Ms SCRYMGOUR - 2011-05-03
Budget 2011-12 is good for Territory families. Can you please advise the House on how Budget 2011-12 helps Territory families get ahead?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura. In government, we recognise the cost of living pressures on Territory families. The subsidies and concessions in this budget are significant, and the most extensive in the nation. We are providing concessions across health, education and training. Our subsidies to offset childcare and electricity costs, and to support senior Territorians and carers, are far above anything provided elsewhere in the country. This year, we will provide $61.3m to deliver an average saving of $820 per household on the cost of electricity.
We know the Leader of the Opposition has that in his sights in his savings plan. He and the opposition - certainly in their announcements to date - would not provide that $820 per household to ease the cost of electricity.
The $4.3m for the childcare subsidy saves over $1000 a year for a child in full-time care for the average family. That is very significant. Maybe the Leader of the Opposition wants to target the childcare subsidy.
The pensioner concession scheme - the most generous pensioner concession scheme in the nation by a country mile - has been increased this year by $1.2m to $16m per year. Maybe the Leader of the Opposition wants to hit the pensioners and take their concessions off them.
The homebuyer assistance, particularly the one-off grant of $10 000 for homebuyers who want to build or purchase off the plan - maybe he would not go ahead with that and save money.
We also have a range of schemes. Maybe he would introduce an entrance fee to Leanyer water park or the water park in Palmerston. Maybe he would increase the cost of motor vehicle registration significantly across the Territory, or introduce a land tax. They were considering introducing a land tax a couple of years ago to bring the budget back into surplus …
Mr Mills: That is not true.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is incumbent upon the Chief Minister to tell the truth in this House, and he is not telling the truth.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, that is not a point or order.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: I was pointing out that this budget delivers support for Territory families. To support Territory families, you have to dig into the coffers in a modest and responsible way, as we have done with this budget. The most important thing in supporting Territory families is to provide infrastructure spending and jobs – 12 000 jobs that exist in this economy today as a result of going into deficit, understanding you have to fund the deficit to support Territory jobs whilst we are between major projects.
This budget is supporting jobs, business, and Territory families. The Leader of the Opposition and the opposition have no alternatives.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura. In government, we recognise the cost of living pressures on Territory families. The subsidies and concessions in this budget are significant, and the most extensive in the nation. We are providing concessions across health, education and training. Our subsidies to offset childcare and electricity costs, and to support senior Territorians and carers, are far above anything provided elsewhere in the country. This year, we will provide $61.3m to deliver an average saving of $820 per household on the cost of electricity.
We know the Leader of the Opposition has that in his sights in his savings plan. He and the opposition - certainly in their announcements to date - would not provide that $820 per household to ease the cost of electricity.
The $4.3m for the childcare subsidy saves over $1000 a year for a child in full-time care for the average family. That is very significant. Maybe the Leader of the Opposition wants to target the childcare subsidy.
The pensioner concession scheme - the most generous pensioner concession scheme in the nation by a country mile - has been increased this year by $1.2m to $16m per year. Maybe the Leader of the Opposition wants to hit the pensioners and take their concessions off them.
The homebuyer assistance, particularly the one-off grant of $10 000 for homebuyers who want to build or purchase off the plan - maybe he would not go ahead with that and save money.
We also have a range of schemes. Maybe he would introduce an entrance fee to Leanyer water park or the water park in Palmerston. Maybe he would increase the cost of motor vehicle registration significantly across the Territory, or introduce a land tax. They were considering introducing a land tax a couple of years ago to bring the budget back into surplus …
Mr Mills: That is not true.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is incumbent upon the Chief Minister to tell the truth in this House, and he is not telling the truth.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Port Darwin, that is not a point or order.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: I was pointing out that this budget delivers support for Territory families. To support Territory families, you have to dig into the coffers in a modest and responsible way, as we have done with this budget. The most important thing in supporting Territory families is to provide infrastructure spending and jobs – 12 000 jobs that exist in this economy today as a result of going into deficit, understanding you have to fund the deficit to support Territory jobs whilst we are between major projects.
This budget is supporting jobs, business, and Territory families. The Leader of the Opposition and the opposition have no alternatives.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016