Rapid Creek residents rally against proposed sale of Territory Insurance Office
The Northern Territory Labor Opposition has continued its campaign against the sale of the Territory Insurance Office (TIO) with a small protest at Rapid Creek.
Member for Johnston Ken Vowles opened his office in the Rapid Creek shopping complex while the popular markets were on, before moving to the banks of the creek itself.
There were only a dozen people at the protest when Mr Vowles spoke to the media, but he said he had gathered 200 signatures on a petition throughout the day.
He said there was outrage at the lack of consultation on the proposed sale.
"This Government and [Chief Minister] Adam Giles need bring this to Parliament," he said.
Mr Vowles pointed to concerns raised by government frontbencher and Member for Katherine Willem Westra van Holthe about the sale, saying he should vote against the sale.
"Willem Westra van Holthe is bowing to pressure in his own electorate," he said.
"I would tell the people of Katherine to stand up for not selling TIO.
"If [the sale] is put through, the people of Katherine should make sure their local member hears their outrage loud and clear."
Mr Vowles accused Mr Giles of lying about TIO's profitability, claiming the insurer made $10 million last financial year.
One protester, Laurel Thompson from Coconut Grove, said she had grave concerns for TIO if it was sold.
"It's the selling of another icon to rich foreigners, like governments do," she said.
Mrs Thompson said she had been a TIO policy holder since the 1970s and had only recently made her first claim.
"That was an extremely difficult experience. But it's only going to get worse when they sell it," she said.
Norbert Andre has lived in Rapid Creek for more than 30 years and said if insurance premiums go up he will have to risk living there uninsured.
He said he had no faith in the Giles Government and Mr Giles was wrong to say premiums would not rise under a private TIO.
"I don't believe politicians, I don't believe their words," he said.
"The premiums will go up a lot and I won't be able to afford it anymore.
"I can't move, this is my house. We will stop having insurance if it goes up a lot, we cannot afford it."
His message to Adam Giles was simple.
"Look after the people and listen to the people," he said.
