Ms WALKER - 2012-05-01
How does Budget 2012-13 deliver for Territory families?
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Madam Speaker, I refer you to Standing Order 68, Anticipation of Subject:
Madam Speaker, this subject appears on the Notice Paper and the question should be ruled out of order.
Dr BURNS: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker. The Opposition Leader has been asking questions about the budget and there will probably be further questions. In the 11 years I have been here, certainly on budget day, it is quite in order for questions to be asked on the budget by both sides ...
Mr Tollner: Are you suggesting this was not a frivolous point of order?
A member: It happens in the federal parliament as well.
Mr Tollner: Yes, that is right, but they do not get kicked out of parliament for making points of order like that, especially on budget day …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! It is a long-standing practice both here and in the House of Representatives. The Chief Minister has the call.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am very happy to take the question from the member for Nhulunbuy. We are committed to gearing for growth and supporting families. Of course, Territory families are vitally important in building our great Northern Territory, and wherever you live in the Northern Territory this budget supports Territory families. We have worked hard to attract the major projects which will provide Territorians with jobs and families with increased income. Access Economics has said the average growth rate of the Territory is going to be more than 4% over the next five years, providing real jobs and business opportunities for Territorians. We are doing everything we can to position our businesses to take advantage of that growth.
In supporting Territory families, we will continue to provide record spending for core services like health, $1.2bn; education, nearly $1bn - $955m; and a range of concessions and subsidies for Territorians unmatched by other jurisdictions. We will continue to provide Power and Water with $63.1m to subsidise the cost of power and water for Territory families.
Maybe this is where the Leader of the Opposition can find some of his $490m he needs to find tomorrow to bring the budget into surplus. You could save $63m and add $800 to every Territorian’s power bill. That is part of your path back to surplus, Leader of the Opposition ...
Mr Tollner: No, it is not!
Mr HENDERSON: There is $3.3m for our Back to School Payment Scheme of $75 …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister was misleading the House and I ask you to ask him to withdraw that.
Ms Lawrie: No, he was not!
Mr TOLLNER: Yes, he was. He is verballing the Leader of the Opposition, Madam Speaker. Surely, he cannot do that?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, I certainly did not hear that.
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! He was asking a rhetorical question.
Mr TOLLNER: To sit there and say the Leader of the Opposition is going to – what a load of nonsense.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The Chief Minister has the call.
Mr Tollner: He makes it up as he goes.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I was pointing out to the Leader of the Opposition where he could find savings in his headlong pursuit to explain in his budget response tomorrow.
There is $3.3m for the Back to School Payment Scheme. I know that $75 for every child going back to school in February is really welcomed by Territorians. There is $6.5m for free school dental care schemes across the Northern Territory assisting our kids and families. There is $4.3m for childcare subsidies. We are the only jurisdiction in this nation to provide subsidies for childcare, and $14.5m for free student, pensioner and senior bus concessions.
Leader of the Opposition, there are opportunities here to do away with all these subsidies and concessions in your headlong pursuit to an artificial surplus, but this government is committed to supporting Territory families and tackling the cost of living - that is what this budget does.
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Madam Speaker, I refer you to Standing Order 68, Anticipation of Subject:
- No Member shall anticipate the discussion of any subject which appears on the Notice Paper ...
Madam Speaker, this subject appears on the Notice Paper and the question should be ruled out of order.
Dr BURNS: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker. The Opposition Leader has been asking questions about the budget and there will probably be further questions. In the 11 years I have been here, certainly on budget day, it is quite in order for questions to be asked on the budget by both sides ...
Mr Tollner: Are you suggesting this was not a frivolous point of order?
A member: It happens in the federal parliament as well.
Mr Tollner: Yes, that is right, but they do not get kicked out of parliament for making points of order like that, especially on budget day …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! It is a long-standing practice both here and in the House of Representatives. The Chief Minister has the call.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am very happy to take the question from the member for Nhulunbuy. We are committed to gearing for growth and supporting families. Of course, Territory families are vitally important in building our great Northern Territory, and wherever you live in the Northern Territory this budget supports Territory families. We have worked hard to attract the major projects which will provide Territorians with jobs and families with increased income. Access Economics has said the average growth rate of the Territory is going to be more than 4% over the next five years, providing real jobs and business opportunities for Territorians. We are doing everything we can to position our businesses to take advantage of that growth.
In supporting Territory families, we will continue to provide record spending for core services like health, $1.2bn; education, nearly $1bn - $955m; and a range of concessions and subsidies for Territorians unmatched by other jurisdictions. We will continue to provide Power and Water with $63.1m to subsidise the cost of power and water for Territory families.
Maybe this is where the Leader of the Opposition can find some of his $490m he needs to find tomorrow to bring the budget into surplus. You could save $63m and add $800 to every Territorian’s power bill. That is part of your path back to surplus, Leader of the Opposition ...
Mr Tollner: No, it is not!
Mr HENDERSON: There is $3.3m for our Back to School Payment Scheme of $75 …
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister was misleading the House and I ask you to ask him to withdraw that.
Ms Lawrie: No, he was not!
Mr TOLLNER: Yes, he was. He is verballing the Leader of the Opposition, Madam Speaker. Surely, he cannot do that?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, I certainly did not hear that.
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! He was asking a rhetorical question.
Mr TOLLNER: To sit there and say the Leader of the Opposition is going to – what a load of nonsense.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The Chief Minister has the call.
Mr Tollner: He makes it up as he goes.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I was pointing out to the Leader of the Opposition where he could find savings in his headlong pursuit to explain in his budget response tomorrow.
There is $3.3m for the Back to School Payment Scheme. I know that $75 for every child going back to school in February is really welcomed by Territorians. There is $6.5m for free school dental care schemes across the Northern Territory assisting our kids and families. There is $4.3m for childcare subsidies. We are the only jurisdiction in this nation to provide subsidies for childcare, and $14.5m for free student, pensioner and senior bus concessions.
Leader of the Opposition, there are opportunities here to do away with all these subsidies and concessions in your headlong pursuit to an artificial surplus, but this government is committed to supporting Territory families and tackling the cost of living - that is what this budget does.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016