Mr McCARTHY - 2008-09-10
The Territory is in the midst of the strongest period of economic growth in its history. Strong growth requires good planning and coordination action by government to ensure that the Territory keeps up with the services and infrastructure needs. Over the next few years, more major projects are going to come our way. Can the Chief Minister tell the House how he is bolstering the public sector to meet these growing needs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his first question in this parliament. Growth is happening right across the Northern Territory, and very excitedly for the member for Barkly, including the Barkly, including Tennant Creek, and there are some exciting projects coming onboard in Tennant Creek. I was there with other ministers the week after the election announcing major project status for Tennant Creek in regard to some of those projects. The growth is happening right across the Northern Territory, and it is growth that really is far exceeding what we envisaged.
The latest State Final Demand figures that were released through ABS just last week revised State Final Demand growth in the Northern Territory up by 7.8% in June 2008, so, State Final Demand is outgrowing the rest of the country. We have the leading economic growth in the Northern Territory. Australia is around 4.3%, we are 7.8%. I know the opposition does not like to hear good news but investment in the Northern Territory is up 20.1%; private sector investment is up 11.7% in annual terms. The largest contributing factor was business investment in machinery and equipment. So this is small business, medium business, large business in the Northern Territory investing in their businesses in machinery and equipment and that means more jobs for Territorians.
However, it does bring issues to the Northern Territory. The Jetstar hub is being established; and we have more mines coming on stream across the Northern Territory. I am absolutely determined to bring INPEX to the Northern Territory; I have done everything I can to secure that project. Our population is growing. This is all good news for the Northern Territory.
That drives a greater demand for infrastructure and for services right across the Territory. That is why I have announced today a Territory Growth Planning Unit within my Department of the Chief Minister. The unit will consist of demographers, planners, economists and other experts to coordinate activity across government to ensure that we are up with the game and up with the challenge that has been provided by the private sector and the drive in our economy to keep up to pace with infrastructure and services.
I am pleased to announce today that the unit will be headed up by Dave Malone. I know a lot of people here will know Dave Malone. He had a very successful record in the private sector. He headed up the Territory Construction Association for many years, and he will be very able and capable in heading up this unit. It will be able to provide government with the best possible advice on future needs. We will meet that advice. We have a growing Territory, a strongly growing economy, a strongly growing population, and we are going to keep up to pace with that. It is an exciting time for the Territory.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his first question in this parliament. Growth is happening right across the Northern Territory, and very excitedly for the member for Barkly, including the Barkly, including Tennant Creek, and there are some exciting projects coming onboard in Tennant Creek. I was there with other ministers the week after the election announcing major project status for Tennant Creek in regard to some of those projects. The growth is happening right across the Northern Territory, and it is growth that really is far exceeding what we envisaged.
The latest State Final Demand figures that were released through ABS just last week revised State Final Demand growth in the Northern Territory up by 7.8% in June 2008, so, State Final Demand is outgrowing the rest of the country. We have the leading economic growth in the Northern Territory. Australia is around 4.3%, we are 7.8%. I know the opposition does not like to hear good news but investment in the Northern Territory is up 20.1%; private sector investment is up 11.7% in annual terms. The largest contributing factor was business investment in machinery and equipment. So this is small business, medium business, large business in the Northern Territory investing in their businesses in machinery and equipment and that means more jobs for Territorians.
However, it does bring issues to the Northern Territory. The Jetstar hub is being established; and we have more mines coming on stream across the Northern Territory. I am absolutely determined to bring INPEX to the Northern Territory; I have done everything I can to secure that project. Our population is growing. This is all good news for the Northern Territory.
That drives a greater demand for infrastructure and for services right across the Territory. That is why I have announced today a Territory Growth Planning Unit within my Department of the Chief Minister. The unit will consist of demographers, planners, economists and other experts to coordinate activity across government to ensure that we are up with the game and up with the challenge that has been provided by the private sector and the drive in our economy to keep up to pace with infrastructure and services.
I am pleased to announce today that the unit will be headed up by Dave Malone. I know a lot of people here will know Dave Malone. He had a very successful record in the private sector. He headed up the Territory Construction Association for many years, and he will be very able and capable in heading up this unit. It will be able to provide government with the best possible advice on future needs. We will meet that advice. We have a growing Territory, a strongly growing economy, a strongly growing population, and we are going to keep up to pace with that. It is an exciting time for the Territory.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016