Debates Day 1 - Tuesday 23 May 1995
Parliamentary Record 11
Debates for 7th Assembly 1994 - 1997; ParliamentNT; Parliamentary Record; 7th Assembly 1994 - 1997
1995-05-23
Made available by the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
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Debates
Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
Darwin
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Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
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DEBATES - Tuesday 23 May 1995 ongoing capital works projects that are still needed. No member opposite has commented on the fact that we are still waiting for some decisions on the Tennant Creek solar power station. When he was Minister for Transport and Works, the member for Leanyer assured us that, whereas the government hoped to obtain significant third-party funding from interstate and from other electricity boards and research funds, the project would proceed with Territory funds if adequate funds were not forthcoming from other sources. Mr Coulter: Did he? Mr BAILEY: Yes. Mr Coulter: We had a problem with a couple of people in CSIRO. Mr BAILEY: Mr Speaker, I am very interested in the project... Mr Coulter: So am I. Mr BAILEY: ... from a number of perspectives. If it is on target and the Territory government is funding it, that is fine. However, I would have thought there would have been something in the budget for such a significant project. As far as I can see, there is no mention of it anywhere in the budget papers. Perhaps, like the Territory Land Corporation, it is included under some other heading. I have been unable to fund it as yet. The minister may be able to tell us more about that. I must say that, in general, the arts have not been as badly hit as have some other areas. However, there is a cut in real terms in both the arts and ethnic affairs budgets over their funding last year. Mr Coulter: We could not keep funding them at the rate they received last year. Mr BAILEY: That was an election year. There is no way you can continue to fund groups like that at that level. I just want to get that on the record. The Treasurer said there is no way that the government could continue to fund the arts and ethnic affairs at the level they were fiinded at last year. We saw the member for Port Darwin approach groups and tell them he had obtained an extra $0.5m or $lm for them. He said: If any group has a one-off project, this is the time to see me. Put it in your bid for $20 000, $30 000 or $50 000. Provided you vote for us, you will be able to have it. As the Treasurer has stated, it was simply an exercise in pork-barrelling. Let us bring a little honesty into this debate. The CLP government hocked the funds of the Northern Territory for its own electoral benefit last year. It is now bringing down the budget that will pay for it. It cannot continue to fund at the level it did in the election year. It now has to pay off the bankcards. The government has to say that it cannot continue to fund the arts and ethnic groups. It has to pay off its debts. This brings me to the Tourist Commission which is very close to the Treasurers own heart because he is also the Minister for Tourism. I hope he will give some consideration to my suggestion that an automotive museum be created near the Aviation Museum. There is 3560