Mr KIELY - 2006-05-02
This morning you delivered the Martin government’s fifth full budget. Can you advise Territorians of the focus of that budget, and what priorities the Martin government has established in Budget 2006-07?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for a sensible question.
I am very proud, indeed, to deliver the Martin government’s fifth full budget and my fourth as Treasurer of the Northern Territory. The priorities of the government in this 2006-07 budget are built on: supporting and growing business and industry; improving educational outcomes; building a healthier Territory for all Territorians; providing a safer community for all Territorians; and, enhancing what we would all acknowledge is the greatest lifestyle in Australia here in the Territory.
Budget 2006-07 delivers on those priorities, and it delivers on them very well. We do this through reducing taxes. We have just heard this nonsense from the Leader of the Opposition that we are a government that is increasing taxes. Nothing could be further from the truth. I sat through a lock-up with the business world this morning, waiting for questions, waiting for anything slightly critical. Even Leon Loganathan, probably the harshest critic of this government in the whole of the Northern Territory, did not open his mouth. He had nothing to say. I said: ‘We work hard at keeping you and the business world happy, Leon, and I am pleased, from the absence of questions, that we have done so’.
At lunchtime, with the Chamber of Commerce - any critical questions? No. There were a couple of questions about detail and clarity, but nothing critical. Business loves this government because this government has looked after business in the time that it has been in office, reducing taxes, producing high levels of infrastructure spending - $482m will be rolled out this year. I would like to say that was all we spent this year, but when you look at what the Chief Minister was just talking about with Cyclone Monica and the floods, there will be increases to that infrastructure spend throughout the year as those needs become apparent.
The government is investing in strategic economic drivers for the Northern Territory: $100m for the waterfront; an additional $10m now built into the tourism marketing budget gives them the ability to go out there in any year and market to the tune of $27.6m – unheralded sort of expenditure – with a total budget of about $38.3m. There is millions in power capacity being put out through the Power and Water Corporation; and a strong social development program through record budgets in Health, Community Services, Employment, Education and Training, and Police, Fire and Emergency Services. This budget delivers all of these things, most importantly, within sound and sustainable fiscal parameters going forward.
This year, the government uses the budget framework to create thousands of jobs for Territorians and to grow and broaden the economic base in the Territory. It is another solid, effective Martin government budget. Going on the feedback thus far from the business lock-up, the media lock-up, and the Chamber of Commerce lunch …
Members interjecting.
Mr STIRLING: You blokes ought to get out and speak to business sometimes. Get out and talk to them. Unless the people you talk to are not actually members of the Chamber of Commerce and were not there at lunch - maybe that is a different thing - however, the Chamber of Commerce was very happy with this budget.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Sanderson for a sensible question.
I am very proud, indeed, to deliver the Martin government’s fifth full budget and my fourth as Treasurer of the Northern Territory. The priorities of the government in this 2006-07 budget are built on: supporting and growing business and industry; improving educational outcomes; building a healthier Territory for all Territorians; providing a safer community for all Territorians; and, enhancing what we would all acknowledge is the greatest lifestyle in Australia here in the Territory.
Budget 2006-07 delivers on those priorities, and it delivers on them very well. We do this through reducing taxes. We have just heard this nonsense from the Leader of the Opposition that we are a government that is increasing taxes. Nothing could be further from the truth. I sat through a lock-up with the business world this morning, waiting for questions, waiting for anything slightly critical. Even Leon Loganathan, probably the harshest critic of this government in the whole of the Northern Territory, did not open his mouth. He had nothing to say. I said: ‘We work hard at keeping you and the business world happy, Leon, and I am pleased, from the absence of questions, that we have done so’.
At lunchtime, with the Chamber of Commerce - any critical questions? No. There were a couple of questions about detail and clarity, but nothing critical. Business loves this government because this government has looked after business in the time that it has been in office, reducing taxes, producing high levels of infrastructure spending - $482m will be rolled out this year. I would like to say that was all we spent this year, but when you look at what the Chief Minister was just talking about with Cyclone Monica and the floods, there will be increases to that infrastructure spend throughout the year as those needs become apparent.
The government is investing in strategic economic drivers for the Northern Territory: $100m for the waterfront; an additional $10m now built into the tourism marketing budget gives them the ability to go out there in any year and market to the tune of $27.6m – unheralded sort of expenditure – with a total budget of about $38.3m. There is millions in power capacity being put out through the Power and Water Corporation; and a strong social development program through record budgets in Health, Community Services, Employment, Education and Training, and Police, Fire and Emergency Services. This budget delivers all of these things, most importantly, within sound and sustainable fiscal parameters going forward.
This year, the government uses the budget framework to create thousands of jobs for Territorians and to grow and broaden the economic base in the Territory. It is another solid, effective Martin government budget. Going on the feedback thus far from the business lock-up, the media lock-up, and the Chamber of Commerce lunch …
Members interjecting.
Mr STIRLING: You blokes ought to get out and speak to business sometimes. Get out and talk to them. Unless the people you talk to are not actually members of the Chamber of Commerce and were not there at lunch - maybe that is a different thing - however, the Chamber of Commerce was very happy with this budget.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016