Independent candidate Michael Gravener lives and works in the Central Australian homelands of Utopia, and has worked in leadership roles in remote communities since the early 80's.

Mr Gravener said he is passionate about "the diversity and uniqueness of Lingiari" and "believes that our full potentials will only be realised when we are all listened to, heard and given a fair go on an equitable playing field."

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Here's what he had to say about the key election issues the Katherine Times asked him about:

Environment

There is no Economy without an Ecology. Climate Change must be taken seriously. Both major parties talk platitudes but do not display a serious and urgent commitment to act. Gas is not viable and dirty, nor a transitional source of energy.

The Beetaloo Basin will emit at a minimum approximately 22 per cent of additional greenhouse gases to the environment across Australia alone. This is madness. We must go straight to renewables, invest heavily in renewables and act now.

Lingiari has much coastline and many islands that are low lying, the highest elevation on Cocos/Keeling Island is 5 metres. We must act to protect our people at the front-line of climate change, and the rest of us who will endure unliveable heat in an environment that will suffer at our peril if we continue to ignore the scientists. Ultimately it is a matter of survival.

Indigenous Affairs

There is no Environment Justice without Aboriginal Justice.

We must end third world conditions that so many Aboriginal people endure. First Nations people hold the keys to all our futures. Our liberation is very much bound in their liberation.

We must end the endemic poverty crisis now. This is our national shame.

We must fund those directly on the ground to deliver the programs and services desperately required to make a real difference with crime prevention.

I would demand a Royal Commission into Government funding and services delivery abuses and inefficiencies that have failed to 'Close the Gap' and act on all other related Royal Commission recommendations including deaths in custody and juvenile detention as a matter of urgency.

I would demand a federal ICAC that is retrospective, just and solution-driven while bringing back the fair go in tendering processes that are cost effective, sustainable and culturally informed.

I would ensure processes for Treaties be prioritised and accelerated to allow true self determination with culturally informed consultation processes paramount. Truth Telling will inform the future and allow Aboriginal people their Voice. Statement from the Heart provides that pathway.

I would work to end all racist policy paradigms. Policies that target groups of people are inherently racist and counter intuitive.

Housing

People's ability to afford the day-to-day costs of living is getting more unattainable for many. The NT is an expensive place to live and our people should not have to worry about the basics when it comes to housing affordability and the day to day running costs of home.

Food security and clean water is an issue for thousands of people in Lingiari. In 2022 this is unacceptable. A living wage is essential to our people's wellbeing and also good for the economy. Higher wages and an increase in pensions are awards for those who work hard, have worked hard, and for those who struggle through no fault of their own.

If elected I would:

Crime

We will never solve the issues of crime in the NT unless we get people out of endemic poverty. Thousands of people live in dwellings that are unfit for human shelter.

No program, welfare and/or education system will prevent and minimise crime until we allow people to have access to healthy and safe housing, food security and educational systems that demand excellence.

Corruption and inefficiencies in service delivery must end and at the most be prosecuted through the legal systems to allow best possible outcomes for people living on the margins of our society.

Correctional systems demand rehabilitative programming and must be fully culturally informed.

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