Mr BONSON - 2002-06-18
What is the government doing to build business confidence in the Northern Territory? How are other members of the Territory community assisting in building business confidence?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. This is very important. Business confidence leads directly to investment, and the question of how this government is working together with the business community to build that business confidence is something that I am sure all honourable members would like to be updated on.
We are committed to working with the business community to ensure that we have a framework in the Northern Territory that is favourable for investment, trade and jobs growth.
Mr Reed: Last measure it was minus 27.
Mr HENDERSON: One of the fundamental principles government has to have - and it is interesting that the member for Katherine is interjecting - is a sound and responsible fiscal framework to work within, to be able to provide the framework and climate for investment that is devoid of the need to make significant imposts on taxes and charges, or to slash public expenditure.
As this House knows and has been advised on many occasions, when we came to government we had to lift the lid on the dodgy accounting practices of the previous government. In the previous four budgets, we had an annual deficit which averaged $70m, expenditure rising at 10.5%, and revenue only rising at 5.4%. We were in a climate of totally irresponsible fiscal management, and that is something that this government has moved to address.
As the Chief Minister announced earlier, we did release the economic development strategy last week. That strategy was born from the Economic Development Summit held in November. It was followed up with numerous business and government meetings around the Northern Territory and involvement of every minister within the government. This is a document that stands up in terms of accountability. I acknowledge that it is a political risk, but it is a risk that we have taken with regard to instituting those accountabilities, because it is a partnership document …
Mr Dunham: A plagiarising document.
Mr HENDERSON: … that we are convinced we will deliver. I pick up on the member for Drysdale’s comments about plagiarising. This is a document …
Mr Dunham: You would be thrown out of university if you produced something like that.
Mr HENDERSON: He has an opportunity in the debate to point out where it has been plagiarised, because he is on the public record now. Regarding Foundations for Our Future that I am sure he is referring to, find one time line in there - one time line. There are probably about 300 in this document. All over their statements, it was all glossy documents, lots of photographs; no time lines, no accountability. This is a document that could not possibly be plagiarised because it had absolutely no credibility whatsoever.
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of opening the NT Oil and Gas Expo in association with SEAAOC. Once again, I would like to think that members opposite have actually attended that expo. Hopefully, they have had the foresight to actually walk to the Esplanade and see what Territory business is doing and the sense of excitement that is out there about the oncoming oil and gas developments in the Timor Sea.
SEAAOC has attracted over 300 delegates this year, which has been the largest ever delegation coming to this conference, and there are over 50 exhibitors at the inaugural Oil and Gas Expo. Again, a sign of business confidence returning and a lot of excitement about the potential.
I put on the record in terms of the work that we have been doing, Team NT has been a success. It has been a major success in turning the Sunrise joint venture around regarding reviewing the domestic gas case. I pay special thanks to Bruce Fadelli from the Chamber of Commerce and Dave Malone from the TCA for their untiring work lobbying their organisations at a national level to get behind the push to bring Sunrise gas onshore.
It is undeniable that the Territory economy has been doing it tough for a number of years. We can understand the reasons for that: the cessation of the Defence Force build-up in the Northern Territory three years ago; the introduction of the GST which members opposite so loudly and vociferously supported; the events of 11 September; and Ansett’s collapse on 14 September. Of course, we were going to see declining business confidence, but that business confidence is starting to return, along with employment, which is at 5.2%.
This is a government that is working in partnership with the community to start building that climate of confidence and investment. If we counter that with the attitude of those opposite - and let us look at some of the statements that have been made from members opposite. They have been talking down investment, jobs, and the Northern Territory - absolutely irresponsible comments at a time when people have been doing it tough. Who has been the main perpetrator of this? I would have to say that the other budgerigars in the cage over here have been conspicuous by their absence in the media over the last few months; barely a peep out of any of them.
However, it is the Leader of the Opposition who has been running the case; talking down business confidence. It really is time for him to move on; or maybe for the members opposite who have a bit of gumption to actually put him out to pasture where he deserves to be. It is obvious the moves are occurring. We have John Valentin now joining the party, living in the rural area. Obviously the seat has been eyeballed, and good luck to Mr Valentin. I know him quite well and he is a very decent fellow. It is obvious that the by-election is coming in Brennan and …
Mr REED: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is a long, rambling answer to a question which has no relevance regarding the matters that the honourable the minister is now verging on.
Madam SPEAKER: Sometimes it is unfortunate that the nature of the answer is at the discretion of the minister, as we all know. However, we do seem to have some lengthy answers today, Minister.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, the member for Katherine has a hide. He spent many hours on his feet giving long and detailed answers to questions in this parliament.
