The Northern Territory government will try to provide financial forecasts before the August election after previously ruling it out due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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The Gunner government last month removed a legal requirement to release a pre-election fiscal outlook, citing the postponement of the federal and territory budgets until October and November due to the coronavirus.
However there has been increasing criticism of the government for not opening the NT's books, including estimates of debt and deficit - which are currently at record levels - before voters go to the polls on August 22.
Country Liberal Opposition Treasury spokeswoman Tracey Hayes called on Chief Minister Michael Gunner and Treasurer Nicole Manison to answer questions about the Territory's finances at a Public Accounts Committee hearing on Thursday.
"The long-term financial crisis that has been developing for the past three-and-a-half years under Labor's mismanagement is spiralling unmanaged. Just how bad things look is anyone's guess at this point," she said.
Former ANZ chief economist Saul Eslake told ABC this week withholding forecasts set a worrying precedent and kept "voters in the dark".
He said it also gave Labor an unfair advantage over opponents as the party would have access to the Treasury debt and revenue forecasts.
Ms Manison said she couldn't release the balance sheets because they wouldn't be accurate enough for Territorians.
"When you have got 70 per cent of your revenue coming from the federal government and you don't have a budget until October you simply do not have accurate numbers," she said.
The decision of Tasmania, which is closer in scale to the NT than other states, to release a detailed fiscal outlook including GST allocation has increased pressure on the NT government.
When asked about fiscal forecasts this week, Mr Gunner gave a different answer to his treasurer.
"I am waiting for that advice from Treasury when they think we will be able to do that," he told reporters.
"When I get good numbers I will give you those good numbers, we'll be absolutely upfront with Territorians about everything we've done ... let's go to Australian government and get advice from them when we might be able to get revised GST figures, I think that will come through in June."
He said it was a good thing for voters to elect a government in August that will deliver a budget in November.
The NT relies on GST revenue more than any other state or territory because of numerous factors, but it's allocation will shrink considerably this year due to COVID-19 lockdowns.
Australian Associated Press
