Mr WARREN - 2008-05-08
The Territory is the best place to live in Australia; in fact, I think it is the best place in the world to live. How does Budget 2008-09 make the Territory lifestyle which we all enjoy even better?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the budget does deliver for Territory families and it does invest in our future. Part of the reason the Territory is the best place to live, work and raise a family is because of the wonderful lifestyle that we have here. Part of our strategy - and it is a very explicit, definitive strategy - is to invest in lifestyle, not only for Territorians who live here to enjoy, but also as part of our pitch when we go interstate and overseas to try to promote the Northern Territory as a place to come and live, to work and invest. Part of that pitch is promoting the great lifestyle we have here.
We aim to bring more people to the Northern Territory to take account of the jobs growth we are achieving in the Northern Territory: 5800 new jobs. There is record population growth. It is all part of the strong economy and investment in the Northern Territory. More people are coming here, buying a home and choosing to live here. The lifestyle plays a very big part in that.
We have allocated $25.8m for sport and recreation right throughout the Northern Territory. We all know our facilities for sport and recreation are good. We will continue to invest in them. There is $6.4m for sport and recreation grants to support clubs, administrators, volunteers and communities. That help is really appreciated by those mums and dads, the people who volunteer every weekend or during the week supporting young people. There is a $1m initiative in the budget this year in grants for community sporting facilities. Every little helps. It is really competitive out there for fundraising. There will be small grant packages available for community sporting facilities and equipment.
We continue to attract and stage big events to the Territory: Crusty Demons; Sir Elton John; BassintheGrass - I am particularly looking forward to that this year; Arafura Games in 2009; the Masters Games later this year; and three one-day cricket internationals - that is going to be absolutely fantastic for our kids to be able to go and see their heroes; a pre-season NRL game; V8s; AFL matches; and Hottest 7s Rugby. This is all part of investing in the Territory’s lifestyle.
There is also money for improving facilities, including $4.8m for the Marrara outdoor netball centre. That was certainly something that was very much welcomed by the people who play netball in the Top End. The old courts were falling apart. The tender will be announced very shortly for that project. There is also $900 000 for upgrades at Hidden Valley Raceway facilities.
When you talk about lifestyle, you cannot go past fishing, and the budget is making that even better as well. We can have the second LNG plant and great fishing in Darwin Harbour, with $4.6m for continuing works to provide new boat ramps for East Arm, to get people into our harbour to access the great fishing that is available. There is $450 000 to construct a new pontoon at Dinah Beach and $1m to improve other fishing infrastructure across the Top End. I know my colleague, the Fisheries minister, is talking to the recreational fishing community about investing in infrastructure right across the Northern Territory.
It is a great budget for our lifestyle. It is all part of investing back in the Territory for Territorians, but also to promote this Territory as a great place to live, work and raise a family, and to get additional investment and people to the Northern Territory. It is a fantastic lifestyle budget and a budget that will continue to promote and ensure that the Territory is the best place in Australia to live, work and raise a family.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the budget does deliver for Territory families and it does invest in our future. Part of the reason the Territory is the best place to live, work and raise a family is because of the wonderful lifestyle that we have here. Part of our strategy - and it is a very explicit, definitive strategy - is to invest in lifestyle, not only for Territorians who live here to enjoy, but also as part of our pitch when we go interstate and overseas to try to promote the Northern Territory as a place to come and live, to work and invest. Part of that pitch is promoting the great lifestyle we have here.
We aim to bring more people to the Northern Territory to take account of the jobs growth we are achieving in the Northern Territory: 5800 new jobs. There is record population growth. It is all part of the strong economy and investment in the Northern Territory. More people are coming here, buying a home and choosing to live here. The lifestyle plays a very big part in that.
We have allocated $25.8m for sport and recreation right throughout the Northern Territory. We all know our facilities for sport and recreation are good. We will continue to invest in them. There is $6.4m for sport and recreation grants to support clubs, administrators, volunteers and communities. That help is really appreciated by those mums and dads, the people who volunteer every weekend or during the week supporting young people. There is a $1m initiative in the budget this year in grants for community sporting facilities. Every little helps. It is really competitive out there for fundraising. There will be small grant packages available for community sporting facilities and equipment.
We continue to attract and stage big events to the Territory: Crusty Demons; Sir Elton John; BassintheGrass - I am particularly looking forward to that this year; Arafura Games in 2009; the Masters Games later this year; and three one-day cricket internationals - that is going to be absolutely fantastic for our kids to be able to go and see their heroes; a pre-season NRL game; V8s; AFL matches; and Hottest 7s Rugby. This is all part of investing in the Territory’s lifestyle.
There is also money for improving facilities, including $4.8m for the Marrara outdoor netball centre. That was certainly something that was very much welcomed by the people who play netball in the Top End. The old courts were falling apart. The tender will be announced very shortly for that project. There is also $900 000 for upgrades at Hidden Valley Raceway facilities.
When you talk about lifestyle, you cannot go past fishing, and the budget is making that even better as well. We can have the second LNG plant and great fishing in Darwin Harbour, with $4.6m for continuing works to provide new boat ramps for East Arm, to get people into our harbour to access the great fishing that is available. There is $450 000 to construct a new pontoon at Dinah Beach and $1m to improve other fishing infrastructure across the Top End. I know my colleague, the Fisheries minister, is talking to the recreational fishing community about investing in infrastructure right across the Northern Territory.
It is a great budget for our lifestyle. It is all part of investing back in the Territory for Territorians, but also to promote this Territory as a great place to live, work and raise a family, and to get additional investment and people to the Northern Territory. It is a fantastic lifestyle budget and a budget that will continue to promote and ensure that the Territory is the best place in Australia to live, work and raise a family.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016