Article courtesy of NT News
07.09.2025
The Chief Minister has backed calls to let pensioners, veterans and students work more without having their benefits or status affected by current federal laws.
Ms Finocchiaro said she would support welfare reform that removes barriers and disincentives for people to work, “especially our respected and experienced seniors”.
“We have long said taxation reform is needed for the Territory if the Federal Government is serious about Developing the North.”
The call was made by Gina Rinehart why says families, pensioners and others on low incomes are being forced to choose between heating, food, and medicines, while politicians and bureaucrats disgracefully ignore the cruelty to millions of Aussies, from pensioners to veterans, to students, to the disabled, not letting them work more than a few cappuccinos a week.
“Net zero, higher cost intermittent unreliable energy doesn’t just hurt our industries, businesses and economy, it hurts our living standards,” Ms Rinehart said. “It hurts the forgotten ones, our pensioners, our veterans, our students and their future, our disabled, and all on lower incomes.
“It hurts people, even noisy green activists, relying on emergency services, our ambulances and fire brigades, hospitals too. It hurts national security.”
Chief Minister Finocchiaro said she also supports a special economic zone for the Northern Territory.
“Territory has everything this nation needs to secure its future: energy, minerals and rare earths, agriculture and strategic positioning in the Indo-Pacific,” the Chief Minister said.
“We have long said taxation reform is needed for the Territory if the Federal Government is serious about Developing the North.”
Ms Rinehart said she wants the recent Bush Summits to mean something to those in the bush, and small businesses.
“Let’s see our government do further action to look after all Australians, and do something that would actually decrease living costs — remove its huge excise tax on fuel,” she said.
“This would help not only those who drive cars, but all producers who require fuel, hence the goods they sell, all transport of goods and services, in short would help all Australians.
“Let’s act on this until the government delivers.”
Ms Rinehart called for a drop state taxes.
“As net zero burdens increase, worse is yet to come,” she said.
“It’s easy for city politicians to talk propaganda, but what have they actually done to listen and truly help struggling businesses and those in agriculture.”