CLP Government has had its chance,
now it's time for a change.

says Elliot McAdam, ALP candidate for Barkly

Over the last two years the Burke led Country Liberal Party have increasingly become tired and arrogant as evidenced by their latest treatment of Territorians in paying $43 million for a power transmission line independently valued at $20 million.
As a result of this deal Territorians face paying for CLP incompetence through higher electricity tariffs or other charges.
On a local level the Country Liberal Party government continues to ignore and treat us with contempt with their callous cuts to education and the gutting of Barkly health services particularly to stations and communities.
On a national level the mean spirited Howard Liberal government continues to pocket the fuel excise increases along with a 9.7c per litre increase as a result of the GST. Remember Howard's promise of no increases for fuel under the GST, and of course the broken promise of $1000 to pensioners.
Twenty-six years of CLP government is enough. 2001 is our chance to vote for a government that will be inclusive and willing to listen to all people and provide real services beyond the Berrimah line.
We have a bright future with the rail, tourism opportunities, joint ventures with Aboriginal pastoralists and mining agreements, but a lack of vision and committment to apply good governence beyond the Berrimah line is holding us back.
I am committed to working hard for the Barkly people to help bring about that bright future.
I wholeheartedly wish everyone in the Barkly a safe and peaceful Christmas and a happy and prosperous 2001.

We should be thinking of future opportunities
for the Barkly.

says Bill Cross, CLP candidate for Barkly

Has it been a year already? I don't know about yourselves, but I think this past year has flown. So many things have happened in the past 12 months, both good and not so good but that's life. Following is a quick reflection on some of the projects that I have been working on for the last 12 months.
The beginning of the Alice to Darwin Railway with all its associated spin offs for the town. I have been working hard in the background to ensure that Tennant Creek gains the most benefit out of the project. Things like ensuring the land availability for the construction camp, which will be located in close proximity to the town centre to allow the workers to support our local economy. The Barkly Economic Development Network should be complimented on their work in this area, as well as their good work in helping several new business ventures getting started in the region.
With the help of the Barkly Regional Economic Committee, the Barkly Regional Co-ord and just about every group in town, to produce the Barkly Blueprint, which is one of the keys to the future direction of Tennant Creek and the Barkly. Already several projects identified in the Blueprint are either underway or being investigated. Things such as the opening up of the track between Lajamanu and Warrego to tourism traffic are being worked on now with the agreement by the Lajamanu Council already secured.
The spin offs from this would include opportunities to create jobs for tour/ bird watching guides, Aboriginal culture tours and bush tucker etc. The Chair of the EDC Bob Torilla and the committee need a big pat on the back for all the hard work and long personal hours they have put into the Blueprint and other projects.
Working with the Battery Hill Committee to secure, not only ongoing operational funding but also the acquisition of the McLaughlin Mineral Collection to be housed in a remodelled display building in the Battery Hill Complex to ensure the growth of tourism in the region. The Tennant Creek Regional Tourist Association and the Battery Hill Committee and Chairman Paul Shailes need to be congratulated on their commitment to tourism and the promotion of the Barkly Region.
There have been so many successful committees and committed people, like the Creche Committee, that need to be acknowledged for all the hard work they have put into projects, that it is hard to list them all here.
I could go on for ages about all that has happened in the past 12 months, but it is not the past that is so important but where we are going in the future. We should be thinking of future opportunities for not only the economic recovery of Tennant Creek and the Barkly but also the improvement of the region's social well being, be it lack of sports for our kids or substance abuse. We can all work on this, in fact we must work together on this to ensure Tennant Creek's future well being.
I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and hope to see you all fresh and raring to go in 2001 and please, no more towel jokes as it's all become quite dry.
I will leave you with this thought:
Every day show you family how much you love them with your words, with your touch and with your thoughtfulness.