CLP accuses Gunner govt of tossing NT Budget scrutiny out the window by cutting Opposition numbers on Estimates Committee

The Gunner Government has been accused of throwing budget scrutiny out the window by slashing the number of Opposition members on the Estimates Committee.

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THE Gunner government has been accused of throwing budget scrutiny out the window by slashing the number of Opposition members on the Estimates Committee.

The committee’s job is to closely examine how the Gunner government is spending Territory taxpayers’ money.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro says the Chief Minister Michael Gunner is trying to prevent budget scrutiny by cutting the Opposition numbers on the Estimates Committee.

The long standing convention has been that the Estimates Committee is made up of three government members, two opposition members and one independent.

Ms Finocchiaro pointed out that nowhere in the nation has a ruling government restricted an Opposition to just one member in the Estimates process.

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Ms Finocchiaro said the government action is designed to prevent the Opposition from proper scrutiny of the budget and holding the government to account for its spending choices on behalf of Territorians.

“The Gunner government is absolutely petrified of what the Opposition will uncover,” Ms Finocchiaro said

She said the Opposition’s questioning in the December Estimates process revealed a myriad of humiliating failures by the government.

“This includes the fact half of all youths arrested last financial year were on bail and shocking multimillion-dollar budget blowouts during the construction of Garramilla Boulevard and in other areas.

“Territorians can be assured, the CLP Opposition will still hold this insecure government to account, despite this erosion of scrutiny.”

Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro. Picture: Che Chorley

However, a spokesman for the Chief Minister defended the changes.

“In the parliament’s Standing Orders, it is made very clear that all MLAs are allowed to participate in the Estimates Committee,” the spokesman said.

However, this has to be with the committee’s approval. It states: “A Member of the Assembly, although not a member of a committee, may participate in the committee’s public sessions unless the committee orders otherwise.”