16/08/2021
The NT News today. The Journalist asked me to answer some set questions. He only used a small part of what I wrote and wrote it in his own words (changing the meaning slightly for brevity). Here is the full response.
I have the education, experience and motivation to be the best Lord Mayor for the people of Darwin. Living in Darwin since 1966, I am firmly grounded in our community. From Cyclone Tracy to Self-Government I have seen Darwin develop form a small city with a Mayor to a Capital City with a Lord Mayor. As a Boy Scout I remember seeing the Queen here upgrading Darwin status.
My platform is to continue Council’s programs for reforestation and beautification of Darwin CBD and Suburbs (These programs have been ongoing since the 20th Council under Lord Mayor Graeme Sawyer). This is in-line with Councils Climate Emergency response. We need a cleaner, greener, cooler tropical city.
In my term as Lord Mayor, Council will become a trusted friend in the community. Working with the community, good governance, open and accountable. Today Council is not trusted, too many people feel they have not been told the full story. They feel like decisions do not pass the pub test, Council is complicated and tricky.
I am my own man, only beholden to the residents of Darwin. I do not rely on any support form any political party to be Lord Mayor. No government staffers putting up my posters, only family and friends. I am a member of the CLP, it is my personal choice to support CLP. I believe there is no place for political parties in NT Local Government. Interestingly, in 2008 I ran as the CLP Candidate for Casuarina against the Labor sitting member Hon. Kon Vatskalis MLA. The current Lord Mayor and I both have a political past. But Kon is the far better politician. People are tired of being worked by expert politicians, they want simple old fashion honesty.
As Lord Mayor I will re-introduce the committee system engaging all Alderman in the decision-making process. Setting the items on the agenda at Council Meetings. After all they are the elected representatives of the community of Darwin. The “Body Corporate of the City of Darwin” is what we know as Council. The elected members are just elected unit holders looking after the interests of the other unit holders, like a body corporate in a building. The streets, parks ad gardens are like the common areas in a building. We have the same challenges; safety, cleanliness, access to services and so on (Just on a bigger scale).
Year-after-year Council staff are failing to complete millions of dollars in planned works.
This needs to stop as the city is missing out on these programs. The excuse is given that programs run over 2 financial years (this is only a small part of the carry forwards). Using the committee system individual departments will fall under scrutiny of each committee and progress or lack there-of can be monitored. At the Second Ordinary Meeting the Committee Chair presents a report to the whole Council on the progress of the committee. The Committee System also ensures more transparency to the public that are the joint owners of this city we love.
