ARAFURA FEARS

Government assures concerned sporting groups Games are ‘full steam ahead’ despite sacking of minister and budget blowout

THE sacking of Labor Minister Ken Vowles has raised concerns about the success of the rebirthed Arafura Games.

Mr Vowles was the Minister responsible for the Arafura Games and it was he who lobbied passionately for their return at the last Territory election.

Sporting groups, which have been working closely with Mr Vowles, are concerned that the Chief Minister’s decision to delay the appointment of a replacement minister for a month will rob the Arafura Games, which will run from April 26 to May 4, of crucial momentum.

The sporting groups said they were cautious of being critical of the Government but wanted to know what is going on now Mr Vowles has gone.

Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison confirmed this week Mr Vowles’s replacement would not be announced until the end of January along with new portfolio allocations. The Games return on April 26.

The Government has fore- cast it will generate $10 million into the Territory economy. However, the original budget of $4m to stage it has pushed past $6 million.

The Government said it had received close to 350 registrations for the Arafura Games – 251 from overseas, 49 interstate and 47 locals.

The last Arafura Games, in 2011, involved more than 2500 athletes. The Government said the 251 overseas registrations for the 2019 Games represented 40 countries.

The Deputy Chief Minister said she had had a full briefing on the status of the Arafura Games preparations and she had been assured everything was on track. “Arafura Games is full steam ahead, it is going to be just a fantastic Games and I have had some really, really positive feedback from the agency about how things are going along,” Ms Manison said.

“We are looking forward to having a bigger and better reintroduction of the Arafura Games.

“It is going to be wonderful for local people involved in sport, the volunteering community, also tourism business and trade. I have had some very positive feedback about how things are going, particularly with some sports working the event to fit in with Paralympian qualifications.

“I think this is going to be a wonderful economic contributor, a wonderful sporting contributor, a wonderful cultural contributor and a wonderful business contributor.”

Mr Vowles agreed with Ms Manison.

“I love the Arafura Games, it will go on and be a fantastic event,” he said. “I will be involved in some capacity as a community member.”

OUR SAY P10