Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley accuses Michael Gunner of ‘disingenuous and misleading’ NT

Chief Minister Michael Gunner has claimed the penalty for shattering the NT’s debt ceiling would be a speech to parliament, as MLAs raged against the Territory’s ‘hideous’ debt.

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CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner has been unable to say what personal penalty a Treasurer would sustain if the Territory’s $15bn debt ceiling were to be shattered, other than being forced to give a speech to parliament.

In a stunning session in NT Estimates, Mr Gunner has been accused of ducking his responsibility of the Northern Territory’s growing debt pile.

Mr Gunner, who also acts as the Treasurer, defended his government and said “deliberate decisions” were made to cut spending after coming to power in 2016.

He said these decisions were made to prevent the NT from racking up $29bn in debt as predicted in the Langoulant report.

The Territory’s net debt currently sits at $7.7bn, compared to just $3bn when Labor came to power

But Araluen independent MLA Robyn Lambley accused Mr Gunner of spinning the figures during an extraordinary spray during Estimates, saying Labor had taken years to put in place a debt ceiling.

Michael Gunner vs Robyn Lambley

“I’m not going to sit here and be lied to by the Chief Minister,” Ms Lambley said.

“I think what’s so concerning to Territorians is that you’re heralding the $7.7bn debt that we’re in as some sort of success story, when we know it’s a hideous, unsustainable and quite frankly tragic figure.”

Mr Gunner defended the fiscal performance of his government, claiming his government was receiving less GST revenue from the Commonwealth than his CLP predecessors.

“It progressively declined between then and 2019-20,” Mr Gunner said.

The Treasurer also came under pressure to explain the $15bn debt ceiling unveiled in his latest budget and the consequences of breaching it.

“In the event you are estimated to breach the debt ceiling, the Treasurer is compelled to go into parliament within 16 days to provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances that contribute to that breach,” Mr Gunner said.

“That’s why the debt ceiling won’t be breached.”

Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro said the explanation was “absolutely garbage” and expressed concern there was no penalty legislated if the debt ceiling was breached.

“There is no consequence for breaching your debt ceiling, other than you have to waltz into parliament and let everyone know that it’s going to happen,” Ms Finocchiaro said.

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