Yan and Gosling at loggerheads over federal budget

The Northern Territory Treasurer Bill Yan says Labor’s federal budget has let Territorians down – comments Solomon MP Luke Gosling has labelled as ‘misleading’. Read why.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 25: Australia’s Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivers his budget speech at Parliament House. (Photo by Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images)

The Northern Territory Treasurer Bill Yan says Labor’s federal budget has let Territorians down, a claim local federal member Luke Gosling says ignores the “real investments” being made in the NT.

With the Federal Labor Budget having precious little new in it for the Territory, Mr Yan pointed the finger of failure firmly at Labor’s federal representatives.

Mr Yan said while billions had been promised by federal Labor to other parts of regional Australia the Territory was short-changed.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro and Treasurer Bill Yan. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mr Yan said Labor had cut Solomon MP Luke Gosling adrift.

“The only new money announced for the NT is a conditional $200 million out of a total budget of $786 billion,” Mr Yan said.

“There is no certainty for Darwin Port and it is now clear that Labor has cut Luke Gosling adrift.

“The Territory’s other federal Labor members in Canberra – Marion Scrymgour and Malarndirri McCarthy – are invisible to those calling the shots.

“Billions of dollars have been promised for other parts of regional Australia, yet all the Territory got was maintenance money

“The Northern Territory has everything the nation needs, yet once again that has fallen on deaf Labor ears in Canberra.”

Federal Solomon MP Luke Gosling. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Gosling labelled Mr Yan’s comments as “misleading” and said they ignored large investments in bulk-billing, fee-free TAFE, public schools, tax cuts, and energy bill relief.

“Federal Labor is building, not cutting, unlike the former coalition government – this budget expects to provide the Northern Territory with $7.2 billion in funding – which equates to 88.3 per cent of the Territory’s total revenue,” Mr Gosling said.

“We’re investing in Territorians – providing them with a further tax cut, so they can earn more, and keep more of what they earn.

“We’re also extending our energy bill relief, increasing energy bill support to $450 for every household across the Territory. An investment of over $14 million to support all Territorians.

“We’re increasing bulk billing – investing to train more doctors, and nurses right here in the Northern Territory – which should see an additional 168,000 bulk billed GP visits each year across the Northern Territory.

“We’re investing $118.8 million over four years to fully fund all Northern Territory public schools, giving young Territorians the best start in life – supporting the NT Government with a key service.

“This is all in addition to over $2.8 billion in funding projected for road and rail projects across the Territory, one of which is the duplication of the Stuart Highway between Darwin and Katherine.”

Mr Gosling also pointed to investments including the recently signed DAMA deal for the NT, opening a Darwin Medicare Urgent Care Clinic and making Fee-Free TAFE permanent.

Responding directly to Mr Yan’s criticism over the Darwin Port, Mr Gosling said it remained a “key topic of conversation”.

“We need the NT Treasurer to do his job – we will have more to say at the appropriate time,” he said.

“The Territory is not being ignored by Labor – with the Prime Minister visiting 13 times over the past three years as Prime Minister – including in Christmas Day where he stood with Territorians to remember all that was lost during Cyclone Tracey, and what we’ve rebuilt.”

Originally published as Yan and Gosling at loggerheads over federal budget