Mr ELFERINK - 2001-10-17
My question pertains to a commitment in the current budget of $8.472m to seal the Mereenie loop road from Hermannsburg to Kings Canyon. Can the minister give an unequivocal, unqualified undertaking that that money will be spent on that road and that project this year?
ANSWER
I welcome the question from the member for Macdonnell. We are conducting a review in regards to the work that is to be done on the Mereenie loop road. You have to understand the over-commitment that your government gave in regards to approving of capital works, and not putting the dollars alongside those in the program. So, what we have is a situation where we are working towards ensuring that the funding for the Mereenie loop road will be available. At the moment, the situation is one where it comes back to the budgetary situation and the deficit that we have inherited. Of course, we need to ensure that our budget is in place, and in place properly. That will allow us to continue to fund the capital works program.
Mr Elferink: A supplementary, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: No supplementary. I think he has answered the question.
Mr Stirling: Madam Speaker, I just point out this is the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory, not the Senate in Canberra where I think these members have lost the plot on supplementary ...
Madam SPEAKER: I think I have ruled on that. There is no supplementary because I think the minister answered the question.
Mr Burke: This is questioning on your ruling.
Madam SPEAKER: No he was not, he was asking a supplementary.
ANSWER
I welcome the question from the member for Macdonnell. We are conducting a review in regards to the work that is to be done on the Mereenie loop road. You have to understand the over-commitment that your government gave in regards to approving of capital works, and not putting the dollars alongside those in the program. So, what we have is a situation where we are working towards ensuring that the funding for the Mereenie loop road will be available. At the moment, the situation is one where it comes back to the budgetary situation and the deficit that we have inherited. Of course, we need to ensure that our budget is in place, and in place properly. That will allow us to continue to fund the capital works program.
Mr Elferink: A supplementary, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: No supplementary. I think he has answered the question.
Mr Stirling: Madam Speaker, I just point out this is the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory, not the Senate in Canberra where I think these members have lost the plot on supplementary ...
Madam SPEAKER: I think I have ruled on that. There is no supplementary because I think the minister answered the question.
Mr Burke: This is questioning on your ruling.
Madam SPEAKER: No he was not, he was asking a supplementary.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016