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      • Has Gunner Government learnt from Home Improvement Scheme debacle with new tourism vouchers?
      • Gunner Government has no budget and no plan for economic recovery as CLP maps path forward
      • Police survey shows officers have lost faith in Gunner Government
      • Country Liberal Government will commit $5 million for youth boot camp in Alice Springs
      • Country Liberal Government will create Office of the Territory Coordinator to lock in major job creating projects
      • Chief Minister refuses to answer budget questions in Public Accounts Committee hearing
      • National Aboriginal Art Gallery will go ahead at Alice Springs’ Desert Park under Country Liberal Government
      • Home Improvement Scheme problems continue under Gunner Government
      • Country Liberal Government to implement multi-pronged approach to ensure a strong Territory police force
      • Gunner’s Reconstruction Commission shows even he knows he isn't up to the job
      • Country Liberal Government will create taskforce to fast-track approvals processes
      • Country Liberal Government will simplify mining taxes to drive investment and jobs in the Territory
      • Finocchiaro announces CLP Cabinet Executive
      • Gunner Government should triple staff to speed up Home Improvement Scheme approvals
      • Gunner Government arrogance continues with refusal to answer Opposition written questions during required time frame
      • For jobs, safety and opportunity vote CLP in 100 days
      • Gunner Government hides so called ‘budget repair’ that won’t happen because it won’t deliver 2020 Budget
      • Gunner Government isn’t focused on the economy or scrutiny
      • Days roll by with no Gunner Government financial transparency
      • More resources needed to administer Home Improvement Scheme
      • Gunner Government has no budget, no plan
      • Report is further evidence Minimum Unit Pricing should be scrapped
      • Labor’s idea of scrutiny makes you shake your head
      • Gunner Government must show it can handle scrutiny at PAC hearings and answer real questions
      • State of the States Report reinforces poor economic picture pre COVID-19 and Territory population decline
      • CLP Opposition calls for full Territory Budget, Estimates and PEFO
      • Gunner Government shuts down scrutiny in Parliament
      • No question time in Parliament shows Gunner Government hubris and arrogance
      • Opposition accepts huge petition on unpopular pet laws
      • Gunner Government should make a genuine commitment to removing red tape for good
      • Gunner Government still silent on transparency of COVID-19 spending
      • Where is the planning for Territory Year 12 students?
      • Knee-jerk changes hurt tradies and homeowners doing the right thing
      • Cancellation of Territory cracker night is disappointing
      • Government should go one step further and scrap pet rental laws altogether
      • CLP backs $5000 fines for people who spit or cough at frontline workers during COVID-19
      • Clarity on Term 2 for Families and Workplaces
      • Government transparency is still essential
      • Solar tariff snuck in under COVID-19 cloak
      • Payroll tax and power relief now overdue
      • CLP calls for relief on payroll tax, power and water charges
      • Greener Safer Homes - stimulus
  • ABOUT THE CLP
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      • Sentenced to a skill - A bootcamp for Alice Springs
      • Office of the Territory Coordinator
      • Ensuring a strong Territory police force
      • Approvals Fast-Track Taskforce
      • Simplifying Mining Taxes
  • OUR TEAM
    • Elected Members >
      • Lia Finocchiaro MLA
      • Gerard Maley: Member for Nelson
      • Steven Edgington: Member for Barkly
      • Joshua Burgoyne: Member for Braitling
      • Marie-Clare Boothby: Member for Brennan
      • Ian Sloan: Member for Daly
      • Jo Hersey: Member for Katherine
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  • HOME
  • News
    • Media
    • Lia Finocchiaro - NT Opposition Leader
    • Opposition Team >
      • Gerard Maley: Member for Nelson >
        • Police resourcing and low morale needs to be addressed immediately
        • Security embarrassingly ineffective at Howard Springs
        • Public kept in dark over BDR results
        • Gunner Government must scrap quarantine weak link
        • Pet friendly cyclone shelters
        • Labor's park fees
      • Steve Edgington: Member for Barkly
      • Joshua Burgoyne: Member for Braitling
      • Marie-Clare Boothby: Member for Brennan
      • Ian Sloan: Member for Daly
      • Jo Hersey: Member for Katherine
      • Bill Yan: Member for Namatjira
    • Country Liberal Party - Media >
      • Preselection Nominations Open: Solomon and Lingiari
    • Archive Media >
      • Gunner Government must answer Territory finances questions at Public Accounts Committee this week - Tracey Hayes
      • BRING BACK BASSINTHEDUST - Damien Ryan, Araluen
      • WE WONT BE FOOLED - TRACEY HAYES
      • ALICE SPRINGS LEFT BEHIND BY GUNNER ON HOME IMPROVEMENT SCHEME
      • Alice Spring Candidates: A town like Alice perfect for AFL, Chief Minister!
      • Now is the time to play to our strengths and act decisively - OP-ED
      • Candidate Announcement - Daly and Goyder
      • Candidate Announcement - Casuarina & Karama
