NT Treasurer Bill Yan spends week before first budget at Barramundi Classic fishing competitionBy Jack HislopTopic:Budget4h ago4 hours agoFri 9 May 2025 at 4:17amBill Yan is volunteering as chief marshal at the Barramundi Classic. (Supplied: Facebook)In short:Northern Territory Treasurer Bill Yan is attending a five-day remote NT fishing competition days out from delivering his first budget.Mr Yan is volunteering as chief marshal at the Barramundi Classic, but has not taken leave from his ministerial role.What's next?Tuesday's budget will be the Country Liberal Party's first since it inherited more than $11 billion in net debt following the 2024 territory election.abc.net.au/news/nt-treasurer-at-fishing-comp-days-out-from-delivering-budget/105272812Link copiedShareShare articleThe Northern Territory treasurer has confirmed he is attending a five-day fishing competition while on the clock, days out from delivering his first budget.Bill Yan has been volunteering as chief marshal at the Barramundi Classic on the remote Daly River this week, ahead of the release of the NT budget on Tuesday.The budget will be the Country Liberal Party's (CLP) first since winning government in August, when it inherited more than $11 billion in net debt.Since taking power, the CLP has passed legislation removing the territory's $15 billion assessable debt ceiling, noting it would be hit within four years.Bill Yan was sworn in as NT treasurer in September. (ABC News: Jayden O'Neill)Speaking to ABC Radio Darwin on Friday, Mr Yan confirmed he had not taken leave to attend the Barramundi Classic."No, I haven't taken leave, I'm still working while I'm down here doing [marshalling duties] and working at night," he said."Most of the work on the budget has been done."I'm able to cover off on both, I've got good staff behind me."I can walk and chew gum, unlike some other people I know."Mr Yan said he was a patron and sponsor of the Barramundi Classic, with the 2025 event marking his 13th year volunteering there.Iconic fishing competition draws anglers to the NT's remote Daly RiverPhoto shows Two men on a boat, both wearing light blue hoodies and holding fishing rods.About 150 competitive anglers travel to Daly River for the annual Barramundi Classic.Opposition Leader Selena Uibo criticised Mr Yan's attendance at the competition, saying the treasurer should "get out of the boat and back on the job"."We'd all love to be out fishing, but it's unbelievable that the treasurer is out on the water less than a week before delivering his first budget for Territorians," she said."The CLP made big promises ... but it appears they were all talk, with Minister Yan out reeling in barra instead of reeling in costs for territory households."Selena Uibo says Bill Yan should not be at the fishing competition while on the clock. (ABC News: Pete Garnish)Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby defended Mr Yan on commercial radio station Mix 104.9, noting one of the CLP's "key things" was "restoring the territory lifestyle"."People love their fishing, so does the government," she said."It's very important for [Mr Yan] to stay connected with Territorians. It is a very short time that he is down [at the Daly River], he will be back and deliver an exceptional budget speech."Marie-Clare Boothby says like Territorians, the NT government loves fishing. (ABC News: Pete Garnish)Funding increases for police, corrections in upcoming budgetThe CLP has already made several budget announcements ahead of Tuesday.Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said $1.34 billion would be spent on police, corrections and the Department of the Attorney-General and Justice — $112 million more than in Labor's final budget in 2024.Included in that is $6.6 million to upgrade infrastructure and CCTV at the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre in Darwin.A multi-year funding agreement for Legal Aid NT, worth $5.5 million per year, has also been announced.NT government to scrap $15bn debt ceilingPhoto shows The exterior of the Northern Territory's Parliament House building. The NT has by far the country's highest levels of net debt per capita, and it's on track to keep growing. The financial pressures have prompted the NT government to scrap a $15 billion debt ceiling.Asked what else could be expected in the budget, Mr Yan said money would be "re-prioritised" from some infrastructure projects the previous Labor government had committed to."From that re-prioritisation, we'll start to look into the future about what the infrastructure program looks like," he told ABC Radio Darwin."We've had to re-prioritise and rationalise the building program to make sure we've got the cash there."Labor only put a very, very small amount in the budget for this upcoming year. It was about $500 or $600 million short of being able to deliver on that infrastructure program."We've had a look at every budget across all the agencies to make sure we're delivering for Territorians, making sure we're hitting those safety issues, those lifestyle issues and restoring our economy."Posted 4h ago4 hours agoFri 9 May 2025 at 4:17am, updated 1h ago1 hours agoFri 9 May 2025 at 7:19amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter) News in LanguageListen to the news in Warlpiri, Yolngu Matha and KriolListenTop StoriesNationals leader faces Canavan challenge as Taylor confirms he'll contest Liberal leadershipLIVEPhoto shows Matt Canavan, in side profile, grimaces slightly during a press conferenceAustralia's political conclave theatrics feel blokey, but the future is femaleAAnalysis by Annabel CrabbPhoto shows Sussan LeyErin Patterson was building Lego hours after serving deadly meal, court hearsTopic:CourtsPhoto shows A close up photo of Erin Patterson looking over her shoulder wearing glases.‘Like a rock’: Revered Arnhem Land elder dies after alleged attackTopic:Indigenous AustraliansPhoto shows An Aboriginal man wearing a black graphic tee, with gray hair, speaking at a podium in front of a Garma festival banner. 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