Ms SCRYMGOUR - 2010-11-25
- Can you further outline how the government is working with Territorians across all sectors of government to deliver our vision for the regions, A Working Future?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arafura for question. One of the great strengths of our government’s commitment to A Working Future is that it is exactly that: working together with local people, the shires, and in collaboration with the federal government. We have to do it at that level. We have understood right from the very beginning the need across the regions for people to empower themselves to determine the future that they want.
Members interjecting.
Dr BURNS: A point of order, Madam Speaker! We know under standing orders that they are not to make any sound to try to disturb the member speaker. I am listening to the minister and it is very childish of them to engage in this behaviour.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order! Resume your seat, minister.
I am not sure whether the air-conditioning has affected members in an undesirable fashion. I remind members that humming and singing, or whatever that noise was, is completely unparliamentary. Members who were doing that …
Mr Conlan: It was the Labor Party theme song.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Greatorex, are you aware that I am speaking?
Mr Conlan interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: No, I haven’t actually. Thank you. I remind you of Standing Order 51. Minister, you have the call.
Ms McCARTHY: Madam Speaker, this is an innovative and bold vision for the Northern Territory and for the people across the regions. It is important that this House respects and listens in terms of the future direction for the Northern Territory. I am keen to hear what members have to say on it. We cannot stop the fact that we need to celebrate with the regions wanting to determine their future. We have seen with the intervention and the changes in local governance the need to be able to empower and allow people in our regions to determine the way forward.
What has happened over the last 12 months in a very strong and very proactive way is the collaboration of agencies between the Northern Territory government and the federal government to ensure that this will be about Aboriginal people driving the direction that they want governments to go, that they want to be heard, and they want to determine their future.
Members interjecting.
Ms McCARTHY: I hear the objections from the other side, simply because the CLP government has never listened to Aboriginal people of the Northern Territory.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms McCARTHY: The decades of neglect we have seen compounded under previous governments, the refusal to allow the recognition of Aboriginal people their claims to country, traditional owners being respected. Our government has a vision of working with all people …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016