Let us look at the modus operandi of the member for Brennan regarding talking down business confidence and trying to detract investment in the Northern Territory: absolutely irresponsible. Look at this open letter to Territory businesses which are trying to get on and be positive.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister, could you cease for a moment? There is too much rumbling and rattling going on. Could we allow the minister to conclude his answer in silence. Both sides!
Mr HENDERSON: It is getting to the good part, Madam Speaker. This is an ‘Open Letter to Territory Business’, where the Leader of the Opposition is trying to talk down the economy and encourage business not to invest in the Northern Territory. This piece of drivel has been circulated to Territory business.
I have had a number of these returned to my office. We will be running them out over the next few days. I would like to quote from this drivel that was sent out to Territory business, talking down the economy:
On 28 May, Business Minister Paul Henderson said: ‘Business confidence in the Territory has matched the key
economic indicators and is improving’.
I say: ‘This government is not listening. Nine months of anti-business leadership, highlighted by increased taxes,
spending cutbacks and no new business initiatives, has all but destroyed …’
All but destroyed! We have had the latest figures come out on business bankruptcies and they are the lowest in the nation, but:
… all but destroyed small and medium business confidence’.
This was faxed back to my office. It said:
What do you say: ‘I would say that you haven’t begun to realise that you lost the last election because you wouldn’t listen’.
It goes on to say:
Minister Henderson says: ‘Government has worked tirelessly to develop a vibrant and sustainable economy in which local
business can operate - that business environment is now building confidence’.
Burke, the member for Brennan says:
The latest small and medium business report again reinforces that the Martin government is not listening to business and
is doing nothing.
What do you say: …
I have to delete the expletive. The ‘rear end’:
… had already fallen out of the Territory economy at the time of the last election and continues to do so because of lack of
initiative from when you were in power.
This was faxed to my office and there is more coming. He then goes on to say:
Minister Henderson says: ‘… while he was disappointed confidence in government had dropped he was certain that
would improve during Labor’s first term. We have had to make tough decisions on taking office to fix 27 years of financial
abuse and mismanagement of the previous CLP government’.
I say: …
The member for Brennan says:
… ‘Look at what has been achieved over the last 27 years’.
Constituent, elector, small business person, says:
Twenty-seven years of secret handshakes.
Here we have the Leader of the Opposition talking down the economy, business, and investment. I say it is time for him to move on. Let us get somebody positive as the Leader of the Opposition. Let us get John Valentin into this parliament where he can make a contribution and, let us put the Leader of the Opposition out to pasture where he belongs.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. This is very important. Business confidence leads directly to investment, and the question of how this government is working together with the business community to build that business confidence is something that I am sure all honourable members would like to be updated on.
We are committed to working with the business community to ensure that we have a framework in the Northern Territory that is favourable for investment, trade and jobs growth.
Mr Reed: Last measure it was minus 27.
Mr HENDERSON: One of the fundamental principles government has to have - and it is interesting that the member for Katherine is interjecting - is a sound and responsible fiscal framework to work within, to be able to provide the framework and climate for investment that is devoid of the need to make significant imposts on taxes and charges, or to slash public expenditure.
As this House knows and has been advised on many occasions, when we came to government we had to lift the lid on the dodgy accounting practices of the previous government. In the previous four budgets, we had an annual deficit which averaged $70m, expenditure rising at 10.5%, and revenue only rising at 5.4%. We were in a climate of totally irresponsible fiscal management, and that is something that this government has moved to address.
As the Chief Minister announced earlier, we did release the economic development strategy last week. That strategy was born from the Economic Development Summit held in November. It was followed up with numerous business and government meetings around the Northern Territory and involvement of every minister within the government. This is a document that stands up in terms of accountability. I acknowledge that it is a political risk, but it is a risk that we have taken with regard to instituting those accountabilities, because it is a partnership document …
Mr Dunham: A plagiarising document.
Mr HENDERSON: … that we are convinced we will deliver. I pick up on the member for Drysdale’s comments about plagiarising. This is a document …
Mr Dunham: You would be thrown out of university if you produced something like that.
Mr HENDERSON: He has an opportunity in the debate to point out where it has been plagiarised, because he is on the public record now. Regarding Foundations for Our Future that I am sure he is referring to, find one time line in there - one time line. There are probably about 300 in this document. All over their statements, it was all glossy documents, lots of photographs; no time lines, no accountability. This is a document that could not possibly be plagiarised because it had absolutely no credibility whatsoever.
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of opening the NT Oil and Gas Expo in association with SEAAOC. Once again, I would like to think that members opposite have actually attended that expo. Hopefully, they have had the foresight to actually walk to the Esplanade and see what Territory business is doing and the sense of excitement that is out there about the oncoming oil and gas developments in the Timor Sea.
