Mr BURKE - 2001-10-23
When it comes to who will believed or not, I once again, refer her to what is called Kim Beazley’s Plan for Safer Communities. It totals spending of $17.85m in the financial year 2001-02; $30.75m in 2002-03; $40.75m in 2003-04; and $45.75m in 2004-05. He includes in his funding a redirection of mandatory sentencing funds, which total $15m. That is the residual of the mandatory sentencing funds that would have flowed to the Northern Territory. He also says in his costing table that the above figures reflect the full value of Kim Beazley’s Plan for Safer Communities. He also goes on to say the net impact on the budget in each of those years is: first year $1m; second year $10m; third year $25m; and fourth year $30m.
My question to the Chief Minister is simply this: has Kim Beazley made a mistake? Or, how can you guarantee to this parliament and to Territorians that the money will continue to flow to the Northern Territory, because there is no accommodation made in Kim Beazley’s Plan for Safer Communities for that money to flow to the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
There are two points here. One is, the opposition obviously feels as though Beazley is going to win the election, which is great. That is terrific. That is a real indictment on your federal colleagues. So the question is …
Mr Burke: Just answer the question. It is guaranteed under the Howard government.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Let me clarify something clearly to you. I agree that the Leader of the Opposition should use the word Kim Beazley when he was referring to the paper he was reading from, but when other people are referring to the federal Leader of the Opposition that is what they should refer to him as. Give him that courtesy.
Ms MARTIN: I will, Madam Speaker. It is interesting to hear the Opposition Leader refer to the federal Opposition Leader as the man who will be running the next government in Australia, and I welcome your support.
Let me just say very clearly: the Territory’s programs - the interpreter service, the diversionary programs - fit within federal Labor’s criteria ...
Mr Burke: Not on his costings, they don’t.
Ms MARTIN: Listen! Listen! We know that you do not have much imagination when it comes to asking questions, and ask the same one again and again and again. But listen, and I will give you the same answer.
The Office of Aboriginal Affairs spokesperson has confirmed, absolutely, that the Territory’s dollars will stay. I cannot make it any clearer. I do add a bottom line. It is terrific to think that the Opposition Leader feels that Australia will benefit from having the Beazley government in power in Canberra. I am confident the Territory will benefit as well.
My question to the Chief Minister is simply this: has Kim Beazley made a mistake? Or, how can you guarantee to this parliament and to Territorians that the money will continue to flow to the Northern Territory, because there is no accommodation made in Kim Beazley’s Plan for Safer Communities for that money to flow to the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
There are two points here. One is, the opposition obviously feels as though Beazley is going to win the election, which is great. That is terrific. That is a real indictment on your federal colleagues. So the question is …
Mr Burke: Just answer the question. It is guaranteed under the Howard government.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Let me clarify something clearly to you. I agree that the Leader of the Opposition should use the word Kim Beazley when he was referring to the paper he was reading from, but when other people are referring to the federal Leader of the Opposition that is what they should refer to him as. Give him that courtesy.
Ms MARTIN: I will, Madam Speaker. It is interesting to hear the Opposition Leader refer to the federal Opposition Leader as the man who will be running the next government in Australia, and I welcome your support.
Let me just say very clearly: the Territory’s programs - the interpreter service, the diversionary programs - fit within federal Labor’s criteria ...
Mr Burke: Not on his costings, they don’t.
Ms MARTIN: Listen! Listen! We know that you do not have much imagination when it comes to asking questions, and ask the same one again and again and again. But listen, and I will give you the same answer.
The Office of Aboriginal Affairs spokesperson has confirmed, absolutely, that the Territory’s dollars will stay. I cannot make it any clearer. I do add a bottom line. It is terrific to think that the Opposition Leader feels that Australia will benefit from having the Beazley government in power in Canberra. I am confident the Territory will benefit as well.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016