Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I start by pointing out that the minister's not here. I don't know how I'm going to get any answers to any of my questions. Are you going to do that? But it's typical of the lack of respect for northern Australia that the minister can't even be here. I also bring to the attention of the chamber the fact that it's been 285 days since the Prime Minister has set foot in the Northern Territory. Quite frankly, it should not have taken a scathing article in the NT News for him to communicate with the Far North of Australia. He got one of his staff to pen what can only be described as a pretty dry and impersonal piece, where he said he'll always back Territorians to the hilt. What a crock! I wish the member for Leichhardt was still here, because he knows about crocodiles and he knows a croc when he sees it. The article was titled 'Meet Malcolm Turnbull, the Prime Minister for the South.' If that did not make them uncomfortable then the next day's front page certainly did, and I quote: 'Simply does not care'. The Prime Minister simply does not care about northern Australia, and deep down, in places they don't talk about at harbour-side cocktail parties, they know it's true. That's why it's a bit uncomfortable.

Please, I don't want to hear from those opposite about how the $260 million GST top-up to the NT government was evidence of caring. I mean, that's a crock! We're talking about giving with one hand and taking with the other; it's not extra money. This is after billions of dollars have been ripped away from the coffers of the Northern Territory. They're just some crumbs to placate Territorians, but let's be honest about the situation as it pans out for the Northern Territory. There has been around $70 million ripped out of our schools—not helpful—and $30 million ripped out of Charles Darwin University. That's not very agile. And there has been $16 million ripped out of our public hospitals. That's not smart; that's just dumb.

Minister, or the person standing in for one of the ministers in this portfolio, you don't need much of a bulldust radar to realise that the Turnbull government's not backing the Territory. What I think we need—we've had more evidence this morning with Minister McVeigh not even being here—is this government to show the people of the Northern Territory some respect.

Our economy is facing some headwinds, so what we need is federal government investment now, not when it's politically convenient for the Prime Minister to visit, and not when he's received a shellacking in the NT News, but now. Territory companies are telling me they're having to let people go. The City Deal is a great example where investment needs to occur. We need that City Deal signed now, because Territory businesses are closing their doors now. Those opposite can do something to help that situation. They can get off their collective dates and finalise the Darwin City Deal now. We've heard a lot about the NAIF, that up until recently has done naifing, but now we have just one project in each jurisdiction that's been funded. The funding for the Humpty Doo Barramundi Farm is good, but we need those projects within the NAIF expedited. There are very real, here and now implications for Territorians from the Turnbull government's neglect of the Territory. As I said, Territory businesses are closing their doors, now. Territorians are losing their jobs, now. Territorians are having to move south, now. Those opposite have the power to change that, yet you don't. That's my question, why? Why can't the City Deal be signed now? Territorians need this support now. So expedite the NAIF funding for Territory projects, reverse the damaging cuts to our education and health systems, and above all, start showing some respect for the Territory and the capital of the north, now.

See this speech in context