Mr MILLS - 2011-05-03
You have increased borrowings this year by a whopping $400m, from $2.5bn to $2.9bn. This is straight out maxing of the Territory credit card to help your re-election bid at next year’s Territory election. Will you admit you are mortgaging the financial interests and the future of Territorians to prop up your failing government?
ANSWER
Dear oh dear, Madam Speaker. As I have been saying when answering every question, the deficit we are in is there for one reason and one reason only: to protect jobs and, in protecting jobs, also supporting Territory families. I do not resile for one moment from taking the account into ‘a responsible modest cash deficit’ as described today by Senior Economist in national and international markets at the National Australia Bank, Mr David de Garis …
Mr Mills: ‘As far as I can tell with the little time that I have had to assess the budget’. Tell the whole story.
Mr HENDERSON: The Leader of the Opposition can say the sky is falling and the world is going to come to an end. The reality is this is about protecting jobs, supporting families, and a responsible and modest cash deficit.
I have held up the charts to show our position vis--vis the other states, the economies of Spain, Germany, the collection of G20 countries, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Portugal, Italy, Japan and Greece. Any of those major nations would love to be in the financial and fiscal position we are in, in the Northern Territory. There have been 12 000 jobs created since the GFC that would not have been created if the opposition had their hands on the fiscal levers.
In last year’s budget reply one new policy was announced by the Leader of the Opposition. Hopefully, he will have more than one tomorrow. It was a public housing super ghetto in the northern suburbs of Darwin adjacent to Marrara Christian College. It was the only announcement in last year’s budget from the Leader of the Opposition. It was absolutely caned by the community sector. Even the old Svengali of the CLP, Peter Murphy, called it an absolute joke. We have not heard hide nor hair of that particular policy announcement since then.
The Leader of the Opposition can run around saying the sky is falling, the world is coming to an end, but he has to put alternatives on the table. He has to demonstrate he has a plan. All we have is criticism, talking down the Northern Territory, and negativity from the Leader of the Opposition. No wonder so many people on his side are negative about his leadership.
This budget is about protecting jobs. As the Leader of government leading the Labor Party, I believe jobs are absolutely critical to every family in the Northern Territory. We have created 12 000 jobs since the GFC. This budget will protect another 3000 jobs and support small business to keep people employed in the Territory ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
ANSWER
Dear oh dear, Madam Speaker. As I have been saying when answering every question, the deficit we are in is there for one reason and one reason only: to protect jobs and, in protecting jobs, also supporting Territory families. I do not resile for one moment from taking the account into ‘a responsible modest cash deficit’ as described today by Senior Economist in national and international markets at the National Australia Bank, Mr David de Garis …
Mr Mills: ‘As far as I can tell with the little time that I have had to assess the budget’. Tell the whole story.
Mr HENDERSON: The Leader of the Opposition can say the sky is falling and the world is going to come to an end. The reality is this is about protecting jobs, supporting families, and a responsible and modest cash deficit.
I have held up the charts to show our position vis--vis the other states, the economies of Spain, Germany, the collection of G20 countries, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Portugal, Italy, Japan and Greece. Any of those major nations would love to be in the financial and fiscal position we are in, in the Northern Territory. There have been 12 000 jobs created since the GFC that would not have been created if the opposition had their hands on the fiscal levers.
In last year’s budget reply one new policy was announced by the Leader of the Opposition. Hopefully, he will have more than one tomorrow. It was a public housing super ghetto in the northern suburbs of Darwin adjacent to Marrara Christian College. It was the only announcement in last year’s budget from the Leader of the Opposition. It was absolutely caned by the community sector. Even the old Svengali of the CLP, Peter Murphy, called it an absolute joke. We have not heard hide nor hair of that particular policy announcement since then.
The Leader of the Opposition can run around saying the sky is falling, the world is coming to an end, but he has to put alternatives on the table. He has to demonstrate he has a plan. All we have is criticism, talking down the Northern Territory, and negativity from the Leader of the Opposition. No wonder so many people on his side are negative about his leadership.
This budget is about protecting jobs. As the Leader of government leading the Labor Party, I believe jobs are absolutely critical to every family in the Northern Territory. We have created 12 000 jobs since the GFC. This budget will protect another 3000 jobs and support small business to keep people employed in the Territory ...
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, your time has expired.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016