Labor's clear alternative - a fairer, more prosperous Territory
Lawrie, Delia
Australian Labor Party
Media Releases for 12th Assembly 2012 - 2016; Media Releases; ParliamentNT
2013-05-15
Made available by via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT)
English
Public finance
Northern Territory Opposition
application/pdf
Issued as a Media Release
Northern Territory Opposition - Australian Labor Party
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/244885
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/591917
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/591915
The CLP Deceit The CLPs deceit on the Territorys financial position is clear. The CLP promised to cut debt. Yesterdays budget formally breaks that promise. Page 4 of the Budget Overview shows they have increased the debt by $1.1 billion - up from $3.278 Billion this year to $4.417 Billion next year. Page 28 of Budget paper 2 shows the fiscal balance next year will only be reduced by $12 million. Last year GST funding was $2.5 billion. Next year it will be $2.8 billion. The budget confirms $300 million will be stripped out of the public service. The financial figures that the CLP are using to justify the pain they are inflicting on families are the same figures they used to promise to cut the cost of living. The same figures they used to promise increased teachers they now use to sack teachers. The same figures they used to promise more spending on hospitals they now use to justify scrapping hospitals. The Territorys capacity to manage debt is better now than when Labor came to Government in 2001. The CLP used to crow about an interest to revenue ratio of 12%. They said paying 12% of revenue on interest payments was sustainable. The figure is now 9% but they now say they have to pass on the burden to Territory families and business. They have broken their promise to cut debt because they know that our debt levels are both manageable and essential for the future of the Northern Territory.