A familiar ring to Gunner problems
AT HIS election night wake in Alice Springs in August 2016, former chief minister Adam Giles gave a frank evaluation of what had gone so wrong for his government.
“Tonight’s result is a lesson in disunity is death in politics,” he said. “It’s a result of looking after one’s self, rather than thinking about the people.”
The following day, sitting in his backyard in Ludmilla, Giles’s successor Michael Gunner reflected on the lessons he had learnt from watching the CLP implode as its once strong majority was whittled down by scandal and personal conflicts.
To never lose sight of the fact he and his team were public servants, he said, and not to let personalities derail governance (plus something about telling his members there was a public toilet across the road should they feel the need to film salacious videos to send to women who weren’t their wives).
Giles wasn’t the only one to offer a road map to the new chief minister to avoid his mistakes. In the wash-up from the electoral bloodbath, barrels of ON BEING A REAL TERRITORIAN
Real Territorians want cheaper fuel, food, airfares not museums. Jan Gal
Inpex employees honestly really only benefited pubs/clubs. Bynoe Steve
Never known Darwin to be this bad in the 56 years of being here. Ian Gillespie
Real Territorians — maybe — but I’d like to see people with common sense, an understanding of priorities, budget sense, a less ink were expended by journalists, pundits and the ghosts of politicians past eager to pick over the carcass of the CLP government.
Labor got to power on a small target strategy centred around emphasising the CLP’s shortcomings – and there were plenty of them – without having to explain much of its own inflated ego & a genuine interest in looking after the locals & ensuring the long term residents receive benefits. Kathryn Milligan ON BEING SINGLE IN THE NT
The odds are good but the goods are odd. Colin Carthew Holy hell, bout time I moved out of this town. Mark Boal
Just a good ole fashion girls night out really, keep your eyes peeled for the drunken, arsescratching Territory slobs and avoid at all costs!!. Jo E Nicol Beware! Darwin Sheilas are tough! Beautiful but..... John Bell merits. It’s been said many times the NT didn’t vote in Labor, they voted out the CLP – the swing against the CLP was far greater than the swing towards Labor.
It’s a strategy that worked so well for it, Labor is clinging to it even now in the second half of the term.
There have been few opportunities Gunner has passed up to reference the “chaotic CLP”. It comes up at every press conference, in speeches, in announcements.
Even now, having plunged the Territory to its eyeballs in debt, Gunner and his ministers continue to play the blame game and point the finger to four short years of the CLP.
In his opinion piece pub- ON RECENT NIGHTCLIFF ASSAULTS
It’s amazing that with all the CCTV cameras around the place and communication ability that they couldn’t track them and pick them up straight away. Matthew Willmore
Well for a change it’s not just happening in Palmerston. Lilbul Gal Boundless crime … Nic Ankidz ON LITCHFIELD UPGRADE
Remove the gamba. That will provide jobs. Sue Jaykay Kentish What needs to be upgraded at Litchfield? I was just there yesterday and they are turning it into a concrete palace just leave it alone, it’s beautiful as it is. Justine Johnson
People want to come here, but flights are soooo expensive, they would rather fly to Bali. I am pleased for the upgrades as we love LNP, but I doubt it will entice Aussies to come here. Jo Finney
As long as tenders are awarded to local businesses and not out sourced to interstate companies. Shannon Pope
Can we please make sure that local businesses get the work. Charlene Scott ON THE CAVENAGH ST SHADE
I think it’s going to look great and do what it’s supposed to do. It’s expensive but actually a very clever solution to the problems we have with large trees. Tony Martin
Build it on Mitchell St to attract people to our main street that has tourists flocking during the dry. Mitch Ell Hendo
What Shade Structure! More like a “Over head timber lattice Shadows”. Dennis Whiteaker
I don’t mind it except I wonder about the expense in the upkeep of the timber..... Nicole Fitzpatrick