Tabling of Members' Travelling Expenses
Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table a copy of the Katherine Times of 31 July.
Leave granted.
Mr AH KIT: In that paper, the Treasurer challenged me to set an example and reveal details of expenditure incurred during the trip I made as a representative of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly to Hong Kong in June 1996. I will quote from the article in the Katherine Times:
Mr Reed said the details of his travel expenses for the whole year would be available for public scrutiny when
the Department of the Chief Minister released its annual report in September or October.
I take up the challenge issued by the Treasurer. Katherine people who have read the Katherine Times are awaiting the details of the trip. I seek leave to table the details of expenditure incurred during the trip I made to Hong Kong as a representative of the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory.
Leave granted.
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Mr AH KIT: I ask the Treasurer to reveal immediately, as I have done, a fully itemised accounting of his 16-day, taxpayer-funded trip to Europe, including all expenses incurred during his stay at the Savoy Hotel.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the honourable member has read out simply what I said I would do in relation to my travel, and it will be done in the Chief Minister's report.
Members interjecting.
Mr Bailey: You challenged the member to reveal his.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: The point of the challenge was that we hear calls frequently from members opposite for ministers to disclose how much they have spent on travel. That information is disclosed with the publication of the annual report of the Department of the Chief Minister. However, the point I was making to the Katherine Times was that members of the opposition are very silent about their travel. They make no prior announcements about where they intend to go, what they intend to do or what benefits might accrue to Territorians as a result of their travel.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: They do not indicate how long they will be away.
A member interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: The reason that it appeared in the Katherine Times ...
Mr Stirling interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for Nhulunbuy will withdraw that remark.
Mr Stirling: Mr Speaker, I withdraw it.
Mr REED: Mr Speaker, I do not think I can recall such an appalling display of bad manners from the members opposite previously in Question Time.
The reason that I said that, in due course, the Chief Minister's Department would report on my travel for the year was that it was raised, I think the week before, by the member for Arnhem. I have indicated already the reasons for the travel. No doubt, I will be required to travel again in the future. As Minister for Tourism, I have been asked to attend a couple of
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overseas functions for the benefit of the tourism industry and, in due course, consideration will be given to whether or not I should make those trips. An assessment will be made of the benefits that might derive to the tourism industry from them. It may be that I will need to travel as Treasurer. If I do go again, I hope I will be able to save a large sum of money for Territory taxpayers and that some benefits will derive to them from the trip.
For a number of reasons, it is my normal practice to stay at Sheraton hotels. I am a member of the Sheraton Club. By that means, one can build up a few points and obtain the odd night's accommodation free for the taxpayer.
Members interjecting.
Mr REED: The member for Fannie Bay at least recognises that.
The only reason I did not stay at the Sheraton Hotel in London was because it was located a long way from the business centre where we were doing our work. In any event, I am not sure that there was much difference between the tariffs at the Savoy and the Sheraton. If honourable members opposite have nothing more important to do than worry about where a minister stays for a couple of nights, if they are not concerned at all about the outcomes of the trip and the benefits gained for Territorians, that clearly illustrates how lazy they are, how incompetent they are and their lack of any interest in the Territory.
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Leave granted.
Mr AH KIT: In that paper, the Treasurer challenged me to set an example and reveal details of expenditure incurred during the trip I made as a representative of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly to Hong Kong in June 1996. I will quote from the article in the Katherine Times:
Mr Reed said the details of his travel expenses for the whole year would be available for public scrutiny when
the Department of the Chief Minister released its annual report in September or October.
I take up the challenge issued by the Treasurer. Katherine people who have read the Katherine Times are awaiting the details of the trip. I seek leave to table the details of expenditure incurred during the trip I made to Hong Kong as a representative of the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory.
Leave granted.
Page 1483
Mr AH KIT: I ask the Treasurer to reveal immediately, as I have done, a fully itemised accounting of his 16-day, taxpayer-funded trip to Europe, including all expenses incurred during his stay at the Savoy Hotel.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the honourable member has read out simply what I said I would do in relation to my travel, and it will be done in the Chief Minister's report.
Members interjecting.
Mr Bailey: You challenged the member to reveal his.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: The point of the challenge was that we hear calls frequently from members opposite for ministers to disclose how much they have spent on travel. That information is disclosed with the publication of the annual report of the Department of the Chief Minister. However, the point I was making to the Katherine Times was that members of the opposition are very silent about their travel. They make no prior announcements about where they intend to go, what they intend to do or what benefits might accrue to Territorians as a result of their travel.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: They do not indicate how long they will be away.
A member interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr REED: The reason that it appeared in the Katherine Times ...
Mr Stirling interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for Nhulunbuy will withdraw that remark.
Mr Stirling: Mr Speaker, I withdraw it.
Mr REED: Mr Speaker, I do not think I can recall such an appalling display of bad manners from the members opposite previously in Question Time.
The reason that I said that, in due course, the Chief Minister's Department would report on my travel for the year was that it was raised, I think the week before, by the member for Arnhem. I have indicated already the reasons for the travel. No doubt, I will be required to travel again in the future. As Minister for Tourism, I have been asked to attend a couple of
Page 1484
overseas functions for the benefit of the tourism industry and, in due course, consideration will be given to whether or not I should make those trips. An assessment will be made of the benefits that might derive to the tourism industry from them. It may be that I will need to travel as Treasurer. If I do go again, I hope I will be able to save a large sum of money for Territory taxpayers and that some benefits will derive to them from the trip.
For a number of reasons, it is my normal practice to stay at Sheraton hotels. I am a member of the Sheraton Club. By that means, one can build up a few points and obtain the odd night's accommodation free for the taxpayer.
Members interjecting.
Mr REED: The member for Fannie Bay at least recognises that.
The only reason I did not stay at the Sheraton Hotel in London was because it was located a long way from the business centre where we were doing our work. In any event, I am not sure that there was much difference between the tariffs at the Savoy and the Sheraton. If honourable members opposite have nothing more important to do than worry about where a minister stays for a couple of nights, if they are not concerned at all about the outcomes of the trip and the benefits gained for Territorians, that clearly illustrates how lazy they are, how incompetent they are and their lack of any interest in the Territory.
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Last updated: 04 Aug 2016