Mr BURKE - 2001-11-27
The Chief Minister has just made mention of the capital works program, and I would like to ask this simple question. Why is there no capital works program contained in this mini-budget? What comfort is the absence of a capital works program to Territory contractors who are already suffering from a drop-off in government work? Give us the detail of the programs.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. I am surprised, actually, that he said there is no allocation for capital works program.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, the minister has the floor!
Mr VATSKALIS: If you have a look around we have got major capital works happening. I agree the previous government started it, and we are continuing, we are not stopping any of them. However ...
A member: Give us a list.
Mr VATSKALIS: Do I have to mention the railway? Do I have to mention the Port? Do I have to mention the Alice Springs Hospital? They are all progressing, and some of them are going to be completed before the due date. Some of them are going to be ready as early as April 2002, and I congratulate them for that.
At the same time, I cannot help but feel very, very angry because the minor works program was totally abandoned. There was no money after November for work to be done. We had contractors talking to us, I had people talking to me, I had contractors coming to me complaining about the lack of any work. We had to meet urgently and make further allocation for these people to continue to have work, because these people will have a bleak Christmas ...
Mr Reed: Careful you do not mislead the House.
Mr VATSKALIS: ... thank you very much to the ex-Treasurer, the member for Katherine.
Mr BURKE: A supplementary question, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: No, no supplementary. I think he has answered it.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. I am surprised, actually, that he said there is no allocation for capital works program.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, the minister has the floor!
Mr VATSKALIS: If you have a look around we have got major capital works happening. I agree the previous government started it, and we are continuing, we are not stopping any of them. However ...
A member: Give us a list.
Mr VATSKALIS: Do I have to mention the railway? Do I have to mention the Port? Do I have to mention the Alice Springs Hospital? They are all progressing, and some of them are going to be completed before the due date. Some of them are going to be ready as early as April 2002, and I congratulate them for that.
At the same time, I cannot help but feel very, very angry because the minor works program was totally abandoned. There was no money after November for work to be done. We had contractors talking to us, I had people talking to me, I had contractors coming to me complaining about the lack of any work. We had to meet urgently and make further allocation for these people to continue to have work, because these people will have a bleak Christmas ...
Mr Reed: Careful you do not mislead the House.
Mr VATSKALIS: ... thank you very much to the ex-Treasurer, the member for Katherine.
Mr BURKE: A supplementary question, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: No, no supplementary. I think he has answered it.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016