Ms WALKER - 2012-02-23
In October last year, you presented a comprehensive statement on progress with our headline policy of A Working Future, working to develop our growth towns and address Indigenous disadvantage in the bush. Can you please provide a further update on how this important work continues to develop?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. As we have heard in the House today and on previous occasions, the Henderson Labor government is firmly committed to every Territorian, particularly in our regions. The 20 growth towns we have focused on in partnership with the Commonwealth government is about ensuring we can address the decades of neglect and underfunding in many of our regions across the Northern Territory. That is precisely what our government is doing. We did that with the historic announcement of almost $1bn of the Northern Territory budget into the regional areas of the Northern Territory.
The other part of A Working Future is about working with Indigenous people. Very much a part of that is the local implementation plans across the Northern Territory. This has seen Aboriginal people, local government, Northern Territory government, and the Commonwealth government working on these LIPs. There are 1200 action plans within these LIPs. I am proud to say that 78% of those 1200 action plans have been completed, which is a terrific outcome. LIPs for five of the six Territory growth towns not covered by the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Service Delivery have been endorsed by local reference groups across the Northern Territory.
It is pleasing to see the achievements through the work we have been doing on infrastructure. In recent months we have seen: a new trade training centre at Galiwinku; upgrade of all internal roads in Milingimbi; renovations to Maningrida School; new government employee housing in Wurrumiyanga; a new health clinic in Wadeye; construction of a new store in Ngukurr; a concrete batching plant in Ngukurr; a women’s safe house and men’s cooling off shelter in Angurugu; new government employee housing in Umbakumba; facilities for renal and visiting specialists in Hermannsburg; and new staff accommodation for the childcare facility in Yuendumu.
Madam Speaker, our government is focused on providing opportunities to every single Territorian wherever they live in the Northern Territory. I am incredibly proud of the work of my department and the Service Delivery Coordination Unit. We have had to begin from scratch in developing the town plans, having actual town plans, and ensuring the infrastructure we need for sewerage, where places are going to be built, and negotiating directly with Indigenous people about how they wish to see and determine the growth of their regions.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. As we have heard in the House today and on previous occasions, the Henderson Labor government is firmly committed to every Territorian, particularly in our regions. The 20 growth towns we have focused on in partnership with the Commonwealth government is about ensuring we can address the decades of neglect and underfunding in many of our regions across the Northern Territory. That is precisely what our government is doing. We did that with the historic announcement of almost $1bn of the Northern Territory budget into the regional areas of the Northern Territory.
The other part of A Working Future is about working with Indigenous people. Very much a part of that is the local implementation plans across the Northern Territory. This has seen Aboriginal people, local government, Northern Territory government, and the Commonwealth government working on these LIPs. There are 1200 action plans within these LIPs. I am proud to say that 78% of those 1200 action plans have been completed, which is a terrific outcome. LIPs for five of the six Territory growth towns not covered by the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Service Delivery have been endorsed by local reference groups across the Northern Territory.
It is pleasing to see the achievements through the work we have been doing on infrastructure. In recent months we have seen: a new trade training centre at Galiwinku; upgrade of all internal roads in Milingimbi; renovations to Maningrida School; new government employee housing in Wurrumiyanga; a new health clinic in Wadeye; construction of a new store in Ngukurr; a concrete batching plant in Ngukurr; a women’s safe house and men’s cooling off shelter in Angurugu; new government employee housing in Umbakumba; facilities for renal and visiting specialists in Hermannsburg; and new staff accommodation for the childcare facility in Yuendumu.
Madam Speaker, our government is focused on providing opportunities to every single Territorian wherever they live in the Northern Territory. I am incredibly proud of the work of my department and the Service Delivery Coordination Unit. We have had to begin from scratch in developing the town plans, having actual town plans, and ensuring the infrastructure we need for sewerage, where places are going to be built, and negotiating directly with Indigenous people about how they wish to see and determine the growth of their regions.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016