minister realise that he could only transfer minibus licences within the region and, now that this man has returned to Darwin, what compensation will the government be liable for because of the damage that has been caused to this businessman for having given up his business in Darwin, gone to Alice Springs, rented a house, now having to come all the way back, and now has a business that is one-fifth of what he previously had? Is this how the Martin government intends to grow business in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, half of the question was answered by the member for Greatorex. What he said is exactly what happened. Nobody forced that businessman to surrender licences in Darwin to go down to Alice Springs. He went of his own free will with the understanding he was going to buy a minibus in Alice Springs because the person who ran the minibus in Alice Springs was going to surrender his licence. The deal fell through. The fact that he went to all this expense to go to Alice Springs - nobody forced him to do it, it’s a free economy. You make your own economic decisions, you make your own financial decisions. He took the risk, it did not work out and, unfortunately, he has to come back to Darwin. That is how it works. If you open a shop tomorrow you do not blame the government because it fails.
The point, again, is: nobody forced him to make the financial decision; he made it himself. He went there, the deal fell through, he has to come back because when he went down there, he knew that he had permission to stay for three months only until the deal went through.
Mr STIRLING (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016