Natasha Griggs (Solomon, Country Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to expose once again the hypocrisy of the Gillard Labor government. Last week, they mendaciously accused the coalition of reducing GST revenue in South Australia and Tasmania. The truth is, under the Gillard Labor government the Northern Territory in 2013-14 will be worse off by $109 million lost in GST revenue. The Grants Commission, in its draft recommendation, said that the Territory share should be reduced from 5.5 per cent to 5.3 per cent.

I want to know whether my fellow Territorian, the member for Lingiari, Minister Snowdon, agrees with the statements made to Treasurer Wayne Swan by the Northern Territory Treasurer that 'The decline of the Territory share of GST revenue in 2013-14 will have a crippling impact on the Territory's fiscal position,' and, 'This will ultimately impact on the Territory's ability to provide services to all Territorians.' What is the minister going to do? Will he make representations to the Grants Commission to fight for the Territory to retain its current GST revenue levels or will he continue to be missing in action when it comes to standing up for the Territory?