NT Government expenditure ‘not changed much’ by virus, says Chief Minister Michael Gunner, as politicians prepare for special parliamentary sitting on Friday

THE Territory Government’s expenditure ledger hasn’t “changed as much” and it’s the revenue side of the books that has been smashed, Chief Minister Michael Gunner says.

The Territory Government’s expenditure ledger hasn’t “changed as much” and it’s the revenue side of the books that has been smashed, Chief Minister Michael Gunner says. Picture: Che Chorley

THE Territory Government’s expenditure ledger hasn’t “changed as much” and it’s the revenue side of the books that has been smashed, Chief Minister Michael Gunner says.

This is despite the Government “throwing the kitchen sink” to save jobs amid the coronavirus shutdown through multimillion-dollar stimulus packages.

Mr Gunner, during a coronavirus update on Tuesday, said the Government had always been upfront about its spending during the crisis.

“We are throwing the kitchen sink saving local jobs right now. I’d rather see the Government take a hit rather than local business hit the wall or a local worker hit the dole queue,” he said.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner is giving an update on elective surgery restrictions in the NT and what is set to happen on Friday when Parliament sits again.

Posted by The NT News on Monday, 20 April 2020

The Public Accounts Committee, tasked with ensuring transparency around the Government’s COVID-19 response and spending, will sit for the first time next Thursday.

But the Chief Minister’s assurances that he, his cabinet, and the heads of department would answer “any questions publicly”, did little to ease the Opposition.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said it was still not known if the Gunner Government would ensure up-to-date Treasury documents would be provided in advance of the meetings and for the meetings to be broadcast on the internet for public scrutiny.

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It comes as Mr Gunner confirmed the Government plans to introduce, debate and pass “critical legislation” during the special sitting of parliament on Friday, including rental laws to protect tenants.

Mr Gunner, seeking to allay concerns that the legislation is unlikely to be made public until hours before it is introduced in parliament, said he had spoken to the Real Estate Institute of NT and other stakeholders and was confident there would not be a backlash similar to what occurred in Queensland.

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The Government also hopes to formalise the mandatory quarantine arrangements currently in place, bring in power and water rate discount legislation and pass tough new penalties for grubs who maliciously cough or spit on staff at the frontline of the virus response, including cops, paramedics, teachers, and shelf stackers.

MLAs will not be required to attend in person and will be allowed to vote over the phone.