LIA FINOCCHIARO MLA
MEDIA RELEASE
25nd May 2020

Gunner’s Reconstruction Commission shows even he knows he isn't up to the job
​The Gunner Government has destroyed the Territory economy over nearly 4 years and has driven us into an untenable fiscal position with nothing to show for it. Now they have appointed yet another committee to do their own job, and it is clear they do not have any plan to get us out of this mess. Territorians cannot wait until November for action on the economy.
 “The Chief Minister's Reconstruction Commission is an admission that he knows he is not up for the job and has to outsource the responsibility of his Cabinet to other people,” Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said.
“With no budget, and no report from the Commission coming down until November, it is clear that the Gunner Labor Government has no plan for economic recovery.
“There is already a committee paid to answer all these questions and provide a pathway.  It is called Cabinet.
“With 3 months until the election, it is inconceivable that the same government that made us consistently the worst performing economy in the nation, will all of a sudden switch gears and be able to take steps to improve our position.
“How can the Commission make any recommendations when they will have no insight into the Territory economy because the government will not hand down a budget?
“Calls for a Reconstruction Commission came from industry out of sheer desperation and discontent with the level of consultation and lack of focus on the economy by the Gunner Government.
“However, a committee writing a report was not what people wanted or expected. The team announced by the Chief Minister have strong credentials, but how will they meet given many of them are from interstate and how will they consult locally? Territorians cannot wait until November for the Chief Minister to take any action on our economy.
“Even when he receives the report, there is nothing requiring the Chief Minster to implement any of it and if his track record is anything to go by (Langoulant, Economic Summits, Team NT etc). He will be incapable of delivering any outcomes.
“We look forward to reading the report from the Commission, but if elected to government in August we will take immediate action to kick-start the economy by establishing the Approvals Fast-Track Taskforce to halve approval timeframes by 50 per cent, getting money and projects flowing faster and simplifying mining taxes to increase our investment attraction,” Mrs Finocchiaro concluded.
​ENDS

"Only together can we build a better Territory for you and your family.”

- LIA FINOCCHIARO MLA, Leader of the Country Liberal Party and member for Spillett