Treasurer Nicole Manison today responded to criticism the government was too slow to roll its program of spending to boost the NT economy.

Ms Manison said the NT Government’s number priority was jobs, with a $1.75 billion job-creating cash budget for 2017/18.

She said the $8 million promised for the Katherine Fire Station was soon to be awarded.

Ms Manison said the $1.75 billion cash infrastructure budget for 2017-18 is clearly set out in the first table (p4) of the Budget book entitled ‘The infrastructure program’ (link: https://budget.nt.gov.au/)

“So far this financial year, Government has spent over $900 million on capital works, repairs and maintenance, grants and on infrastructure related payments, including Government owned Corporations and we will reach $1 billion over the next month.

“To be very clear, Territory Labor is on track for a record infrastructure spend in 2017/18, with projects such as the $26 million Palmerston Police Station, the $40 million Gunn Point Road, $40 million Barneson Boulevard, the $32 million State Square underground car park and the $8 million Katherine Fire Station all soon to be awarded.

“We also have massive roads projects such as the $57.4 million Keep River Plains Road Upgrade to support Project Sea Dragon and the $77.8 million Arnhem Highway - Adelaide River Floodplain Upgrade expected to be released in April at the start of the dry season.”