Mr GUNNER - 2011-10-26
Can you please update the House on the success of the government’s A Working Future Initiative?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Our A Working Future policy - policy, something that they do not have - is right at the heart of our vision for strong communities in our remote areas; right at the heart of delivering that. It is about working with local people, with the Commonwealth government, to ensure our communities grow into towns, and that those towns have the same services and infrastructure of like-sized towns around the rest of Australia. That is our vision, that is our policy, compared to the vacuum and the empty vessels that sit opposite …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: No policies, no education policy, no policy for remote communities. This is part of our Territory 2030 vision, which is a comprehensive vision for the Territory by 2030. Our vision for these towns is that they will become the economic and service delivery centres for the region they sit in.
There is an enormous amount of work going on. We are working with the town leaders through the local implementation planning process. For all our 20 towns, we have comprehensive commitments, joined up commitments between the Territory government, the Commonwealth government, and local people about building these communities into towns. It has never happened before in the history of the Northern Territory. Our smaller towns and the outstations that surround them will get the flow-on effects of better services, consolidating those services in the bigger towns.
Like everywhere else in the world, our towns need private investment to function properly. We are developing a long-term Indigenous economic development strategy to provide the right pathways. I know conversations have taken place between the land councils and the major banks about looking at financial vehicles to facilitate investment. I congratulate departments, the land councils and the banks that have participated in those very constructive forums. I am hopeful that we will see new financial vehicles created through our major four banks that will provide for private sector investment and security over that investment for these towns.
We have a vision for the Northern Territory. We have a vision for our remote communities to become towns like anywhere else in Australia. Supporting that vision, we have plans; funding; and a partnership with the Australian government that has seen more money flow to these towns and communities than has ever occurred before, unlike the members opposite, who have no vision, no plans, and absolutely no idea of where the Territory is heading.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Our A Working Future policy - policy, something that they do not have - is right at the heart of our vision for strong communities in our remote areas; right at the heart of delivering that. It is about working with local people, with the Commonwealth government, to ensure our communities grow into towns, and that those towns have the same services and infrastructure of like-sized towns around the rest of Australia. That is our vision, that is our policy, compared to the vacuum and the empty vessels that sit opposite …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Member for Greatorex!
Mr HENDERSON: No policies, no education policy, no policy for remote communities. This is part of our Territory 2030 vision, which is a comprehensive vision for the Territory by 2030. Our vision for these towns is that they will become the economic and service delivery centres for the region they sit in.
There is an enormous amount of work going on. We are working with the town leaders through the local implementation planning process. For all our 20 towns, we have comprehensive commitments, joined up commitments between the Territory government, the Commonwealth government, and local people about building these communities into towns. It has never happened before in the history of the Northern Territory. Our smaller towns and the outstations that surround them will get the flow-on effects of better services, consolidating those services in the bigger towns.
Like everywhere else in the world, our towns need private investment to function properly. We are developing a long-term Indigenous economic development strategy to provide the right pathways. I know conversations have taken place between the land councils and the major banks about looking at financial vehicles to facilitate investment. I congratulate departments, the land councils and the banks that have participated in those very constructive forums. I am hopeful that we will see new financial vehicles created through our major four banks that will provide for private sector investment and security over that investment for these towns.
We have a vision for the Northern Territory. We have a vision for our remote communities to become towns like anywhere else in Australia. Supporting that vision, we have plans; funding; and a partnership with the Australian government that has seen more money flow to these towns and communities than has ever occurred before, unlike the members opposite, who have no vision, no plans, and absolutely no idea of where the Territory is heading.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016