Mr BURKE - 2001-11-27
Madam Speaker, I remind the minister that in the mini-budget release there are tens of millions of dollars of expenditure forecast in that mini-budget, only less than a quarter of which will go towards economic activity that will drive jobs, particularly amongst contractors and those involved in essential road maintenance in the Northern Territory, out of duty of care for Territorians.
As he is either unable or unwilling to admit to the situation that exists in reality out there, I table, minister, for your information, a table showing the work undertaken by just one period contractor responsible for urban bituminous repair and maintenance. Are you aware that for the period August to November 2000, under a terrible CLP government - so says by you - he undertook that particular period contract work totalling $270 863? Under a Labor government, for the same period this year, he has only received work totalling $81 466. Minister, that is a drop in period contract work of nearly 70%. That is the problem out there. That is why staff are being laid off, that is why businesses like him are going out of business. Minister, I ask you, will you please detail where the additional money will go and make sure that money flows to those period contractors? I table that table for your information.
Mr Stirling: Why don’t you ask your Treasurer why he never put any money in those programs? You never put any money in programs, that is what happened!
Mr BURKE: We spent it last year, you haven’t. You have been in since August. Start spending some money.
Mr Stirling: It is coming through now. Ask your mate from Katherine.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Have we finished? Would you like a little more? Let’s stop it!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan, again, for his question. Yes, I am aware of the problem. Yes, I am also aware the problem was created because of their mismanagement. The reason there was no money is because they blew the budget out, not because in three months we managed to ruin the economy of the Territory. They were 26 years here. Every time the department went back for more money: ‘Here is the money’. When the money was required for the port or wharf, there was no money.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: It would be lovely if we could print money and start spending the amount. But we are a responsible government, we are not going to increase our deficit and, certainly, we are not going to lie about our deficit - from $12m deficit to $107m. Now we know that was blown even further. We are aware of the problem with the business community. We are aware of the problems with the period contracts, and we are addressing it.
As he is either unable or unwilling to admit to the situation that exists in reality out there, I table, minister, for your information, a table showing the work undertaken by just one period contractor responsible for urban bituminous repair and maintenance. Are you aware that for the period August to November 2000, under a terrible CLP government - so says by you - he undertook that particular period contract work totalling $270 863? Under a Labor government, for the same period this year, he has only received work totalling $81 466. Minister, that is a drop in period contract work of nearly 70%. That is the problem out there. That is why staff are being laid off, that is why businesses like him are going out of business. Minister, I ask you, will you please detail where the additional money will go and make sure that money flows to those period contractors? I table that table for your information.
Mr Stirling: Why don’t you ask your Treasurer why he never put any money in those programs? You never put any money in programs, that is what happened!
Mr BURKE: We spent it last year, you haven’t. You have been in since August. Start spending some money.
Mr Stirling: It is coming through now. Ask your mate from Katherine.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Have we finished? Would you like a little more? Let’s stop it!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan, again, for his question. Yes, I am aware of the problem. Yes, I am also aware the problem was created because of their mismanagement. The reason there was no money is because they blew the budget out, not because in three months we managed to ruin the economy of the Territory. They were 26 years here. Every time the department went back for more money: ‘Here is the money’. When the money was required for the port or wharf, there was no money.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr VATSKALIS: It would be lovely if we could print money and start spending the amount. But we are a responsible government, we are not going to increase our deficit and, certainly, we are not going to lie about our deficit - from $12m deficit to $107m. Now we know that was blown even further. We are aware of the problem with the business community. We are aware of the problems with the period contracts, and we are addressing it.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016