Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Territorians are free, incredible, resilient people, but I understand—we understand—that many are under pressure right now, and that's why Labor is helping all Territorians with the cost of living. From 1 July we are delivering a tax cut for every Territory taxpayer—not just some but all—and a $300 energy bill relief for every Territory household and $325 for small businesses. We've frozen the cost of PBS medicines for every Territorian, and that has already, just in my electorate, saved Territorians more than $1 million. There's a third consecutive pay rise for 2.6 million workers nationally and more funding to build more homes in every part of the Territory and every part of the country.

But that's not all. Labor has already delivered cheaper child care, fee-free TAFE and the biggest investment ever in expanding bulk-billing. This is all part of a longer term economic plan helping Territorians right now, working to bring down inflation, which we have since we inherited over at six per cent from those opposite. We know that there's more to do and we will keep working every day to deliver for every Territorian, just as we have been every day in this term of government.

Just consider this: the $4 billion over 10 years funded by the Australian and Northern Territory governments to improve housing in remote Territory communities and homelands. Of the $3.8 billion Commonwealth investment in northern defence bases, $2 billion of that is in the Territory, with much more to come. There's $1.5 billion in planned equity from the Commonwealth for common use of marine infrastructure at the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct, and a joint $1 billion package to fully fund our public education in the Northern Territory under both federal and Territory Labor governments. The Albanese Labor government has $840 million in loans and grants packages to Arafura's Nolans rare earths project to build a critical minerals mine and refinery in my friend the member for Lingiari's electorate. There's $480 million in Commonwealth funding for Territory roads, on top of the Northern Territory government's $2.3 billion investment in transport infrastructure, as well as the doubling of the Roads to Recovery funding from $500 million to $1 billion, under which Northern Territory councils will receive $128 million over five years—which is an increase of $55 million.

This demonstrates what our experience has always taught us, and what it has always taught us is that the Territory always does better with Labor. That is not only because of the size of those figures—the billions of dollars of investment. It's because Labor has a clear and achievable vision for the Northern Territory. We plan to build a $40 billion economy by 2030 in which the cost of living is driven down. We want to grow the population, in a sustainable way, and to improve the quality of life of all Territorians, from the cities to the homelands. We want young Territorians to have attractive opportunities to study, live and work in the Territory. That future can be best secured under Labor governments, here in Canberra but also in Darwin, working hand in hand.

So, as we enter the winter break, I invite all members and senators to come up to the Top End and thaw out. We've got jam-packed festivals and activities on, during the dry. The biggest ever Pitch Black commences on 12 July, and on 20 July there's an open day to which you can come for free and—

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I want to invite all members and senators up to the Top End for the dry season. Come up and thaw out. We've got fantastic festivals on as well as the perfect weather every day and the best beer gardens in the country. We've got the amazing Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair on from 9 to 11 August at the Darwin Convention Centre. On 10 August we've got the National Indigenous Music Awards as well as Australia's hottest winter arts festival, the Darwin Festival, which is happening from 8 to 25 August. We've also got the 2024 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, the NATSIAAs, with all finalists currently exhibited at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory through until January next year. Come up to the Top End, and you'll have a ball.