Ms SCRYMGOUR - 2010-10-26
The construction sector in the Northern Territory is bucking the national trend. Can you detail to the House what the Access Economics report concludes …
A member interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: You do not like good news, do you? You just do not like it; you talk it down.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I will repeat that, Madam Speaker, because it is important. Can you detail to the House what the Access Economics report concludes regarding Territory and federal government investment into our economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. To start with, I thank the Chief Minister. I was in Alice Springs on Monday where I was talking to a few locals. Apparently, there were about 2500 people out on the weekend in Alice Springs, particularly on Saturday night at a concert. There were a lot of youth hanging out after that concert and, apparently, the R&B …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! For the sake of the House, answers shall be succinct, direct and concise, and directly relevant to the question. He is answering somebody else’s question.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, could you answer the question asked.
Mr McCARTHY: I thank the member for reminding me. Go the Chief Minister, go Major Events, and go Alice Springs because, apparently, it was a cracker of a weekend.
The Territory is in good hands, because of this government, as Access Economics forecast a 4% growth for the Territory economy. We have made a concerted effort to invest heavily in infrastructure projects to keep Territorians in work, to keep Territorian jobs. That represents this year’s $1.8bn record infrastructure budget, a very targeted fiscal strategy from the Treasurer.
The reason I was in Alice Springs yesterday was to open the Construction Forum. I was very impressed with the roll up of locals and contractors who wanted to get involved with the Department of Construction and Infrastructure, and talk about projects and moving the Territory forward in Alice Springs and Central Australia.
Access Economics notes there has been a downturn in private sector investment due to the global financial crisis and the winding-up of major projects, not only in the Territory, but around the country. It went on to state:
And we have plenty more where that came from.
The federal government should also be commended for its investment in the Territory, in jobs relating to the BER in schools infrastructure.
I notice it has gone very quiet on the other side, when we celebrate our BER projects and our investment in infrastructure that has supported Territory jobs, because all MLAs travel their electorates and see the absolutely incredible infrastructure growth in our schools, for our kids, that deliver, for generations to come, not only employment, but improvements in our society.
Madam Speaker, the Department of Construction and Infrastructure has managed a record 997 contracts last financial year ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired. Resume your seat.
A member interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: You do not like good news, do you? You just do not like it; you talk it down.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms SCRYMGOUR: I will repeat that, Madam Speaker, because it is important. Can you detail to the House what the Access Economics report concludes regarding Territory and federal government investment into our economy?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for her question. To start with, I thank the Chief Minister. I was in Alice Springs on Monday where I was talking to a few locals. Apparently, there were about 2500 people out on the weekend in Alice Springs, particularly on Saturday night at a concert. There were a lot of youth hanging out after that concert and, apparently, the R&B …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! For the sake of the House, answers shall be succinct, direct and concise, and directly relevant to the question. He is answering somebody else’s question.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, could you answer the question asked.
Mr McCARTHY: I thank the member for reminding me. Go the Chief Minister, go Major Events, and go Alice Springs because, apparently, it was a cracker of a weekend.
The Territory is in good hands, because of this government, as Access Economics forecast a 4% growth for the Territory economy. We have made a concerted effort to invest heavily in infrastructure projects to keep Territorians in work, to keep Territorian jobs. That represents this year’s $1.8bn record infrastructure budget, a very targeted fiscal strategy from the Treasurer.
The reason I was in Alice Springs yesterday was to open the Construction Forum. I was very impressed with the roll up of locals and contractors who wanted to get involved with the Department of Construction and Infrastructure, and talk about projects and moving the Territory forward in Alice Springs and Central Australia.
Access Economics notes there has been a downturn in private sector investment due to the global financial crisis and the winding-up of major projects, not only in the Territory, but around the country. It went on to state:
- … ordinarily a gap that big in commercial construction would have meant more pain being seen across a range of economic indicators. It hasn’t been that big a problem in the Northern Territory through this cycle because both housing construction, assisted by accelerated land release, and public sector construction work, on both schools and public housing, filled the void left by the sharp shakeout in commercial construction.
And we have plenty more where that came from.
The federal government should also be commended for its investment in the Territory, in jobs relating to the BER in schools infrastructure.
I notice it has gone very quiet on the other side, when we celebrate our BER projects and our investment in infrastructure that has supported Territory jobs, because all MLAs travel their electorates and see the absolutely incredible infrastructure growth in our schools, for our kids, that deliver, for generations to come, not only employment, but improvements in our society.
Madam Speaker, the Department of Construction and Infrastructure has managed a record 997 contracts last financial year ...
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired. Resume your seat.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016