Mr WOOD - 2005-10-12
Jabiru has been without a local government for quite a long time. Could you please say when the report about Jabiru Town Council will be released? When was the report actually completed? When will the people of Jabiru have an elected council, which is their right?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. I am pretty certain the response that I am about to give will also be of interest to the member for Arafura. By way of background information, it is important to understand that the Jabiru Town Council operates pursuant to the Jabiru Town Development Act which allows the Jabiru Town Development Authority to delegate its powers and functions to the Jabiru Town Council.
Member for Nelson, you will be aware that, prior to August last year, there were some concerns expressed about a whole range of issues in regards to the Jabiru Town Council. As a result of that, the Jabiru Town Development Authority initiated an investigation which was carried out by inspectors of my Department of Local Government. What we can now describe as an interim report at that point in time raised some other matters of concern.
There was a further report which was undertaken by, again, Local Government inspectors of my department - not the same people; other people undertook that investigation. The investigation has been under way, as I understand it, for probably close to 12 months. That report was completed yesterday actually, when it landed in my office. The report is embargoed until Friday of this week when it will be considered by the Jabiru Town Development Authority. They will make some decisions of what the long-term future might be. As the report is embargoed, I believe it is inappropriate for me to make any further comment.
What I can say, member for Nelson, is that I will work very actively with the Jabiru Town Development Authority to ensure that a council is put in place, subject to what they say to me, and the department will consider all reasonable requests to bring that about. I agree that Jabiru people deserve a council which allows them to govern matters relative to themselves. We will do everything we can to work with them and to restore local government to Jabiru.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. I am pretty certain the response that I am about to give will also be of interest to the member for Arafura. By way of background information, it is important to understand that the Jabiru Town Council operates pursuant to the Jabiru Town Development Act which allows the Jabiru Town Development Authority to delegate its powers and functions to the Jabiru Town Council.
Member for Nelson, you will be aware that, prior to August last year, there were some concerns expressed about a whole range of issues in regards to the Jabiru Town Council. As a result of that, the Jabiru Town Development Authority initiated an investigation which was carried out by inspectors of my Department of Local Government. What we can now describe as an interim report at that point in time raised some other matters of concern.
There was a further report which was undertaken by, again, Local Government inspectors of my department - not the same people; other people undertook that investigation. The investigation has been under way, as I understand it, for probably close to 12 months. That report was completed yesterday actually, when it landed in my office. The report is embargoed until Friday of this week when it will be considered by the Jabiru Town Development Authority. They will make some decisions of what the long-term future might be. As the report is embargoed, I believe it is inappropriate for me to make any further comment.
What I can say, member for Nelson, is that I will work very actively with the Jabiru Town Development Authority to ensure that a council is put in place, subject to what they say to me, and the department will consider all reasonable requests to bring that about. I agree that Jabiru people deserve a council which allows them to govern matters relative to themselves. We will do everything we can to work with them and to restore local government to Jabiru.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016