      • February Candidate Announcement
      • Gunner Government’s Reconstruction Commission
      • Weeding out Gamba Grass
      • Gunner Government blocks debate on Pre-Election Fiscal Outlook for the second time this week
      • Davidson analysis goes to core of Gunner Government’s economic and budgetary mismanagement
      • Opposition to introduce Fiscal Integrity and Transparency Amendment Bill 2020 to get Gunner Government to provide Pre-Election Fiscal Outlook
      • Gunner Government sneakily allows sex businesses to operate in residential areas
      • Tourism industry jobs and economic data highlights damage of keeping Territory borders closed
      • Has Gunner Government learnt from Home Improvement Scheme debacle with new tourism vouchers?
      • Gunner Government has no budget and no plan for economic recovery as CLP maps path forward
      • Police survey shows officers have lost faith in Gunner Government
      • Country Liberal Government will commit $5 million for youth boot camp in Alice Springs
      • Country Liberal Government will create Office of the Territory Coordinator to lock in major job creating projects
      • Chief Minister refuses to answer budget questions in Public Accounts Committee hearing
      • National Aboriginal Art Gallery will go ahead at Alice Springs’ Desert Park under Country Liberal Government
      • Home Improvement Scheme problems continue under Gunner Government
      • Country Liberal Government to implement multi-pronged approach to ensure a strong Territory police force
      • Gunner’s Reconstruction Commission shows even he knows he isn't up to the job
      • Country Liberal Government will create taskforce to fast-track approvals processes
      • Country Liberal Government will simplify mining taxes to drive investment and jobs in the Territory
      • Finocchiaro announces CLP Cabinet Executive
      • Gunner Government should triple staff to speed up Home Improvement Scheme approvals
      • Gunner Government arrogance continues with refusal to answer Opposition written questions during required time frame
      • For jobs, safety and opportunity vote CLP in 100 days
      • Gunner Government hides so called ‘budget repair’ that won’t happen because it won’t deliver 2020 Budget
      • Gunner Government isn’t focused on the economy or scrutiny
      • Days roll by with no Gunner Government financial transparency
      • More resources needed to administer Home Improvement Scheme
      • Gunner Government has no budget, no plan
      • Report is further evidence Minimum Unit Pricing should be scrapped
      • Labor’s idea of scrutiny makes you shake your head
      • Gunner Government must show it can handle scrutiny at PAC hearings and answer real questions
      • State of the States Report reinforces poor economic picture pre COVID-19 and Territory population decline
      • CLP Opposition calls for full Territory Budget, Estimates and PEFO
      • Gunner Government shuts down scrutiny in Parliament
      • No question time in Parliament shows Gunner Government hubris and arrogance
      • Opposition accepts huge petition on unpopular pet laws
      • Gunner Government should make a genuine commitment to removing red tape for good
      • Gunner Government still silent on transparency of COVID-19 spending
      • Where is the planning for Territory Year 12 students?
      • Knee-jerk changes hurt tradies and homeowners doing the right thing
      • Cancellation of Territory cracker night is disappointing
      • Government should go one step further and scrap pet rental laws altogether
      • CLP backs $5000 fines for people who spit or cough at frontline workers during COVID-19
      • Clarity on Term 2 for Families and Workplaces
      • Government transparency is still essential
      • Solar tariff snuck in under COVID-19 cloak
      • Payroll tax and power relief now overdue
      • CLP calls for relief on payroll tax, power and water charges
      • Greener Safer Homes - stimulus
  • ABOUT THE CLP
  • OUR PLAN & POLICIES
    • OUR PLAN >
      • Education
      • Economising on Travel
      • A bold plan to empower aboriginal territorians
      • Agriculture
      • Health
      • Bail Act
      • Cheaper, Greener Electricity
      • Buy Local
      • Recreational Fishing
      • Public Housing
      • Comprehensive Roads Plan
      • Tourism Blueprint
      • Sustainable Hunting
      • Energy
      • Seniors
      • Fast-track Middle Arm Industrial Complex
      • Go for gas
      • Holding Chief Executives to account
      • Gamba Grass
      • Northern Territory Public Service
      • Water Security
      • Sentenced to a skill - A bootcamp for Alice Springs
      • Office of the Territory Coordinator
      • Ensuring a strong Territory police force
      • Approvals Fast-Track Taskforce
      • Simplifying Mining Taxes
  • OUR TEAM
    • Elected Members >
      • Lia Finocchiaro MLA
      • Gerard Maley: Member for Nelson
      • Steven Edgington: Member for Barkly
      • Joshua Burgoyne: Member for Braitling
      • Marie-Clare Boothby: Member for Brennan
      • Ian Sloan: Member for Daly
      • Jo Hersey: Member for Katherine
      • Bill Yan: Member for Namatjira
    • Federal Members >
      • Senator Dr Sam McMahon
    • Management Committee
    • Volunteer
    • Young Country Liberals
  • DONATE
  • MEMBERSHIP
    • JOIN
    • RENEWALS
    • Membership Pricing
  • CONTACT US

