Page 3963 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 23 November 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Mrs Carnell's amendment refers to a lack of confidence in the Treasurer. I would back my performance as Treasurer against that of any Treasurer in this country. There is no doubt in my mind, Madam Speaker, that the Territory has benefited greatly by good financial management in this Territory. I defy members opposite to say otherwise. In moving the budget this year I referred to some of the pleasing news about the Territory's economy, which I realise the Opposition do not want to know about. They are very, very loath ever to refer to any good news at all, or anybody's achievements at all, and certainly not to achievements that are in the interests of the Territory.
It is a fact, Madam Speaker, that in the most recent year this Territory has experienced very strong economic growth. I would have expected members opposite to be crowing about that; but, of course, they have not been. Our gross State product has increased by 4 per cent in real terms, which is something like double the national rate. Also, if you look at some of the other indicators in the Territory, you will see that there are very good signs of economic health. Our retail trade figures, which are the most significant measure of private spending, grew by 4.9 per cent; again, more than twice as fast as for Australia as a whole. I would have thought that would have been pleasing to a party which purported to have an interest in the private sector. Also, through the year, our housing finance grew by 42 per cent. Again I would have thought that would be pleasing to members opposite.
Madam Speaker, I believe that our handling of the finances of this Territory has been very good indeed. It is not just my work; it is the work of the Government as a whole because, as I have said previously, it involves the Government as a whole taking decisions collectively, even when they are difficult decisions, and sticking to them. Throughout my period as Treasurer my position has been, as members know, to insist upon balanced recurrent budgets. I have maintained that position. I have maintained it again in the budget which is before the Assembly at the moment. I have insisted also on a regime of low borrowings and, in fact, last year there were no borrowings, as it turned out. This year the borrowings are very modest and are actually less than Mr Kaine borrowed in his period as Treasurer. I believe that low borrowings are the responsible way to go.
I have also insisted on maintaining services to the community, and that has been done. I know that members opposite are continually exhorting us to abandon services like public transport - just give it up; sell it off - and to abandon services like schools - sell them off; close them down; there is not enough interest in that school; there are not enough votes there, so we will let that one go. That is what the Liberals are all about. This Government is not like that. We have insisted on a social justice program that maintains those services to people no matter where they live or what their circumstances are, and I will keep doing that. So, Madam Speaker, I believe, as Treasurer, that that performance has been good, and it is not just me who maintains that. If you look, for instance, at the Standard and Poor's rating of the Territory - an independent ratings authority; I have never even met them - they have rated the Territory consistently as AA+ with a positive outlook.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .