Northern Territory Shadow Treasurer John Elferink

CRISIS IN CONFIDENCE

Victor P Taffa

The Henderson Government should stop blame-shifting and accept its share of responsibility for the decline in business confidence across the Northern Territory.

Shadow Treasurer, John Elferink, said the latest Senis report shows the Territory’s business confidence has fallen for the third consecutive quarter – against the national trend which is seeing a surge in confidence overall.

“The Territory’s business confidence is going backwards while the rest of the country is moving forward.” Mr. Elferink said.

“The Treasurer’s attempts to sheet the blame onto Federal policies fly in the face of the improving national outlook.”

“The Government’s fixation on INPEX has been at the exclusion of other areas of the Territory’s economy – while the Commonwealth has done much of the heavy lifting keeping the economy afloat through its schools building program.” Mr. Elferink said.

“Government can afford to wait for INPEX to bail out the Top End economy – but business doesn’t have that luxury.”

“Those non-gas related industries and businesses outside Darwin have been badly let down by Labor.” Mr. Elferink said.

“It’s hypocritical as well. Delia Lawrie and the Chief Minister have championed the Federal Government’s carbon tax and minerals tax, both of which have dented business confidence.”

“The spiraling levels of debt will also be weighing on businesses which can see that Government has lost any semblance of fiscal restraint.” Mr. Elferink said.