Mr BURKE - 2007-05-01
Earlier today, you mapped out the Martin government’s sixth budget, and what a sterling budget it was. Can you advise the House what the government is intending to achieve in Budget 2007-08? Does this budget provide for Territorians now and also into the future?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. He, unlike members opposite, is interested in Budget 2007-08, what it is going to do for the Territory now, and what it is going to do, importantly, for the Territory into the future. I was enormously proud to deliver the Martin government’s sixth budget. I found myself agreeing with Alexander Downer, a rare first. He said the next best job if you are not Prime Minister would be Treasurer. I can only agree. In fact, I think it is probably better than Chief Minister. You have to worry about everything as Chief Minister. With Treasury, you concentrate on the economics of the Territory, and we are in great shape, Madam Speaker.
This budget is more about growing jobs, growing the economy, and securing and improving that fantastic lifestyle that Territorians enjoy into the future. Most importantly, we set our plans for the next 12 months and put into place, very importantly, the foundations for the future development for the Territory over the next decade.
How have we done that? We have established a set of priorities that we believe are the right priorities for the future of the Territory. Those priorities are: backing business to grow the economy; improving educational outcomes; building a healthier Territory; building safer communities; and securing and improving the Territory lifestyle. They are the priorities that form the basis of Budget 2007-08. We have backed business through tax reductions and high infrastructure spending, investment in economic drivers, and sound fiscal management, in comparison to those efforts of our predecessors. We have delivered a record Employment, Education and Training budget, focused on improving our schools, supporting students and teachers, lifting outcomes, and skilling Territorians. The largest Health budget ever, with high levels of support for our hospitals ...
Members interjecting.
Mr STIRLING: They do not want to hear this. These are facts. They were unable to achieve when they were on the government benches, when they had control of Treasury …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr STIRLING: These are outcomes that they were unable to achieve themselves, and all they can do is sit and scoff meaninglessly from the sideline.
There are more health services today. There are more doctors …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, opposition members!
Mr STIRLING: … and more nurses than ever before. We have provided enormous backing for our police force and Justice Department in pursuing criminals and tackling crime. This government is securing the lifestyle of Territorians by backing sport and recreation, by backing fishing, the arts, environment, and strong support for those with a disability over the next four years with a comprehensive and strategic plan of support. There are sensible local government reforms for the future for the bush, and building a multicultural future.
Most importantly, we have drawn parameters around how we achieve this and pledged ourselves, as we have over the past five or six years, to the principles of very strong fiscal discipline - something those blokes never understood …
Members interjecting.
Mr STIRLING: They could not spell it, let alone practise it! This government is the first government in the Territory to put aside funds for the future liabilities of the Territory. We are setting aside funds today to pay for the liabilities built up by our predecessors, and we are putting in place today a plan that will secure governments of the future in a fiscal sense, be they Labor or Country Liberal.
This government has delivered four surplus budgets. This year, we are predicting a small deficit of $11m. I am most proud of the way this budget underpins the future for the Northern Territory. It sets out the plans for 2007-08 but, most importantly, it puts in place the foundations for the future development, growth and prosperity of the Territory over the next decade. That is the basis of good economic management. That is the basis of the Martin government’s approach to economic management: the right priorities, strong action, and planning for the future.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. He, unlike members opposite, is interested in Budget 2007-08, what it is going to do for the Territory now, and what it is going to do, importantly, for the Territory into the future. I was enormously proud to deliver the Martin government’s sixth budget. I found myself agreeing with Alexander Downer, a rare first. He said the next best job if you are not Prime Minister would be Treasurer. I can only agree. In fact, I think it is probably better than Chief Minister. You have to worry about everything as Chief Minister. With Treasury, you concentrate on the economics of the Territory, and we are in great shape, Madam Speaker.
This budget is more about growing jobs, growing the economy, and securing and improving that fantastic lifestyle that Territorians enjoy into the future. Most importantly, we set our plans for the next 12 months and put into place, very importantly, the foundations for the future development for the Territory over the next decade.
How have we done that? We have established a set of priorities that we believe are the right priorities for the future of the Territory. Those priorities are: backing business to grow the economy; improving educational outcomes; building a healthier Territory; building safer communities; and securing and improving the Territory lifestyle. They are the priorities that form the basis of Budget 2007-08. We have backed business through tax reductions and high infrastructure spending, investment in economic drivers, and sound fiscal management, in comparison to those efforts of our predecessors. We have delivered a record Employment, Education and Training budget, focused on improving our schools, supporting students and teachers, lifting outcomes, and skilling Territorians. The largest Health budget ever, with high levels of support for our hospitals ...
Members interjecting.
Mr STIRLING: They do not want to hear this. These are facts. They were unable to achieve when they were on the government benches, when they had control of Treasury …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr STIRLING: These are outcomes that they were unable to achieve themselves, and all they can do is sit and scoff meaninglessly from the sideline.
There are more health services today. There are more doctors …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, opposition members!
Mr STIRLING: … and more nurses than ever before. We have provided enormous backing for our police force and Justice Department in pursuing criminals and tackling crime. This government is securing the lifestyle of Territorians by backing sport and recreation, by backing fishing, the arts, environment, and strong support for those with a disability over the next four years with a comprehensive and strategic plan of support. There are sensible local government reforms for the future for the bush, and building a multicultural future.
Most importantly, we have drawn parameters around how we achieve this and pledged ourselves, as we have over the past five or six years, to the principles of very strong fiscal discipline - something those blokes never understood …
Members interjecting.
Mr STIRLING: They could not spell it, let alone practise it! This government is the first government in the Territory to put aside funds for the future liabilities of the Territory. We are setting aside funds today to pay for the liabilities built up by our predecessors, and we are putting in place today a plan that will secure governments of the future in a fiscal sense, be they Labor or Country Liberal.
This government has delivered four surplus budgets. This year, we are predicting a small deficit of $11m. I am most proud of the way this budget underpins the future for the Northern Territory. It sets out the plans for 2007-08 but, most importantly, it puts in place the foundations for the future development, growth and prosperity of the Territory over the next decade. That is the basis of good economic management. That is the basis of the Martin government’s approach to economic management: the right priorities, strong action, and planning for the future.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016