From question time in the Northern Territory parliament -

"Budget 2004 - Impact on Economic Development" by Member Mr Kelly to the Treasurer - 18/5/04

(see #6 and #7 for comments on Muralitharan)

QUESTION:

Can the Treasurer please advise the House of the likely impact of Budget 2004 on the Territory's economic development?

ANSWER:

(1) I thank the member for Sanderson for his question, Madam Speaker, because I know as the local member he has a deep interest in these matters because he relays them to his constituents. He relays them to his constituents, unlike some members opposite whom we never hear or see in here or in their electorate either. So it is a great question; I thank him for his question.

(2) Less tax, more jobs and support for the great Territory lifestyle; that is what this Budget will have. That is what this Budget is all about and that will definitely be the impact that it has out in the Northern Territory abroad because this budget contains record tax cuts to business right Across the Territory. We will be the lowest taxing business jurisdiction in Australia for small business. For a medium-sized business of 40 staff and a payroll of about $1.6m, the effect will be to save $29 000 in tax payments to the government, an outstanding result.

(3) The infrastructure spend of $441m will generate and sustain 4000 jobs directly in the construction industry. More importantly than the figure itself, we have packaged this infrastructure to lever more private investment and even greater growth in jobs and economic activity. For example, the Mereenie Loop Road, $38m over the next three years, something the turkeys over here could have done. They had 26 years to do it, 26.5 years; never touched it. That will generate millions of dollars in tourism inflow in Central Australia once it is completed over the next three years.

(4) The Litchfield Loop, again, not even a big job, $15m over three years, something they could have done at any time if they were serious about promoting the tourism sector. They always bleated about it, but never did anything about it. They could have done that at any time, but they didn't have the dough for a start and they didn't have the brains to think about how important it is.

(5) Tourism infrastructure, roads and strategic development projects are the focus of the expenditure in this infrastructure budget. It is a focus that will lift the jobs effort and fuel economic growth over not just this year, but the tax cuts in to 2005-06 will continue to do that.

(6) The Territory's great lifestyle gets even better. We are supporting more major events than ever before. I talked this morning of the cricket to the BassInTheGrass. I wish Prime Minister Howard would get his head out of it, Madam Speaker. Now we have Muralitharan, the greatest wicket taker in the history of the game, saying he will not come because the Prime Minister has the insensitivity to call him a chucker, and he won't come. He is likely to deny Territorians the spectacle of witnessing the greatest ever bowler in the history of the game turning the ball out at Marrara. The Member for Nelson agrees. He knows that the Prime Minister should have shut his mouth when he doesn't know what he is talking about.

(7) I spoke with the Sri Lankan Ambassador at a lunch here with the Foreign Minister a week and a bit ago and I said: 'Will you please ask Mr Muralitheran to come to Australia for this next test series because we in Darwin are looking forward to seeing the greatest bowler on our home turf' and he said: 'I speak to Murali on a regular basis and I will pass that on'. Now, that was prior to this turkey of a Prime Minister getting out there and calling him a chucker. I hope that damage can be undone, but that is what we are bringing to Darwin: test cricket in the form of Sri Lanka and the world's greatest ever wicket taker.

(8) BassInTheGrass, the Arafura Games, the netball, the hockey, the Masters Games, AFL, Western Bulldogs up here a bit later this year, more basketball, great racing carnivals - we have just seen that in Pine Creek and Alice Springs with more to come with Darwin in August - arts festivals across the Territory, the list is as long as your arm.