Mr BURKE - 2004-05-18
I refer you to Budget Paper No 4 at page 9. The government has made much about what they are going to spend on Territory roads. If you combine what is being spent on national highways and Territory roads, the government says it is going to spend $34.9m in this financial year. If one looks at the announcements by the Commonwealth, they gave the Northern Territory government $54.2m for national highways and local roads this financial year. If you exclude the $11m for unincorporated roads in those areas, the Commonwealth has, in fact, provided for the Northern Territory government $42.6m. Minister, why are you not even spending, on your own highways and local roads, the amount of money that the Commonwealth is giving you?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is an interesting question. I like the way the shadow minister wants to exclude Roads to Recovery money out of the whole equation, because that comes right down to the complaint …
Mr BURKE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is very straightforward and he cannot filibuster. I have taken out the $11m that the Commonwealth provides for unincorporated local roads, and I have also taken out Black Spot money. Therefore, the money the Commonwealth has given you is $42.6m and, in your budget paper, you intend to spend $34.9m. Why are you not spending what the Commonwealth gives you?
Mr Stirling: That is the same question that we had last year.
Dr BURNS: Well, that is right, that is the point I am getting to. The same question was asked last year. The opposition excluded Black Spot and repairs and maintenance money. They are trying the same trick on here today …
Mr Burke: It is cash.
Dr BURNS: Well, if you want to talk about cash, as a government, we are putting in over $7m more cash into our roads in this budget than you did in your last CLP budget. We are pulling our weight in terms of roads. It is the Commonwealth that is not pulling its weight. The Commonwealth is not funding the Territory for all those 9000 km of unincorporated roads. We have missed out on $20m over four years because the Commonwealth wanted to shovel all their moneyinto John Anderson’s electorate. The electorate of Gwydir got $42m over four years. The Territory got a total of $20m. Go and talk to your mates in Canberra! Tell them to pull their weight! We are pulling ours: an extra $7m in roads.
Members interjecting.
Mr Dunham: We know you are pulling yours!
Madam SPEAKER: I wonder how that went over the air. Not too well, I would imagine, that shouting match.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is an interesting question. I like the way the shadow minister wants to exclude Roads to Recovery money out of the whole equation, because that comes right down to the complaint …
Mr BURKE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is very straightforward and he cannot filibuster. I have taken out the $11m that the Commonwealth provides for unincorporated local roads, and I have also taken out Black Spot money. Therefore, the money the Commonwealth has given you is $42.6m and, in your budget paper, you intend to spend $34.9m. Why are you not spending what the Commonwealth gives you?
Mr Stirling: That is the same question that we had last year.
Dr BURNS: Well, that is right, that is the point I am getting to. The same question was asked last year. The opposition excluded Black Spot and repairs and maintenance money. They are trying the same trick on here today …
Mr Burke: It is cash.
Dr BURNS: Well, if you want to talk about cash, as a government, we are putting in over $7m more cash into our roads in this budget than you did in your last CLP budget. We are pulling our weight in terms of roads. It is the Commonwealth that is not pulling its weight. The Commonwealth is not funding the Territory for all those 9000 km of unincorporated roads. We have missed out on $20m over four years because the Commonwealth wanted to shovel all their moneyinto John Anderson’s electorate. The electorate of Gwydir got $42m over four years. The Territory got a total of $20m. Go and talk to your mates in Canberra! Tell them to pull their weight! We are pulling ours: an extra $7m in roads.
Members interjecting.
Mr Dunham: We know you are pulling yours!
Madam SPEAKER: I wonder how that went over the air. Not too well, I would imagine, that shouting match.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016