Natasha Griggs (Solomon, Country Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There has been a lot of posturing about infrastructure spending in the Northern Territory and about how the Territory supposedly missed out in budget 2014-15. Let me say from the outset that I am not going to be lectured by has-been, former or serving Labor politicians about my record in securing money for the Northern Territory since winning government. The fact is that budget 2014-15 is a necessary budget and a good infrastructure project for the Territory. The overall spend is just under $600 million, with most of that going to Territory roads. That is way more than what we would have received if there was a Labor government. In fact, it is a record infrastructure spend for the Northern Territory.

The budget also honours my election commitments, including $300,000 for CCTV cameras, $1.5 million for the Jingili BMX track, nearly $100,000 for Warren Park, and more money for other community projects. That is on top of $40 million for the Palmerston hospital. All up there is $110 million for the Palmerston hospital. The federal Labor government made lots of promises around the Palmerston hospital, but they never actually handed over any money. When Labor was in government, it spent money like it was going out of fashion. The truth is that the budget is in a mess and it needs to be fixed. Interest payments of a billion dollars a month is proof of that. (Time expired)