The Northern Territory government’s long-running plans to “normalise” an Aboriginal community in Darwin – turning it into a regular subdivided suburb – are facing a setback, after the Country Liberal party candidate said he didn’t support the policy and that the party would “definitely have to” back him.
The candidate, Tim Dixon is standing for the seat of Fong Lim in Saturday’s election. Fong Lim is currently held by treasurer David Tollner, who is retiring after he didn’t secure preselection for a seat.
For a number of years Tollner has pushed plans to “normalise” Bagot, an Aboriginal community on prime land between the city of Darwin and its airport. Residents have long pushed back on the plan, but after financial troubles there were fears it may be unavoidable.
In a forum on ABC radio, Dixon said he didn’t support the idea of normalisation.
He said he didn’t know if it was still CLP policy but it wasn’t his as the Fong Lim candidate, and he suggested it would therefore not happen if he was elected.
“If I’m elected as the local member the CLP will definitely have to back me in flipping that policy,” he told the ABC.
None of the four candidates interviewed for Fong Lim agreed with the plans.
“We’d all like to see Bagot set on the path to self-sustainability,” said Dixon. “It has a plan to do so and government needs to talk with Bagot, work out what resources government can do.”
Independent candidate Ilana Eldridge said she didn’t even know what was meant by “normalisation” but the term had traumatised residents.
Bagot hasn’t had the resources for a functioning administration of the community and has been “shortchanged” by the Northern Territory government for a long time, Eldridge said.
“They just need some access to resources to be able to determine their own future,” said Eldridge.
The 23 hectare Bagot community went into administration last October, with debts to Power and Water Corporation totalling more than $700,000. Fears of eviction or having to turn over their crown lease, granted in perpetuity, were allayed in February when creditors voted to support their debt repayment plan.
During investigations and negotiations over the massive water bill there were fears Tollner – who was the minister responsible as well as the local member – was using the situation to push for the turnover of their crown lease and subsequent subdivision of the community.
A spokesman for the chief minister did not say what the CLP policy for Bagot was with the departure of Tollner.
He told Guardian Australia a re-elected CLP government “will take into account the views of all MLAs before deciding its position on important issues”.
“The Country Liberals have a fresh new team of talented people contesting the election on Saturday, including Tim Dixon who is a potential minister given his extensive experience.”
The Northern Territory goes to an election on Saturday.
