Leader of the Opposition, Lia Finocchiaro, says the Country Liberal Party’s vision for the Territory is a fresh, focused and fiscally responsible plan to attract private investment, grow own-source revenue, and kick start the Territory’s crippled economy.
“Our plan builds on the sound and costed policies that the CLP took to the general election in 2020, and which we will continue to strengthen by listening to Territorians and championing what is important to them: a safe, resilient and prosperous community.
“A key policy commitment outlined in today’s budget reply speech is an exciting new CLP policy that revolutionises the way Territory households store and sell solar energy, starting with reinvesting the $12 million of Labor cuts to solar tariffs. The CLP is committed to renewable energy, grid stability and most importantly driving down the cost of living for Territorians.
“A CLP government I lead will scrap the four-year wage freeze. Unlike Labor, we are committed to implementing recommendations from the Langoulant plan for budget repair and we will offer public sector workers a $1,000 a year genuine wages growth.
“The CLP will unlock the enormous potential of the Beetaloo Basin and we will ensure our budget books have an expectation that the Territory receive royalties from this incredible resource so that our children and their children can have world class jobs and world class infrastructure
“Middle Arm will go from being a tag line in a Labor script to a fully-fledged manufacturing precinct that has critical connectivity like a gas pipeline, rail and port.
“We will create the office of Territory Coordinator to streamline and facilitate investment – and immediately establish an Approvals Fast-Track Taskforce to cut approval times across government by 50 percent and within the first six months of us taking government bring legislation into parliament removing unnecessary and burdensome regulations.
“A CLP Government will immediately launch a review of the payroll tax with the intention of abolishing the tax for small and medium businesses. Any lost revenue from payroll tax can easily be made up from increased royalties that will flow from the increase in mining and petroleum activity that the CLP would clear the way for. That is our iron-clad commitment.
“The CLP recognises the economic contribution of our resources sector to the Territory. It equates to nearly 20 percent of our Gross State Product and is the largest contributor of own source revenue at 40 percent outside of the Morrison Coalition Government funding.
“Labor – naively and destructively – introduced into the Territory an anti-competitive and burdensome tax regime that has sent a message to the world that the Territory is not open for business. The Hybrid mining tax is without a doubt holding mines back from developing in the Territory. That is why the CLP would move to a more simplified, less administratively burdensome ad valorem royalty system. It is a fair system, it is a predictable system.
“We need to stop wasteful spending and focus on wealth generation, free up business and reduce unnecessary regulatory burden on businesses. But we must address other major issues. We cannot have a strong economy if our streets aren’t safe. We will back our police and tackle crime to make the Territory safer.
“We will focus on our regions and giving local decision making back to communities. We will continue to give Territorians a clear choice and we will continue our conversations with them on how we can make their lives better, safer and full of opportunity.
“We will do all this with energy, determination, commitment and strong leadership. We will not punish Territorians for our mistakes or Labors. We will be a government for all Territorians,” said Mrs Finocchiaro.
ENDS