Mr GUNNER - 2010-08-10
The coming federal election presents a stark choice for Territorians. Can you please explain how the Territory always does better under a federal Labor government than it does under a coalition?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay. If the Coalition and the current Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, were to be elected on 21 August I know what they would do: they would do the Territory over as they do all the time. We all know the Northern Territory does better under a federal Labor government than it ever does under a Coalition government.
The Coalition is all about what they will not do, not what they will do. They are all about cutting expenditure, not recognising a growing jurisdiction, a jurisdiction with great disadvantage requiring Commonwealth investment. They would do the Territory over, and doing the Territory over is deeply embedded in the coalition’s DNA. That is who they are, that is what they are – it is do the Territory over.
We already know the member for Braitling wants to cut the national partnership which will see $1.7bn spent on Indigenous housing. The member for Braitling has supported cuts to that program. If there is anything we need in the Northern Territory it is significant Commonwealth effort in Indigenous housing - $1.7bn slashed by the member for Braitling and his Coalition colleagues in Canberra. That is the CLP policy.
We all know the member for Fong Lim, when he was our representative in Canberra, was very pleased to deliver flagpoles to our schools. This is the sum result of years of the member for Fong Lim’s representation in Canberra – flagpoles in our schools – not new classrooms, not new libraries, not over $200m worth of infrastructure, not $46m in social housing, not new roads for the Northern Territory …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr Tollner: Why do you lie? Why do you have to stand up and constantly repeat that lie?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim, I ask you to withdraw that, please.
Mr TOLLNER: What, Madam Speaker? The fact that the Chief Minister stands there and lies?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, I ask you to withdraw that comment.
Mr TOLLNER: I withdraw, Madam Speaker. Let him rattle on with his mistruths.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Fong Lim!
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The truth does hurt …
Mr Tollner: No, it hurts you to say it, you drongo.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim!
Mr Tollner: Oh, let him rattle on, Madam Speaker, he talking through his hat.
Mr HENDERSON: Now if we actually look at this chart that shows Commonwealth funding to the Northern Territory, this is what you got under the years of the Howard government and the member for Fong Lim: basically pretty static funding. The do nothing Commonwealth government delivered a few flag poles to the Northern Territory. That was about it.
With the election of the Labor government in Canberra, we have seen significant increases in expenditure. This is what the Territory will lose if Tony Abbott is elected as Prime Minister on 21 August. The Territory will go backwards. The Territory always does better under a federal Labor government in Canberra.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Fannie Bay. If the Coalition and the current Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, were to be elected on 21 August I know what they would do: they would do the Territory over as they do all the time. We all know the Northern Territory does better under a federal Labor government than it ever does under a Coalition government.
The Coalition is all about what they will not do, not what they will do. They are all about cutting expenditure, not recognising a growing jurisdiction, a jurisdiction with great disadvantage requiring Commonwealth investment. They would do the Territory over, and doing the Territory over is deeply embedded in the coalition’s DNA. That is who they are, that is what they are – it is do the Territory over.
We already know the member for Braitling wants to cut the national partnership which will see $1.7bn spent on Indigenous housing. The member for Braitling has supported cuts to that program. If there is anything we need in the Northern Territory it is significant Commonwealth effort in Indigenous housing - $1.7bn slashed by the member for Braitling and his Coalition colleagues in Canberra. That is the CLP policy.
We all know the member for Fong Lim, when he was our representative in Canberra, was very pleased to deliver flagpoles to our schools. This is the sum result of years of the member for Fong Lim’s representation in Canberra – flagpoles in our schools – not new classrooms, not new libraries, not over $200m worth of infrastructure, not $46m in social housing, not new roads for the Northern Territory …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr Tollner: Why do you lie? Why do you have to stand up and constantly repeat that lie?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Fong Lim, I ask you to withdraw that, please.
Mr TOLLNER: What, Madam Speaker? The fact that the Chief Minister stands there and lies?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim, I ask you to withdraw that comment.
Mr TOLLNER: I withdraw, Madam Speaker. Let him rattle on with his mistruths.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Fong Lim!
Mr HENDERSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The truth does hurt …
Mr Tollner: No, it hurts you to say it, you drongo.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Fong Lim!
Mr Tollner: Oh, let him rattle on, Madam Speaker, he talking through his hat.
Mr HENDERSON: Now if we actually look at this chart that shows Commonwealth funding to the Northern Territory, this is what you got under the years of the Howard government and the member for Fong Lim: basically pretty static funding. The do nothing Commonwealth government delivered a few flag poles to the Northern Territory. That was about it.
With the election of the Labor government in Canberra, we have seen significant increases in expenditure. This is what the Territory will lose if Tony Abbott is elected as Prime Minister on 21 August. The Territory will go backwards. The Territory always does better under a federal Labor government in Canberra.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016