Ms SCRYMGOUR - 2012-05-02
Budget 2012-13 has been well received by the business and service sector. Can you please update the House and Territorians on some of the reactions to Budget 2012-13?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. There is no doubt our budget, focused on gearing up for Territory growth and supporting Territory families, has been broadly accepted and received a positive response.
Despite being a tight budget due to that severe decline in GST revenue, but responsible, it is responding to need. It has been welcomed by the Chamber of Commerce, deeming it responsible under the circumstances. The Chamber of Commerce welcomed the infrastructure investment and did not support a surplus at all costs. I quote Chris Young on ABC TV news:
The Master Builders Association Executive Director, Graham Kemp, has welcomed the infrastructure spending for keeping jobs here until the big projects truly kick in.
The social services sector has also welcomed Budget 2012-13, a budget delivering record funding for core services and continuing concessions to support families. They also recognise the value of the community sectors in delivering services for Territorians.
The Council of Social Service welcomed our government’s commitment to increasing the pay of community service workers as part of the national equal pay case. With the first $1m allocated in Budget 2012-13, NTCOSS stated:
This provided the sector with the certainty it needed to move forward and continue to grow important service delivery for Territorians.
Budget 2012-13 is fundamentally a responsible budget. It is focused on gearing up for growth for our very bright economic future and, importantly, it ensures all Territorians benefit from our growing economy.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for her question. There is no doubt our budget, focused on gearing up for Territory growth and supporting Territory families, has been broadly accepted and received a positive response.
Despite being a tight budget due to that severe decline in GST revenue, but responsible, it is responding to need. It has been welcomed by the Chamber of Commerce, deeming it responsible under the circumstances. The Chamber of Commerce welcomed the infrastructure investment and did not support a surplus at all costs. I quote Chris Young on ABC TV news:
- Budget 2012 is probably the best sort of budget you could expect to get with what are the limited resources available to the Territory. We are glad to see that they are continuing
to spend rather than just pulling it all back and saying: ‘Well, you know, we will go into a surplus, or try and go into a surplus’.
- The CLP are totally out of step with the business sector. Their pursuit of a surplus right now would send the Territory backwards, putting the handbrake on the economy.
The Master Builders Association Executive Director, Graham Kemp, has welcomed the infrastructure spending for keeping jobs here until the big projects truly kick in.
The social services sector has also welcomed Budget 2012-13, a budget delivering record funding for core services and continuing concessions to support families. They also recognise the value of the community sectors in delivering services for Territorians.
The Council of Social Service welcomed our government’s commitment to increasing the pay of community service workers as part of the national equal pay case. With the first $1m allocated in Budget 2012-13, NTCOSS stated:
- There is recognition in the budget of the amazing work done by people in our sector.
This provided the sector with the certainty it needed to move forward and continue to grow important service delivery for Territorians.
Budget 2012-13 is fundamentally a responsible budget. It is focused on gearing up for growth for our very bright economic future and, importantly, it ensures all Territorians benefit from our growing economy.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016