Tennant Creek News
Deputy Chief Minister A Serial Liar: Opposition
The Country Liberals today moved to censure Deputy Chief Minister Delia Lawrie over a series of untruths and deceptions that have undermined the faith many Territorians have in their politicians and the political process.
Shadow Treasurer John Elferink said Ms Lawrie has been at best cavalier with the truth – at worst deliberately dishonest – on a number of issues crucial to the well-being of Territorians.
“Delia Lawrie’s immediate defence to any trouble is to fudge the truth,” Mr Elferink said.
“It isn’t good enough that a person with such a jaded, arrogant and cynical world view should hold high office in the Northern Territory.
“That is why I demanded the Deputy Chief Minister should resign.”
Mr Elferink said Ms Lawrie had built up a substantial portfolio of deceits.
“In February she told the Parliament she made no direction to her Departmental CEO Richard Hancock to drop a prosecution against the operators of the Tennant Creek Red Rooster for failing to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy.
“The Deputy Chief Minister was left exposed when the Opposition produced a memo from Mr Hancock in which he said Ms Lawrie had ‘verbally instructed’ him to cease the prosecution.
“In Parliament today she continued to claim she hadn’t instructed Richard Hancock to withdraw the case. The evidence says the exact opposite.
“In conjunction with the Chief Minister, she promised that 150 lots at Bellamack would be turned off this year – while knowing full well the Government hasn’t even properly formalised the project’s developer,” he said.
“As it stands, Urban Pacific and Briety are still Bellamack’s ‘preferred developers’.
“In addition, late last year Ms Lawrie said the Territory faced a $47million budget deficit, returning to surplus the following year, despite a Commonwealth report showing a collapse in GST revenues a full 20 days before.
“Six weeks later she was forced to concede the 2009-10 budget would be $150million in deficit – a remarkable change from just six weeks.
“In her capacity as Planning Minister she hushed up details of a Legionella outbreak at Parliament House – and has stayed silent on how her Department was given falsified test results of the Parliament’s air-conditioning units.
“Too many times the Minister’s answers have been found wanting.”
2009-04-30
