Dr BURNS - 2002-08-22
Responsibility for delivery of essential services in remote areas was taken away from various agencies recently and given to the Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs. What benefits are there for residents in remote communities through this handing over?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Johnston for his good question. It is great to deliver more good news from the Territory’s most successful budget. The ringing endorsement from Territorians must really upset the opposition. It would particularly upset the member for Katherine and former Treasurer.
Last year’s November mini-budget transferred responsibility for essential services to remote areas from the former Power and Water Authority, and the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment’s Transport Division to my Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs.
Mr Dunham: Back to 1984.
Mr AH KIT: I will pick up on the interjection ‘Back to 1984’, because we have been addressing the budget since Tuesday, and we have had allegations from the Leader of the Opposition that the black hole was a furphy. I had a look at Hansard from last year, 29 May to 7 June and, on page 7631, when the then Treasurer was giving his report he stated:
The increase in net debt next financial year is estimated to be $12m.
I want the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the Opposition to go on record in this House and state, categorically, that Professor Percy Allan got it wrong and that he had told lies because, in one week, he found $107m deficit – one week. So, there you go. The black hole was not a furphy, and you got caught out. So do not come in here jumping up and down trying to con Territorians that we were peddling out a black hole just as a part of a mystery and a part of politics …
Mr Dunham: You were. You still are.
Mr AH KIT: You said it yesterday in your response, and I quote you:
It should be clear to all now that the black hole was nothing but a political tactic.
Mr Burke: It was.
Mr AH KIT: Well, go on record in your adjournment. You go on record and say that Percy Allan, a prominent professor in finances throughout this country, was wrong and was a liar. Because that is not what you have done yet, and that is what you should do.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, have you finished your reply?
Mr AH KIT: No, I have not.
Madam SPEAKER: Well, will you please address the question.
Mr AH KIT: I am addressing the question, Madam Speaker, it is to do with the budget. It is definitely to do with the budget.
Madam SPEAKER: I thought it was to do with community development.
Mr AH KIT: What the opposition do not like is that this is a good news budget, and they are hurting. They are hurting and they are disorganised. They are disorganised, lazy, leaderless, dishevelled, and a bunch of rabblerousers. Your supporters want you to learn to be a good opposition, right? Because that makes for good governance in the Territory. That is what you people need to learn. Okay? There are a couple there who are pretty good on that side …
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: You blokes need to get organised …
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: Madam Speaker, if they want to be provocative, I cannot go on and provide the answer to Territorians, and I apologise on their behalf.
Mr Burke: Oh, he’s finished?
Mr AH KIT: Do you want me to answer the question? I have some more ammunition here.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Johnston for his good question. It is great to deliver more good news from the Territory’s most successful budget. The ringing endorsement from Territorians must really upset the opposition. It would particularly upset the member for Katherine and former Treasurer.
Last year’s November mini-budget transferred responsibility for essential services to remote areas from the former Power and Water Authority, and the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment’s Transport Division to my Department of Community Development, Sport and Cultural Affairs.
Mr Dunham: Back to 1984.
Mr AH KIT: I will pick up on the interjection ‘Back to 1984’, because we have been addressing the budget since Tuesday, and we have had allegations from the Leader of the Opposition that the black hole was a furphy. I had a look at Hansard from last year, 29 May to 7 June and, on page 7631, when the then Treasurer was giving his report he stated:
The increase in net debt next financial year is estimated to be $12m.
I want the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the Opposition to go on record in this House and state, categorically, that Professor Percy Allan got it wrong and that he had told lies because, in one week, he found $107m deficit – one week. So, there you go. The black hole was not a furphy, and you got caught out. So do not come in here jumping up and down trying to con Territorians that we were peddling out a black hole just as a part of a mystery and a part of politics …
Mr Dunham: You were. You still are.
Mr AH KIT: You said it yesterday in your response, and I quote you:
It should be clear to all now that the black hole was nothing but a political tactic.
Mr Burke: It was.
Mr AH KIT: Well, go on record in your adjournment. You go on record and say that Percy Allan, a prominent professor in finances throughout this country, was wrong and was a liar. Because that is not what you have done yet, and that is what you should do.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, have you finished your reply?
Mr AH KIT: No, I have not.
Madam SPEAKER: Well, will you please address the question.
Mr AH KIT: I am addressing the question, Madam Speaker, it is to do with the budget. It is definitely to do with the budget.
Madam SPEAKER: I thought it was to do with community development.
Mr AH KIT: What the opposition do not like is that this is a good news budget, and they are hurting. They are hurting and they are disorganised. They are disorganised, lazy, leaderless, dishevelled, and a bunch of rabblerousers. Your supporters want you to learn to be a good opposition, right? Because that makes for good governance in the Territory. That is what you people need to learn. Okay? There are a couple there who are pretty good on that side …
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: You blokes need to get organised …
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: Madam Speaker, if they want to be provocative, I cannot go on and provide the answer to Territorians, and I apologise on their behalf.
Mr Burke: Oh, he’s finished?
Mr AH KIT: Do you want me to answer the question? I have some more ammunition here.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016