Business groups remain unconvinced over Northern Territory Budget repair plan

KEY business and industry stakeholders have given a less than enthusiastic response to the Gunner Government’s Budget Repair Plan

Chamber of Commerce NT chief executive Greg Bicknell remains unconvinced that the Territory was not in the midst of an economic crisis

KEY business and industry stakeholders have given a less than enthusiastic response to the Gunner Government’s Budget Repair Plan, saying it lacks detail and focuses too much on a future that may never be delivered on, rather than the present.

Chamber of Commerce NT chief executive Greg Bicknell remained unconvinced that the Territory was not in the midst of an economic crisis.

“Today we are being told everything is under control … that wasn’t the story from the Government a couple of months ago,” Mr Bicknell said.

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“Are we having a crisis or aren’t we? The man on the street seems to think we are having a crisis.

“The devil is always in the detail and there isn’t too much of it at the moment.

“There were some things that were good, such as the wages freeze, some movement and culling around the executive levels, and the new Office of Investment Attraction.

“Putting a ceiling on allowable debt is good in principle.

“Look, a lot of this stuff is very long-term and will slip over to at least another two governments.

“The heavy lifting still needs to be done around the public service numbers. This is one of the biggest expenses.

Chair of the Darwin Business Group Ian Kew could not hide his disappointment.

“Returning the Territory budget to surplus in 10 years, well that is a long, long time away,” Mr Kew said.

“The work around the long-term micro economic reforms are good, but a lot of that is not going to have any impact in the short term and certainly some of the things that they are proposing to do are not until after the next election.

“Trying to renegotiate pay and conditions for public servants, putting in place a debt ceiling, are all good long-term initiatives only if they happen.

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In the short term I think a lot of the changes are somewhat cosmetic, freezing politician and public service wage salaries is not going to shift the dial much at all.

“Saving two or three thousand dollars on 20 people and 50 public servants is neither here nor there.

“It’s a distraction.

“There could have been a much more robust revenue saving look at public service numbers, which are such a major part of the expenditure budget. Out of 22,000 public servants, the number going is nothing at all.”

Master Builders chief Executive David Malone said the Territory could never afford its public service if the economy continued to shrink.

“Two key recommendations stood out to us,” he said.

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“The Office of Investment Attraction is something that we support as long as it brings urgency and ambition to resolving our economic challenges.

“The other is the recommendation to look at a new funding partnership with the Federal Government, which we think is essential.”