Northern Territory Shadow Minister for Local Government Willem Westra van Holthe

DON’T PLAY POLITICS WITH SHIRES

Victor P Taffa

The Henderson Government and the Local Government Minister are playing political football with the Victoria-Daly Shire.

Shadow Minister for Local Government, Willem Westra van Holthe, said Malarndirri McCarthy met with shire representatives in Peppimenarti last Friday in a desperate bid to save the political skin of her Labor colleague and Member for Daly, Rob Knight.

“To the Labor Government, the continued employment of Rob Knight is far more important than the livelihoods of residents and employees in the Victoria-Daly Shire.” Mr. Westra van Holthe said.

“Despite ducking and weaving and a thinly veiled denial in Parliament, Ms. McCarthy indicated at the meeting she is prepared to negotiate changes to the shire structure.”

“The Minister is a hypocrite. Publicly, she says she supports Labor’s shires, yet privately she is planning to give at least one the chop.” Mr. Westra van Holthe said.

“While the Country Liberals would welcome changes to local government that would bring better outcomes to people in the bush, it has to be done for the right reasons – not to save a colleague’s political scalp.”

“While Labor tries to stitch up opportunistic political deals, the Country Liberals will continue to engage with people in the shires to bring about real change and improvement in the provision of core services for local government.” Mr. Westra van Holthe said.