To celebrate 20 years as a Town Council, Tennant Creek is inviting delegates from across Australia to attend a national conference scheduled for 16-17 September. Titled ‘Economic Prospects for the Northern Territory Leading to the 21st Century’, and using the theme, ‘Positioning for a Prosperous Future’, organisers are gathering together a high profile group of speakers and officials.
“The Conference will be one of the biggest events staged in the Territory this year and will promote the Northern Territory as the ‘Gateway to Australia’,” said Mayor Paul Ruger.
The Governor General, Sir William Deane, has been invited to officially open the Conference, while former Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, will chair the plenary. Shane Stone, Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, will Chair the Opening Session.
Other speakers include Mark Vaile, Federal Minister for Transport and Regional Development; Gatjil Djerrkura, Chair of ATSIC; and Tim Baldwin, Territory Minister for Local Government and Aboriginal Development.
Conference sessions cover key issues for Australia’s future development, including the proposal for an AustralAsia Railway, Telecommunications and Infrastructure Development, Mining and Offshore Development, Tourism and Regional Development and Trade Development.
An invitation has been extended to the relevant Territory Ministers to chair sessions relating to their portfolio.
The two day Conference coincides with high tourist season in Tennant Creek and the annual Desert Harmony Festival. In addition, the Tennant Creek Art Gallery will also be officially opened.
It has been built to house over 100 award winning works collected by Council through its annual CWA art exhibitions, held every year since 1978. A section of the Gallery will also be devoted to handcraft representing every community in the Territory.
Councils across the Territory have been invited to loan private artefacts and items of historical interest for a special exhibition on the Territory’s history.
For further information contact Ali Khan, telephone (08) 8962 2401.