SEAAOC has attracted over 300 delegates this year, which has been the largest ever delegation coming to this conference, and there are over 50 exhibitors at the inaugural Oil and Gas Expo. Again, a sign of business confidence returning and a lot of excitement about the potential.
I put on the record in terms of the work that we have been doing, Team NT has been a success. It has been a major success in turning the Sunrise joint venture around regarding reviewing the domestic gas case. I pay special thanks to Bruce Fadelli from the Chamber of Commerce and Dave Malone from the TCA for their untiring work lobbying their organisations at a national level to get behind the push to bring Sunrise gas onshore.
It is undeniable that the Territory economy has been doing it tough for a number of years. We can understand the reasons for that: the cessation of the Defence Force build-up in the Northern Territory three years ago; the introduction of the GST which members opposite so loudly and vociferously supported; the events of 11 September; and Ansett’s collapse on 14 September. Of course, we were going to see declining business confidence, but that business confidence is starting to return, along with employment, which is at 5.2%.
This is a government that is working in partnership with the community to start building that climate of confidence and investment. If we counter that with the attitude of those opposite - and let us look at some of the statements that have been made from members opposite. They have been talking down investment, jobs, and the Northern Territory - absolutely irresponsible comments at a time when people have been doing it tough. Who has been the main perpetrator of this? I would have to say that the other budgerigars in the cage over here have been conspicuous by their absence in the media over the last few months; barely a peep out of any of them.
However, it is the Leader of the Opposition who has been running the case; talking down business confidence. It really is time for him to move on; or maybe for the members opposite who have a bit of gumption to actually put him out to pasture where he deserves to be. It is obvious the moves are occurring. We have John Valentin now joining the party, living in the rural area. Obviously the seat has been eyeballed, and good luck to Mr Valentin. I know him quite well and he is a very decent fellow. It is obvious that the by-election is coming in Brennan and …
Mr REED: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is a long, rambling answer to a question which has no relevance regarding the matters that the honourable the minister is now verging on.
Madam SPEAKER: Sometimes it is unfortunate that the nature of the answer is at the discretion of the minister, as we all know. However, we do seem to have some lengthy answers today, Minister.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, the member for Katherine has a hide. He spent many hours on his feet giving long and detailed answers to questions in this parliament.
Let us look at the modus operandi of the member for Brennan regarding talking down business confidence and trying to detract investment in the Northern Territory: absolutely irresponsible. Look at this open letter to Territory businesses which are trying to get on and be positive.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Minister, could you cease for a moment? There is too much rumbling and rattling going on. Could we allow the minister to conclude his answer in silence. Both sides!
Mr HENDERSON: It is getting to the good part, Madam Speaker. This is an ‘Open Letter to Territory Business’, where the Leader of the Opposition is trying to talk down the economy and encourage business not to invest in the Northern Territory. This piece of drivel has been circulated to Territory business.
I have had a number of these returned to my office. We will be running them out over the next few days. I would like to quote from this drivel that was sent out to Territory business, talking down the economy:
On 28 May, Business Minister Paul Henderson said: ‘Business confidence in the Territory has matched the key
economic indicators and is improving’.
I say: ‘This government is not listening. Nine months of anti-business leadership, highlighted by increased taxes,
spending cutbacks and no new business initiatives, has all but destroyed …’
All but destroyed! We have had the latest figures come out on business bankruptcies and they are the lowest in the nation, but:
… all but destroyed small and medium business confidence’.
This was faxed back to my office. It said:
What do you say: ‘I would say that you haven’t begun to realise that you lost the last election because you wouldn’t listen’.
It goes on to say:
Minister Henderson says: ‘Government has worked tirelessly to develop a vibrant and sustainable economy in which local
business can operate - that business environment is now building confidence’.
Burke, the member for Brennan says:
The latest small and medium business report again reinforces that the Martin government is not listening to business and
is doing nothing.
What do you say: …
I have to delete the expletive. The ‘rear end’:
… had already fallen out of the Territory economy at the time of the last election and continues to do so because of lack of
initiative from when you were in power.
This was faxed to my office and there is more coming. He then goes on to say:
Minister Henderson says: ‘… while he was disappointed confidence in government had dropped he was certain that
would improve during Labor’s first term. We have had to make tough decisions on taking office to fix 27 years of financial
abuse and mismanagement of the previous CLP government’.
I say: …
The member for Brennan says:
… ‘Look at what has been achieved over the last 27 years’.
Constituent, elector, small business person, says:
Twenty-seven years of secret handshakes.
Here we have the Leader of the Opposition talking down the economy, business, and investment. I say it is time for him to move on. Let us get somebody positive as the Leader of the Opposition. Let us get John Valentin into this parliament where he can make a contribution and, let us put the Leader of the Opposition out to pasture where he belongs.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016