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NT Grants Commission on the road in West Arnhem

10 December 2014

David Willing, Damien Ryan, Chairman Bob Beadman and Steven Hennessy from the NT Grants Commission during their visit. David Willing, Damien Ryan, Chairman Bob Beadman and Steven Hennessy from the NT Grants Commission during their visit.

THE NT Grants Commission (NTGC) took its show on the road in West Arnhem recently with a three-day tour of remote communities. The main purpose of their visit was to discuss funding allocation with the West Arnhem Regional Council and communities.

Members of the commission also discussed difficulties that are being experienced providing services to the respective communities and outstations. The NTGC, a statutory authority formed through legislation, endeavours to visit each council and its constituent communities at least once every three years.

In addition to these visits the NTGC also hosts public hearings in the major regional centres on a rotational basis. Information that the NTGC collects allows them to review “cost adjusters”. In simple English, these cost adjusters ensure that the most money per capita is provided to the most disadvantaged councils, and less money is provided to the more advantaged council.

Whilst the NTGC was interested in getting a range of views from various people in the West Arnhem communities, it was most interested to hear the views of the Indigenous elected ward members, Local Authority members and community members.

The forums also served as a leadership development and capacity building tool for the elected members participating.

The Commission has noted from its many visitations over a number of decades that a key measure of community wellbeing is often reflected in the community leadership interest levels in engaging in such forums.