Mr ELFERINK - 2012-05-03
Only a few months ago, I was at the wharf in Darwin listening to you promise a new abattoir for Darwin ...
Mr Henderson: I did not!
Mr ELFERINK: Being used to your promises, I said to the media: ‘I will believe it when I see it’. Now your Primary Industry minister is beginning to turn his back on the government’s own commitment. Why do you keep making promises you cannot fulfil and have no intention of fulfilling?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, first of all, let me put the record straight: I made no such commitment. I challenge the member for Port Darwin to show anywhere on the public record where I have made a commitment to build an abattoir – well, certainly not in Darwin or in the Northern Territory.
The media conference he was referring to was AAco announcing to the stock exchange it was going to build an abattoir in the Northern Territory. I was there to support that announcement and the private sector commercial initiative …
Mr Elferink: With your arms around them. ‘We will support you; we will back you all the way’.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … to support the provision of, and the building of, a private sector abattoir for the Northern Territory.
In regard to the financial arrangements for that abattoir, that needs to be constructed as a commercial project in its own right. I have made it very clear to David Farley, to the media, and to everybody, that the government will not be subsidising a private sector facility. If this facility needs government subsidies it will fail. It is up to AAco to finance that particular project.
In regard to the port, roads, and Power and Water infrastructure, commercial arrangements will be in place with the port and with Power and Water to facilitate the infrastructure on commercial terms in the same way the port and Power and Water deal with any other business. I have made that very clear.
Madam Speaker, I am hopeful AAco will commit to what will be a great project for the Northern Territory, but the Territory taxpayer will not be subsidising it.
Mr Henderson: I did not!
Mr ELFERINK: Being used to your promises, I said to the media: ‘I will believe it when I see it’. Now your Primary Industry minister is beginning to turn his back on the government’s own commitment. Why do you keep making promises you cannot fulfil and have no intention of fulfilling?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, first of all, let me put the record straight: I made no such commitment. I challenge the member for Port Darwin to show anywhere on the public record where I have made a commitment to build an abattoir – well, certainly not in Darwin or in the Northern Territory.
The media conference he was referring to was AAco announcing to the stock exchange it was going to build an abattoir in the Northern Territory. I was there to support that announcement and the private sector commercial initiative …
Mr Elferink: With your arms around them. ‘We will support you; we will back you all the way’.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … to support the provision of, and the building of, a private sector abattoir for the Northern Territory.
In regard to the financial arrangements for that abattoir, that needs to be constructed as a commercial project in its own right. I have made it very clear to David Farley, to the media, and to everybody, that the government will not be subsidising a private sector facility. If this facility needs government subsidies it will fail. It is up to AAco to finance that particular project.
In regard to the port, roads, and Power and Water infrastructure, commercial arrangements will be in place with the port and with Power and Water to facilitate the infrastructure on commercial terms in the same way the port and Power and Water deal with any other business. I have made that very clear.
Madam Speaker, I am hopeful AAco will commit to what will be a great project for the Northern Territory, but the Territory taxpayer will not be subsidising it.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016