Michael Gunner in Katherine on Thursday

Mr Gunner will travel to Katherine to chair his government’s first meeting of its Aboriginal subcommittee of cabinet.

The Chief Minister upset many residents of Katherine earlier in the month when he said he was “happy” to drink Katherine’s PFAS contaminated water.

Mr Gunner said on a recent visit to Katherine for the show and to open the new ambulance station he was happy to drink and shower in the town’s water.

“I can guarantee I was in Katherine the other day drinking the water and showering in it and cleaning my teeth in it, it’s good water,” he said in July.

He said his government was being overly cautious by imposing water restrictions which began on August 21.

They are believed to be the first water restrictions ever imposed in Australia based on PFAS fears.

Mr Gunner told the Darwin media he was happy to be filmed using the water in Katherine on his next visit, which is now on Thursday.

Katherine MLA Sandra Nelson today told Katherine Times she would be in Melbourne attending a meeting on family and domestic violence and would miss the Chief Minister’s visit.

A government spokesman said: “The up-coming meeting will be the first full attendance meeting - which is an important milestone - but we have met multiple times with different members of the committee to discuss various aspects of the work and role of the committee.

“The last 12 months have seen major reform in the department, the development of the committee and a focus on how we put in place mechanisms to ensure we advance Aboriginal people in the NT under the key three pillars of treaty, land and sea and local decision-making. 

It is anticipated that the committee will meet at least four times a year.

Indigenous MLA's Selena Uibo and Chansey Paech have advocated that the meetings be held in regional areas of Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine  and Nhulunbuy.

Ms Nelson today said it was expected six MPs and five advisers would attend the meeting.