Country Liberal PArty Candidates.  
MEDIA

​

OP-ED
10/05/2020

Picture
WE WONT BE FOOLED

The Northern Territory has slid off an economic cliff before.

The year was 1914, an international company recognising the opportunity that existed in the Territory, invested $100’s of millions of dollars (in today’s value) of private money to construct an abattoir in my electorate at Vestey’s Beach.

It was the boldest and largest economic development of its time.
Sadly, within 3 years the venture collapsed reportedly due to cost blowouts during construction, insufficient supply chain infrastructure, overreach by Government and interference by Unions with worker strikes and failed pay negotiations. 

Two out of three Darwinites lost their jobs with the resultant anger and frustration being reported as one of the contributing factors leading to the Darwin rebellion.
Does any of this sound familiar?

Fast forward 100 years and a similar scenario is playing out with the post Inpex construction economic cliff; job losses, market failures, bloated Government and stifling impediments to private sector investment.

Following the Vestey’s collapse and political demise amongst other things, with courage, conviction and the great Territory spirit, we rebuilt and recovered.

We have done it before, and with a change in Government, we will do it again.

However, with a Territory election a little over 100 days away, we will go to the polls without a pre-election fiscal outlook or a budget.
Territorians should not be fooled into believing that we cannot put together a budget without knowing what the federal government is going to do. Eight out of the last ten years we have handed down budgets before the federal government has. Territorians will not be fooled by this political smokescreen. Most are painfully aware of the economic cliff the Territory has slid off in the current term of the Gunner Labor Government.

No voter should accept a Chief Minister or a Treasurer who turn up to interviews and when questioned on what are the levels of debt? Where is the money coming from for the stimulus? Or, where are the savings, to simply reply with “I haven’t got those numbers in front of me”.

It been 18 months since the steaming dead carcase of a report was dropped on Territorians table on the eve of the Christmas period and as the Chief Minister quietly slipped out of the country.  If something wasn’t done urgently, we would hit an insurmountable debt in excess of $35 billion dollars within 10 years. With the current debt level increasing by an eyewatering $4million dollars for every day of the Gunner leadership, we are well on our way.  

The level of economic mismanagement is staggering, indicating a complete disregard for the future of Territorians, our kids and grandkids.
 
This would not be such an issue if our Northern Territory Government had a better relationship with Canberra. One that is far deeper than cheap political rhetoric.
So, what are you lot going to do about it I hear you ask?
 
As the Country Liberals representative in Fannie Bay, I know as a team, the CLP will resurrect a deep and productive Canberra relationship, immediately.

The CLP will be announcing policies with plenty of time for Territorians to have a look at them.

What I can say is it is time to let Territorians realise their full potential. We will be getting out of the way of business, restoring our reputation as a safe place to invest and building confidence in the future of the Territory.

We will be expecting Chief Executives to operate their departments, much like a highly paid CEO of a private company does. They will have targets, efficiencies, and outcome focused productivity gains to reach.

There will be no working school hours for Ministers or creches on the 5th floor.

I for one, if need be, will be rolling my swag out in the office, rolling up my sleeves and doing whatever it takes to get our beautiful Territory off its knees and back on its feet.
​
Everyone will have a role and there can be no passengers.
We have done it before. We can do it again.
 
Ends

THE COUNTRY LIBERAL PARTY

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