Labor slams NT govt over inducements
Labor has slammed the NT government's "cynical" and "shameless" actions after it announced projects on the Tiwi Islands a day after insisting no inducements were made to lure back the local member.
Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu, a senior elder from the Tiwi Islands and member for Arafura, rejoined the Country Liberals (CLP) on Monday after resigning from the Palmer United Party.
He left the CLP six months ago, along with two fellow Aboriginal backbenchers, amid claims of racism and broken promises to remote communities.
Chief Minister Adam Giles has maintained that no inducements or deals were made to secure Mr Kurrupuwu's return, saying he had approached the government.
But Mr Kurrupuwu told the ABC on Tuesday that Mr Giles promised him a road and two buses for the Tiwis when they met on Monday.
The Tiwis have struggled recently. A $50 million port development remains months behind schedule and a major forestry project has also stalled.
But two days after Mr Kurrupuwu's return, the government has announced that work will begin next week on a $2 million barge that included in the previous budget, along with a new tourism venture.
"I know the government is working hard to bring business opportunities to Tiwi people," Mr Kurrupuwu said in a statement on Wednesday.
Opposition Leader Delia Lawrie said the chief minister could no longer pretend the were no sweeteners offered to Mr Kurrupuwu.
"Adam Giles can no longer expect Territorians to believe a deal wasn't done," she told reporters.
"Just two days with Francis Xavier coming back to the CLP and the first of the million-dollar announcements is rolling out the door.
"Nothing wrong with a barge landing, nothing wrong with a local company getting the work, everything wrong with the timing."
Mr Kurrupuwu's return has shored up the government's numbers as it waits to see whether disgruntled former deputy leader Dave Tollner will fulfil his threat to leave the party if not reinstated.
The government would have been forced into a minority position if he did so, before Mr Kurrupuwu's return.
"This is a very cynical move, it's a shameless move, and the chief minister needs to understand that Territorians will hold him to account on this," Ms Lawrie said.
