Mr ELFERINK - 2010-05-04
The Darwin CPI prediction for the next financial year is 3.1%, which is above the Reserve Bank’s comfort range. Why are you spending in a way that will have the effect of driving the CPI above the Reserve Bank’s comfort range, above what you are prepared to pay your public servants, and above what normal Territory families can tolerate?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is not unusual for the Darwin CPI rate to be above other rates around the nation. That is an historic situation, and it is a situation that certainly has not changed in terms of where our forecasts sit, and the member opposite would well know that.
The RBA range is in the 2% to 3%. We have come in at 2.8% for 2009-10, and we are forecasting …
Mr Elferink: Yes, but why are you heating up an economy that is already hot according to you?
Ms LAWRIE: We are forecasting – I guess he does not understand that word too well - 3.1% CPI in 2010-11. We recognised that certainly …
Mr Elferink: Are you saying we should not trust your forecasts?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin!
Ms LAWRIE: … the unions have not exactly embraced the government’s 2.5% wages policy - I think that is putting it mildly. You have seen the collective union out today lambasting it again in their response and reaction to Budget 2010-11, and that gives government a bit of a tip that they are on the right path; they are heading in the right direction when you are being lambasted to that extent.
We are committed to protecting jobs, unlike the CLP, which went to the election promising to slash public servant numbers, and in the Council of Territory Cooperation report wanted to strip away jobs in the Department of Local Government. There is a stark difference between our policies.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin! Member for Katherine! Member for Katherine!
Ms LAWRIE: Labor will protect jobs. The CLP will slash them.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is not unusual for the Darwin CPI rate to be above other rates around the nation. That is an historic situation, and it is a situation that certainly has not changed in terms of where our forecasts sit, and the member opposite would well know that.
The RBA range is in the 2% to 3%. We have come in at 2.8% for 2009-10, and we are forecasting …
Mr Elferink: Yes, but why are you heating up an economy that is already hot according to you?
Ms LAWRIE: We are forecasting – I guess he does not understand that word too well - 3.1% CPI in 2010-11. We recognised that certainly …
Mr Elferink: Are you saying we should not trust your forecasts?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin!
Ms LAWRIE: … the unions have not exactly embraced the government’s 2.5% wages policy - I think that is putting it mildly. You have seen the collective union out today lambasting it again in their response and reaction to Budget 2010-11, and that gives government a bit of a tip that they are on the right path; they are heading in the right direction when you are being lambasted to that extent.
We are committed to protecting jobs, unlike the CLP, which went to the election promising to slash public servant numbers, and in the Council of Territory Cooperation report wanted to strip away jobs in the Department of Local Government. There is a stark difference between our policies.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin! Member for Katherine! Member for Katherine!
Ms LAWRIE: Labor will protect jobs. The CLP will slash them.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016