Mr RIOLI - 1995-05-23
Yesterday, the Treasurer told the Assembly that his increases in taxes and charges, the highest imposed by any Australian government - state, federal or territory - in the last 15 years, have been fully accepted by the people of the Northern Territory. If he is so sure that Territorians accept those high increases in taxes and charges, is he willing to have them become the central issue in the forthcoming Fannie Bay by-election?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I do not believe that I said that they were fully accepted - I may have said accepted. In any event, there is no doubt that the government's financial management and fiscal policies will come under severe scrutiny during the Fannie Bay by-election campaign. However, I think that Territorians know that they have sound economic management in the Northern Territory, and they will vote accordingly.
As I said yesterday, and I would like to substantiate it today by tabling the return from the Australian Labor Party's Northern Territory Division for the benefit of members, the record shows quite clearly that the Central Administrative Branch of the ALP lost $3000 on a chook raffle. The fact that the ...
Page 605
Members interjecting.
Mr COULTER: ... and they record $9000 back. During the Fannie Bay by-election, I will be standing up with the ALP's electoral returns, showing the people of Fannie Bay that members opposite cannot run even a chook raffle.
Mr Ede: But it was our money. It was not the taxpayers' money.
Mr COULTER: That makes it all right, does it!
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Page 606
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I do not believe that I said that they were fully accepted - I may have said accepted. In any event, there is no doubt that the government's financial management and fiscal policies will come under severe scrutiny during the Fannie Bay by-election campaign. However, I think that Territorians know that they have sound economic management in the Northern Territory, and they will vote accordingly.
As I said yesterday, and I would like to substantiate it today by tabling the return from the Australian Labor Party's Northern Territory Division for the benefit of members, the record shows quite clearly that the Central Administrative Branch of the ALP lost $3000 on a chook raffle. The fact that the ...
Page 605
Members interjecting.
Mr COULTER: ... and they record $9000 back. During the Fannie Bay by-election, I will be standing up with the ALP's electoral returns, showing the people of Fannie Bay that members opposite cannot run even a chook raffle.
Mr Ede: But it was our money. It was not the taxpayers' money.
Mr COULTER: That makes it all right, does it!
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Page 606
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016