Comments from the Barkly

Mark John

Once again confidence has been shown in the economy of Tennant Creek with the opening of the new Orlando Furniture store on the main street. Long term residents and businessmen Paul and Rodney Ruger have invested a considerable sum of money to bring to the residents of Tennant Creek and the Barkly region a modern, well laid out facility exhibiting the latest in home decor.
The opening proved to be a huge success with up to three hundred people attending on the night and if sales continue along the same line as was witnessed in the initial days of operation, then the people of Tennant Creek will exhibit the same confidence in the economy of our town. (Well done to the Ruger family).
Over the last few weeks we have witnessed some changes in the local Police force with two new Sergeants taking up positions in the town. The new arrivals are Sergeant Joe Smith and his wife Senior Station Sergeant Gillian Smith who has taken over from Senior Sergeant Bob Rennie who has been transferred back to Darwin. Gillian is only the second female officer to command a police station in the Territory and they are looking forward to their time in Tennant Creek.
Station Sergeant Bob Jeffries of Avon Downs and Senior Constable Mick Adams have both received service awards from the force for their commitment to policing in the Territory. Congratulations boys.
One of the most successful meetings I have attended at the Civic Centre in a long time was between the residents, community groups, Aboriginal Councils, the business community and the Police to discuss the problems that we see in our daily lives on the main streets of the town. The outcomes of the meeting include the provision of regular foot patrols of Paterson Street between the hours of 10:00am and 6:00pm daily, excluding Thursday and Sunday. The two officers involved have already shown that this measure has had beneficial effect in the reduction of the problems discussed at the meeting.
Have the residents of Tennant Creek noticed the influx from down south of unemployed would-be greenies on their footloose and fancy free travels at taxpayer expense to protest at the mine site of Jabiluka?
Is this a ploy by Mr Beazley to slow down the economic development of the Territory? In Mr Beazley's own words during a recent trip to the Top End, he made the statement that "if legal and environmental processes were not completed by the time of the next election and no contracts had been signed, then it would not go ahead if we were elected to power". In a time when Australia needs to be creating as much export industry as possible and jobs for our unemployed, Mr Beazley is willing to prohibit the creation of hundreds of jobs and the earning of billions of dollars for the economy. Would the next target be the Darwin to Adelaide railway or more of the same extravagant and wasteful spending as was witnessed through thirteen years of Labor Government?
For those of you who may be unaware, the Spice Girls are no longer five, but four.

More accountability needed in government

Maggie Hickey, Member for Barkly

Did you know that the conservative governments of the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland conducted public opinion polling on native title last year? And did you know that this polling, which underpinned the CLP's native title scare campaign during the Territory election, cost Territory taxpayers almost $50,000?
Did you know that the Treasurer failed to take into account a superannuation spending blowout last year of $16 million?
Did you know that the increased power and water charges announced last month are only part of the story and that some Territory households will be paying even more than the announced 15% increase in water charges from July 1st?
Did you know that almost half of the $125 million worth of Transport and Works contracts were exempted from normal tendering processes?
Open tendering is critical to give all contractors a chance to get work - but more importantly it ensures taxpayers get the best price and value for money.
All these matters and many more came to light due to the Labor Opposition's persistent questioning of Country Liberal Ministers following the Territory budget.
Individually these may appear to be minor matters but added together, they represent questionable administration of public monies.
This is especially true in a climate of economic downturn among our near neighbours which is increasingly affecting our domestic economy. Live cattle exports are almost at a standstill, horticultural product exporters are desperately seeking alternative markets and oil and gas developments in the Timor Sea are not moving at the pace originally expected.
Government must remain involved in the big ticket development projects for the Territory, but they should never take their eye off the basics. Providing Territorians with quality health, education, housing and essential services becomes even more critical in periods of economic uncertainty.