Mr GUNNER - 2009-05-05
Can you please outline to the House the key objectives and components of Budget 2009-10 and the challenges you faced preparing it?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. There is no doubt the Henderson Labor government is acting now to protect Territory jobs and build the Territory. This is an unprecedented budget for unprecedented times. We are in a global recession and we face a savage collapse of GST revenue of $211m in the 2009-10 financial year.
Even though the Territory has so far stood firm against the economic downturn we are seeing nationally and globally, in Budget 2009-10 the Henderson government is investing a record $1.3bn in Territory infrastructure, an increase of 47%. This investment will create over 2500 jobs for Territorians. After six surpluses in a row, the government has made a deliberate decision to increase infrastructure investment and to boost our frontline services. To do that, Budget 2009-10 also contains record budgets for the Health, Education and Police portfolios.
To support businesses and households, Budget 2009-10 contains no new taxes or tax increases. To achieve these goals means going into a temporary deficit. To blindly attempt to maintain a surplus, even after six surpluses in a row, would cost jobs and damage the economy. Through stringent financial management, the government has mapped a clear return to surplus and a reduction in debt levels. I note that our nett debt ratio, as the Chief Minister said, in 2009-10 is forecast to be 28%. That is less than half the 61% we inherited in 2001 from the CLP.
The government recognises that we will have to make savings and do things differently and concentrate on core business. We definitely will not be slashing public sector jobs, unlike the CLP opposition. Their proposals would translate to a loss of 80 teachers, 170 doctors and nurses, and 40 police in the last year alone.
Mr Mills: Absolute nonsense. No one believes you. That is just not true.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: These are the toughest economic times in generations. The Henderson government has acted now to protect Territory jobs, and is in a position to ensure that we capitalise when a global economic recovery occurs.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. There is no doubt the Henderson Labor government is acting now to protect Territory jobs and build the Territory. This is an unprecedented budget for unprecedented times. We are in a global recession and we face a savage collapse of GST revenue of $211m in the 2009-10 financial year.
Even though the Territory has so far stood firm against the economic downturn we are seeing nationally and globally, in Budget 2009-10 the Henderson government is investing a record $1.3bn in Territory infrastructure, an increase of 47%. This investment will create over 2500 jobs for Territorians. After six surpluses in a row, the government has made a deliberate decision to increase infrastructure investment and to boost our frontline services. To do that, Budget 2009-10 also contains record budgets for the Health, Education and Police portfolios.
To support businesses and households, Budget 2009-10 contains no new taxes or tax increases. To achieve these goals means going into a temporary deficit. To blindly attempt to maintain a surplus, even after six surpluses in a row, would cost jobs and damage the economy. Through stringent financial management, the government has mapped a clear return to surplus and a reduction in debt levels. I note that our nett debt ratio, as the Chief Minister said, in 2009-10 is forecast to be 28%. That is less than half the 61% we inherited in 2001 from the CLP.
The government recognises that we will have to make savings and do things differently and concentrate on core business. We definitely will not be slashing public sector jobs, unlike the CLP opposition. Their proposals would translate to a loss of 80 teachers, 170 doctors and nurses, and 40 police in the last year alone.
Mr Mills: Absolute nonsense. No one believes you. That is just not true.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: These are the toughest economic times in generations. The Henderson government has acted now to protect Territory jobs, and is in a position to ensure that we capitalise when a global economic recovery occurs.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016