Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

When I said it beggars belief, I was indicating that just a perfunctory scrutiny of section 51 of the Constitution generally lays out in blicky blocky parts what is the responsibility of the statement and territories, what is the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth government. In regard to municipal services, it has always been around local government who have delayed that.

Over some time in some jurisdictions, not all, you will not find any provision of municipal services through the Commonwealth government. Over some time, the municipal services have been provided by government. It is this government's intention that they go back to being the responsibilities of states and territories as it is, for example, in New South Wales and other jurisdictions. We are entering into negotiations in good faith with states and territories— (Time expired)