Mr WARREN - 2007-05-01
Since coming to office in 2001, the Martin Labor government has invested $3.3bn in cash into infrastructure. Can you please advise how Budget 2007-08 maintains this high level of investment, and why this government believes investment in infrastructure is essential for the Territory’s future?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, despite the noise from the opposition who do not, obviously, think infrastructure is useful in the Northern Territory, I am proud to lead a government that you could describe as one which loves infrastructure. We love infrastructure. More than any other government, we have focused a considerable amount of the Territory budget on infrastructure. This year, $645m in cash, and since our first …
Mrs Miller: Thanks very much, John Howard, for all that GST money.
Ms MARTIN: I thought the member for Katherine was interested. I really did but, obviously not.
Dr Lim: Do not be so condescending and get on with it.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms MARTIN: Since our first full budget in 2002, we spent, as the member for Goyder said, $3.3bn in cash. I would like to explain why: infrastructure creates jobs. This budget this year, which really is a very family friendly budget and one that focuses on what our children would want for the future, will directly sustain about 5800 jobs in construction, and probably thousands more indirectly. I am sure the businesses in Katherine will be very appreciative of that.
Infrastructure supports business. By spreading our infrastructure spend across different regions and in different sizes - small through to large contracts - we support businesses of all types, the length and breadth of the Territory. Infrastructure builds a better Territory, and we are a growing community and our community needs good infrastructure. Across the Territory, we need more houses, schools, hospitals, clinics and, importantly, better roads. Infrastructure builds the future and, by investing in infrastructure today, we can build a better Territory into the future. I believe that Budget 2007-08 achieves all those aims. There are many aspects of that infrastructure spend. It goes through Housing, Power and Water infrastructure, and importantly, includes roads, education infrastructure, and community development infrastructure like housing, a new Emergency Department in the Alice Springs Hospital, a new police station at Casuarina, cyclone upgrade facilities, and airstrips around the Territory. This is an exciting spend that supports business, supports the Territory’s ambitions, and it builds good infrastructure for our future.
It should be cheered, Madam Speaker, and it is disappointing to hear the opposition’s negativity yet again.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, despite the noise from the opposition who do not, obviously, think infrastructure is useful in the Northern Territory, I am proud to lead a government that you could describe as one which loves infrastructure. We love infrastructure. More than any other government, we have focused a considerable amount of the Territory budget on infrastructure. This year, $645m in cash, and since our first …
Mrs Miller: Thanks very much, John Howard, for all that GST money.
Ms MARTIN: I thought the member for Katherine was interested. I really did but, obviously not.
Dr Lim: Do not be so condescending and get on with it.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms MARTIN: Since our first full budget in 2002, we spent, as the member for Goyder said, $3.3bn in cash. I would like to explain why: infrastructure creates jobs. This budget this year, which really is a very family friendly budget and one that focuses on what our children would want for the future, will directly sustain about 5800 jobs in construction, and probably thousands more indirectly. I am sure the businesses in Katherine will be very appreciative of that.
Infrastructure supports business. By spreading our infrastructure spend across different regions and in different sizes - small through to large contracts - we support businesses of all types, the length and breadth of the Territory. Infrastructure builds a better Territory, and we are a growing community and our community needs good infrastructure. Across the Territory, we need more houses, schools, hospitals, clinics and, importantly, better roads. Infrastructure builds the future and, by investing in infrastructure today, we can build a better Territory into the future. I believe that Budget 2007-08 achieves all those aims. There are many aspects of that infrastructure spend. It goes through Housing, Power and Water infrastructure, and importantly, includes roads, education infrastructure, and community development infrastructure like housing, a new Emergency Department in the Alice Springs Hospital, a new police station at Casuarina, cyclone upgrade facilities, and airstrips around the Territory. This is an exciting spend that supports business, supports the Territory’s ambitions, and it builds good infrastructure for our future.
It should be cheered, Madam Speaker, and it is disappointing to hear the opposition’s negativity yet again.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016