Each edition we feature the views of a Local Government Association President. The following is from Councillor Margaret Vigants, Local Government Association of the Northern Territory.
The theme for the final General Meeting of the Local Government Association of the NT for this century is ‘2000 – the new era’ and it is a very fitting one. On September 15-16 in Darwin our members from across the Territory will be crystal ball gazing on what we all need to do to ensure it really is a new era for our communities, Local Government generally and the Local Government Association.
While we in the Territory pride ourselves on what is an enviable lifestyle, in many respects there are things that we do need to address and change if we are to move positively forward into the new century. In short, could I suggest the following.
- Working cooperatively to overcome the critical health and housing problems of Aboriginal Territorians.
- Improving community involvement in planning the Capital City and major towns and communities in the NT.
- Overcoming community infrastructure deficiencies.
- Improving funding to Local Government to more realistic levels.
- Achieving the objectives of the Local Government reform agenda in the NT.
- Enhancing electronic communications across the Territory.
- Overcoming skill shortages experienced by Councils and retaining good staff for longer periods in remote areas.
Readers of FOCUS may relate to all or some of these and would, I am sure, be able to add further local issues and challenges to the list. Some of these will take considerable time and energy to resolve and will be with us for some time in the new century.
On top of these, however, there are a number of more immediate issues facing all of us like implementing the tax reform agenda and GST, the Year 2K bug, deciding one way or the other on Australia becoming a republic, achieving reconciliation and making sure our turn at staging the Olympic Games is a magnificent success.
We do live in interesting times and let us hope that in the next one to two years we can tick some of these issues and congratulate ourselves on 2000 – the new era.
At the Association meeting in September, I will be outlining changes we are making to move our Association positively into the new century and build on our successes to date. A couple of these changes are referred to in articles in this issue of FOCUS magazine. At the meeting it will also be interesting to see what the Minister and the National President of ALGA can tell us about what they see in their crystal balls.
From the Territory I wish all readers of FOCUS every success in tackling some of your issues during 2000, the new era.
