THE mayor of a Top End regional council hit hard by Indigenous Advancement Strategy funding cuts says federal politicians “better start listening real fast” as communities prepare themselves for painful service and job losses.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
As the fallout from this month’s IAS announcement continues, Victoria Daly Regional Council has revealed it has lost 24 per cent of its funding, with key community programs set to be axed as a result.
The council’s sports and recreation, community patrol, school nutrition and women’s programs have all had funding either reduced or totally cut by the federal government, and mayor Steve Hennessy admitted 16 jobs could be lost as a result.
“Although our council understands the need for fiscal restraint from all tiers of government, what really hurts our communities is the massive cuts to programs that have unquestionable benefits to remote and especially indigenous Australia,” he told the Katherine Times.
“It seems like there has been no consideration of the costs incurred by government neglect of its most vulnerable citizens, our young people.
“Yet, the program has been scrapped, with no communication from the funders regarding any possible replacement strategy.”
Councillor Hennessy took aim at Canberra and asked how remote local governments with small ratepayer bases were meant to bridge the funding gap.
“Regional councils in the NT are primarily grants-funded to operate such programs, and simply do not have the money to go it alone,” he said
“So what are we expected to do?
“The point is, this ain't gonna work, so someone in Canberra better start listening real fast.”
Local Government Association of the Northern Territory president Damien Ryan warned that the funding cuts would impact entire regions across the Territory, not just specific councils.
“From LGANT’s point of view, yes, this is widespread,” he said.
“The problem isn’t just at a remote location like Vic Daly … it’s the whole of the Territory that will feel the effects of these funding announcements.”
Mr Ryan argued that, with services and jobs set to be slashed in indigenous communities, long-term residents would be forced to seek new opportunities in regional hubs like Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs.
He added that he was concerned adjacent municipal councils would be forced to pick up the pieces.
“It’s shifting people’s directions,” he said.
“These IAS funding announcements over the last week or so have caused a lot of concern among regional councils, who are most affected, but also communities like Katherine ... will have big impacts from these announcements also, especially with youth programs.
“It would seem that people who read the applications have not perceived the effect it would have on communities.
“It’s a very big knock-on effect.”
Katherine Town Council mayor Fay Miller said the funding cuts to neighbouring councils concerned her.
“It will have an impact on the closest regional area or town [to where the cuts have been made] and, yes, there’s a significant number in Vic Daly and Roper Gulf regional councils that have lost their positions, so, yes, it will have an impact.”
Cr Hennessy said VDRC had sent an impact statement outlining how badly the cuts would hurt communities to the federal government and that it was waiting for a response.
Roper Gulf Regional Council chief executive officer Michael Berto would not comment on how much of a funding hit the organisation had taken, but said it was “still negotiating with the government about specific programs”.