Mr STONE - 1995-08-22
Mr STONE (Chief Minister): Mr Speaker, the member for Nhulunbuy asked me a question in relation to a letter I wrote to The Australian, following an article by Mr Greg Sheridan, who claimed, in light of the release of the Wran report, that northern development had been `a total failure' and that Darwin was `a hugely subsidised, economic pygmy'. I took grave exception to his tone ...
Mr Bailey: Why, because you are short?
Mr STONE: The member for Wanguri interjects, but I did not hear or see opposition members attack or criticise this article. That was a great disappointment because we will not go forward as a Territory unless members opposite are prepared to stand up to southern media commentators who clearly have it wrong about the Territory. I would have thought that the
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Leader of the Opposition would have put pen to paper and written a letter, even a letter to the editor, telling Mr Sheridan that the way in which he described the Territory was wrong.
Mr Manzie: He is too lazy.
Mr STONE: But he is too lazy, and he did not do that.
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr STONE: The member asked me about this paragraph of my letter:
Unemployment, almost purely as a result of growth, is 7.1%, behind only the ACT as the lowest in the country.
Were it not for the NT's unique demographic mix, we would have no unemployment at all.
That is true. The simple facts are that we have 170 000 or 180 000 people spread over 1 300 000 km2, and the greatest level of unemployment falls in remote communities, a matter of which I am acutely aware. That is why the Department of Asian Relations, Trade and Industry works very closely with ATSIC in trying to generate Aboriginal enterprises to try to stimulate job creation and employment in these communities. That paragraph was a comment on the demographics of the Territory. I am surprised that the member did not understand perhaps that that was what I was saying. Our problems are very different from those in a smaller state like Tasmania or Victoria. In Victoria, a person can travel the length of the state, from Wodonga to Melbourne, and cover over 300 miles. Thus, we have some unique problems. There is a problem in remote areas, and this government is committed absolutely to trying to generate employment and industry in those places.
Before I sit down, I would like to pass across to the member for Fannie Bay details of whom she should write to or fax - and they are free calls - to ensure that, if anyone rings 013, they will obtain her telephone number.
Mr Ede: Did you give a copy of that to Adamson?
Mr STONE: They will obtain that telephone number, because they are able to say that it is a taxpayer-funded telephone and that the taxpayer should be able to ring her!
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Mr Bailey: Why, because you are short?
Mr STONE: The member for Wanguri interjects, but I did not hear or see opposition members attack or criticise this article. That was a great disappointment because we will not go forward as a Territory unless members opposite are prepared to stand up to southern media commentators who clearly have it wrong about the Territory. I would have thought that the
Page 799
Leader of the Opposition would have put pen to paper and written a letter, even a letter to the editor, telling Mr Sheridan that the way in which he described the Territory was wrong.
Mr Manzie: He is too lazy.
Mr STONE: But he is too lazy, and he did not do that.
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr STONE: The member asked me about this paragraph of my letter:
Unemployment, almost purely as a result of growth, is 7.1%, behind only the ACT as the lowest in the country.
Were it not for the NT's unique demographic mix, we would have no unemployment at all.
That is true. The simple facts are that we have 170 000 or 180 000 people spread over 1 300 000 km2, and the greatest level of unemployment falls in remote communities, a matter of which I am acutely aware. That is why the Department of Asian Relations, Trade and Industry works very closely with ATSIC in trying to generate Aboriginal enterprises to try to stimulate job creation and employment in these communities. That paragraph was a comment on the demographics of the Territory. I am surprised that the member did not understand perhaps that that was what I was saying. Our problems are very different from those in a smaller state like Tasmania or Victoria. In Victoria, a person can travel the length of the state, from Wodonga to Melbourne, and cover over 300 miles. Thus, we have some unique problems. There is a problem in remote areas, and this government is committed absolutely to trying to generate employment and industry in those places.
Before I sit down, I would like to pass across to the member for Fannie Bay details of whom she should write to or fax - and they are free calls - to ensure that, if anyone rings 013, they will obtain her telephone number.
Mr Ede: Did you give a copy of that to Adamson?
Mr STONE: They will obtain that telephone number, because they are able to say that it is a taxpayer-funded telephone and that the taxpayer should be able to ring her!
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016