TRANSCRIPT ON THE NT COUNTRY HOUR (ABC CENTRAL AUSTRALIA)
LPC15/2005
03 June 2005 Subject: Federal roads minister Jim Lloyd has today denied accusations by both sides of Northern Territory politics that road funding is being withheld. Interviewee: Jim Lloyd, Minister for Territories and Roads. ADRIENNE FRANCIS: But first to the ongoing issue of road funding. The Federal Roads Minister, Jim Lloyd, has denied accusations by both sides of Territory politics today that road funding is being withheld. Both the Territory Minister, Chris Burns and shadow Minister, Denis Burke, are calling for the immediate provision of $20 million to cover the shortfall in funding through the Roads to Recovery program. Federal Roads Minister, Jim Lloyd, is in Alice Springs today as part of the Australian Transport Council meeting and he was eager to respond to the criticism by Territory politicians. JIM LLOYD: Well, I reject those comments that funding was overlooked. I mean, you've only got to look at the Roads to Recovery money that councils in the Northern Territory received. Between 2001 and 2005 they received $20 million, and then between 2005 and 2009 they will receive an additional $20 million. Now, this is new money over and above money that was received for councils and this is money that would go to local roads and unincorporated roads, and also in addition to that specific funding, between 2005 and 2009, $16 million is going to unincorporated roads in the Northern Territory. FRANCIS: Is this the same funding then that the Ministers are calling for, this $20 million worth of funding that both sides of politics here in the Territory are calling for? LLOYD: Well, look, under the AusLink agreement this is the money that's on the table and really I would have been very pleased if the Northern Territory had been able to sign the AusLink agreement before they went into caretaker mode. It's very important that they sign up to the AusLink agreement so that we can ensure that this money, which is additional money, comes through to the Northern Territory. FRANCIS: How soon could it be spent then? Is it just then awaiting the Territory's Government approval? LLOYD: Well, look, over the next four years the - as I said, the councils will receive the $20 million over the next, between 2005 and 2009, and then the $16 million is also over that same period of time. So there will be a constant income stream for use on incorporated roads. FRANCIS: How would you explain then the concern by both sides of politics here in the Territory that the funding formula used by Federal Government did not adequately address the need for road funding here in the Northern Territory? LLOYD: Well, look, the fact is that having that $16 million of unincorporated roads is in fact more than half of the $30 million that is provided nationwide for unincorporated roads, so the Northern Territory is getting more than half of that money. So, you know, it's a considerable share of that allocation. FRANCIS: There's a debate currently on in the Northern Territory over proposals to incorporate large tracts of the Territory around Elliott in particular, near Tennant Creek, and also in the north around the Batchelor region. Those in support of incorporation claim it would improve access to Federal Roads to Recovery funding. Would it? LLOYD: Oh, look, I mean - mean, that's a matter really for the Territory and the councils to decide whether incorporation would be an advantage for them. I mean, obviously Roads to Recovery funding and financial assistance grants are provided under a set formula which, you know, is allocated by the Local Government Grants Commissions. Would it help for areas of land to be incorporated then, to access Federal monies? LLOYD: Oh, look, that's - it's a complicated formula and really I couldn't give you an opinion on whether it would be an advantage or not at this stage. I mean, I'd have to have a look at the actual formula. All I'm trying to concentrate on is making sure that we can get funding for unincorporated areas and incorporated areas in the Northern Territory, and I just want to keep emphasising that AusLink is a significant boost to funding for all roads throughout Australia. FRANCIS: What will likely be the spending to those unincorporated areas into the future? LLOYD: Well, I mean, we've already - under this five-year plan, we've already signalled some $30 million for unincorporated areas as additional money, and I would anticipate that that level of funding, you know, we're looking at AusLink over the next five year roll out period as well. And so I would anticipate that similar levels of funding for unincorporated roads would be incorporated in future AusLink roll outs. FRANCIS: Can you preview any increases to the level of road funding that the Territory is currently receiving, given the terrible deteriorated state of many of our outback roads then? LLOYD: Well, look, I mean, we're still in the process of formalising the first AusLink five-year program so, I mean, the first thing we need to do is actually get all the States and Territories to sign up to the AusLink agreement, and that's very important so we can then move forward because it is a major infrastructure building program and that's my first goal, is to make sure that we actually get all the States and Territories signed up. FRANCIS: Why do you believe then that the Northern Territory Government is dragging the chain on that? LLOYD: Oh, well, Victoria has actually signed the agreement. They are the first State to sign the AusLink agreement. I understand that South Australia are very close to signing. But I also understand that negotiations at an officer level between the Northern Territory and the Australian Government are progressing and certainly I'd be very keen to see that document signed by 30 June. FRANCIS: That's Jim Lloyd there, Federal Roads Minister, who's attending the Australian Transport Council meeting in Alice Springs today.
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