Ms CARNEY - 2005-08-24
In relation to the letter from Paul Tyrrell enclosing a list of issues that the CLC and NLC want to be progressed with your government, in that document the CLC makes it clear that they want to pursue regional authorities, effectively giving greater control to the Central Land Council over local governing bodies in Central Australia. The vast majority of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory do not want forced amalgamation of regional councils. Will you now assure those Territorians that they will not have to go down the path of forced amalgamation to satisfy the Central Land Council?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I have to inform the Leader of the Opposition that we are actually the government of the Northern Territory. In terms of regional authorities, they are an initiative of this government in terms of how we are proceeding with those and how we have proceeded over the last four years. Can I restate that, one of the fundamentals of talking to communities about regional authorities and their interests is that it is voluntary. It is voluntary, voluntary, voluntary and has always been so under this Labor government and will continue to be so.
Part of the overarching agreement that I signed with the Prime Minister in Darwin in April deals with issues like governance of communities in a post-ATSIC environment. and Onehas ofa those schedules which deals with governance and the progressive establishment of regional authorities where appropriate. We have full federal government support for doing that in a voluntary way, and we will be moving with that. It is one of the priorities of the Minister for Local Government and Housing. I believe that it will bring great benefits to for many communities it will bring great benefits.
The issue of governance of small communities is one that we have discussed in this House many times. None of us wants to see the governance in those small communities fail. As government, we do take action when it happens, but only to see that we can get the governing arrangements up and running again. Regional authorities is something we are committed to, however, it is voluntary and only where it is workable. It is something that we are working together with federal government support on.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I have to inform the Leader of the Opposition that we are actually the government of the Northern Territory. In terms of regional authorities, they are an initiative of this government in terms of how we are proceeding with those and how we have proceeded over the last four years. Can I restate that, one of the fundamentals of talking to communities about regional authorities and their interests is that it is voluntary. It is voluntary, voluntary, voluntary and has always been so under this Labor government and will continue to be so.
Part of the overarching agreement that I signed with the Prime Minister in Darwin in April deals with issues like governance of communities in a post-ATSIC environment. and Onehas ofa those schedules which deals with governance and the progressive establishment of regional authorities where appropriate. We have full federal government support for doing that in a voluntary way, and we will be moving with that. It is one of the priorities of the Minister for Local Government and Housing. I believe that it will bring great benefits to for many communities it will bring great benefits.
The issue of governance of small communities is one that we have discussed in this House many times. None of us wants to see the governance in those small communities fail. As government, we do take action when it happens, but only to see that we can get the governing arrangements up and running again. Regional authorities is something we are committed to, however, it is voluntary and only where it is workable. It is something that we are working together with federal government support on.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016