Mr KNIGHT - 2005-06-30
Small business and local jobs are critical for sustainable economic growth in the Territory. Can the minister update the Assembly on contracts that are being won by Territory small businesses and the jobs for Territorians that are being generated for capital works in his portfolio?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. Indeed, the infrastructure spend and capital works program is a very important powerhouse for the Territory economy. In the 2004-05 year, $480m was allocated towards capital works infrastructure projects, and in the 2005-06 year, it will be starting off marginally less, but I am sure it will be added to as the year progresses, as has happened in previous years.
It is a very important part of our economy. This is a government that has been putting record cash into our capital works budget. If I could let new members know, the situation that occurred in 2001 with the revote in the last CLP budget, which is projects going from one year to the next, actually exceeded the cash. In other words, they did not have enough money for the old projects, let alone any new projects.
It is certainly a different situation under this government, generating 4000 extra jobs. If you look at the history over the last year or so of our capital works expenditure, if you look by number of companies that have won work through capital works, 93% of them have been Northern Territory businesses and, by value, it is 95%. It is very important.
I believe it is underscored by this week’s Gazette, published yesterday. There have been 38 contracts let through DIPE, which is the lion’s share of the capital works budget; 36 of them to Northern Territory companies. The total value was $1.1m, of which $1.07m went to Northern Territory companies. Of those 38 contracts, eight went to Alice Springs, three to Katherine, and other contracts all over the Northern Territory, to local governments in Tennant Creek, Wadeye, Daly River and Nguiu.
It is a great result for the Northern Territory. We are moving the Northern Territory ahead. The capital works expenditure is integral to that. I am sure, as members grow in their knowledge of the capital works in their electorates, they will be playing a very active role in forming the next budget.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Daly for his question. Indeed, the infrastructure spend and capital works program is a very important powerhouse for the Territory economy. In the 2004-05 year, $480m was allocated towards capital works infrastructure projects, and in the 2005-06 year, it will be starting off marginally less, but I am sure it will be added to as the year progresses, as has happened in previous years.
It is a very important part of our economy. This is a government that has been putting record cash into our capital works budget. If I could let new members know, the situation that occurred in 2001 with the revote in the last CLP budget, which is projects going from one year to the next, actually exceeded the cash. In other words, they did not have enough money for the old projects, let alone any new projects.
It is certainly a different situation under this government, generating 4000 extra jobs. If you look at the history over the last year or so of our capital works expenditure, if you look by number of companies that have won work through capital works, 93% of them have been Northern Territory businesses and, by value, it is 95%. It is very important.
I believe it is underscored by this week’s Gazette, published yesterday. There have been 38 contracts let through DIPE, which is the lion’s share of the capital works budget; 36 of them to Northern Territory companies. The total value was $1.1m, of which $1.07m went to Northern Territory companies. Of those 38 contracts, eight went to Alice Springs, three to Katherine, and other contracts all over the Northern Territory, to local governments in Tennant Creek, Wadeye, Daly River and Nguiu.
It is a great result for the Northern Territory. We are moving the Northern Territory ahead. The capital works expenditure is integral to that. I am sure, as members grow in their knowledge of the capital works in their electorates, they will be playing a very active role in forming the next budget.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016