Opposition leader drops in to 'Grida

Opposition Leader Delia Lawrie meeting with West Arnhem Regional Council Community Services Manager Adam Cornell during her recent visit to Maningrida.

NORTHERN Territory Leader of the Opposition Delia Lawrie visited Maningrida recently, meeting with Traditional Owners and service providers including West Arnhem Regional Council Services Manager Adam Cornell.

Mr Cornell spoke with Ms Lawrie at a meeting on Wednesday 11 February about issues of concern to Maningrida residents and Council, including funding for road maintenance and upgrades, dog and animal management programs, community fencing and the need for a community morgue.

In an exclusive interview with The Wire, Ms Lawrie said a morgue service for Maningrida was a big issue that needed to involve Territory government health services and be provided in consultation with Traditional owners.

“It’s definitely in the A-class category of dire needs,” Ms Lawrie said. “Does it need to happen? Yes. Will I make sure it happens? Absolutely – but I’m not going to impel people and impose on people what the model is, because I think enough of that has been done over the years, and that’s the wrong approach.”

Ms Lawrie said she loved getting out to remote communities across the Territory to listen to what the local people have to say.

“It’s part of my job to hear directly from people living and working in the communities – whether it is Traditional Owners, or people who are here to provide services – to bring a sense from the perspective on the ground of what is working and what is not working, where the gaps are, and where a future Labor government would need to focus it’s efforts,” she said.

Ms Lawrie said one of the practical things the Territory Government could do would be to support dog and animal management programs in Maningrida. “One of my jobs in the future is to ensure funding for programs, and sometimes that includes your capital programs like fencing, and sometimes it includes support for animal husbandry programs,” Ms Lawrie said.

The Opposition Leader was critical of the Giles Government’s announcement last year of a new Welcome Precinct for Maningrida.

“It’s crazy – they come out in October and announce a facelift? I think people (in Maningrida) want more than an artificial brush at problems that require considered resourcing and responses,” she said.

In October last year Chief Minister Adam Giles announced a $100,000 grant to go towards locally-made welcome signage, beautification and landscaping around the Maningrida Arts Centre. Mr Giles said the Welcome Precinct would link the airport, accommodation and the Arts Centre, and stimulate local jobs through improved arts sales and a café.

Ms Lawrie said it would be good to see the NT Government make a commitment to work regularly with all service providers in Maningrida on priorities that had been identified in its Local Implementation Plan through consultation with the whole community.

“People are looking for more than a facelift,” Ms Lawrie said.