Mr GUNNER - 2012-05-02
Budget 2012-13 is a responsible one. It protects jobs by having a manageable deficit. Are you aware of any governments that have taken an alternative approach?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. It is instructive to look at what Liberal governments are doing. On the same day, yesterday, I handed down the Territory budget the Victorian Liberals were handing down their budget. Like every government in Australia, the Victorian government had stepped up its spending on infrastructure to keep Victorians in jobs to try to soften the impact of the global financial crisis. They decided to plunge the cutting axe out there across Victoria and to create a surplus. How did the Liberal government in Victoria manage to hand down a surplus? What does it take? Remember, the CLP here is promising to do this. What does it take?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Well, yesterday, the Victorians ..
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: He is shouting interjections, Madam Speaker, it is very hard.
Mr Elferink: Get used to it.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin! Opposition members!
Ms LAWRIE: Yesterday, in its budget cuts, the Victorian government sacked 4200 public servants. It cancelled the first home buyer building scheme. It put up all government fees, charges and fines by 15%. It cancelled its version of a back to school payment. It slashed its jobs training budget and delayed the building of the hospital it had promised - and all this from a government that was elected on a promise to cut the cost of living.
On radio this morning, the Leader of the Opposition, Terry Mills, committed to returning to surplus within the next term should he win government. When asked how he would do this, his only response was he would do what conservative governments do. Now, we know what he meant. He would sack public servants, delay the Palmerston Hospital, cancel the Royal Darwin Hospital upgrades, put up fees for families and businesses, and scrap family subsidies such as the Back to School Payment Scheme. He would drive up the cost of living for Territorians.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay for his question. It is instructive to look at what Liberal governments are doing. On the same day, yesterday, I handed down the Territory budget the Victorian Liberals were handing down their budget. Like every government in Australia, the Victorian government had stepped up its spending on infrastructure to keep Victorians in jobs to try to soften the impact of the global financial crisis. They decided to plunge the cutting axe out there across Victoria and to create a surplus. How did the Liberal government in Victoria manage to hand down a surplus? What does it take? Remember, the CLP here is promising to do this. What does it take?
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: Well, yesterday, the Victorians ..
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: He is shouting interjections, Madam Speaker, it is very hard.
Mr Elferink: Get used to it.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Port Darwin! Opposition members!
Ms LAWRIE: Yesterday, in its budget cuts, the Victorian government sacked 4200 public servants. It cancelled the first home buyer building scheme. It put up all government fees, charges and fines by 15%. It cancelled its version of a back to school payment. It slashed its jobs training budget and delayed the building of the hospital it had promised - and all this from a government that was elected on a promise to cut the cost of living.
On radio this morning, the Leader of the Opposition, Terry Mills, committed to returning to surplus within the next term should he win government. When asked how he would do this, his only response was he would do what conservative governments do. Now, we know what he meant. He would sack public servants, delay the Palmerston Hospital, cancel the Royal Darwin Hospital upgrades, put up fees for families and businesses, and scrap family subsidies such as the Back to School Payment Scheme. He would drive up the cost of living for Territorians.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016