Media Release from Leader of the Opposition Lia Finocchiaro
Eva Lawler as Treasurer and Chief Minister has led a 22% increase in the cost of living since 2016.
The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for the March quarter has seen CPI reach 3.3%.
Labor has failed to tackle crime or grow our economy and it is Territorians who are paying the price in their insurance premiums, clothing and basics, with the cost of bread up 8.7% over the past year, a 9.6% in secondary education costs and gas has gone up 11.8%.
While our economy is going backwards Territorians will continue to pay more. Territorians will leave and less people will visit or move here. 868 Territorians migrated interstate last quarter.
Territorians are struggling to put food on the table and clothe their children. New home starts are at historic lows.
A 9.4% in insurance costs over the past year is forcing families to choose between buying food and insuring their home or car. The cost of home and contents insurance in the Territory is three times higher than in South Australia. The Darwin Major Business Group report found NT insurance costs are between 20% (for business) and 50% (for home) higher than Australia generally.
Territorians don’t trust Labor to manage our economy.
Only the CLP has a plan to grow our economy and make Territorians safe. By rebuilding the Territory’s reputation as a safe place to live, work and invest we will create jobs and opportunities.
Our plan to kick start the economy includes slashing approval times by 50%, supporting small business, remove Labor’s destructive hybrid mining tax and installing a Territory Co-ordinator, who will ensure projects are fought for, started quickly, and completed on time.
By reducing crime we will allow businesses to focus on what they do best - delivering for Territorians - not constantly repairing smashed shopfronts.
Under Eva Lawler the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in Darwin:
The Territory needs a government that will do things differently, get the spark back in the economy and work with Territorians, not against them.
