Northern Territory releases Cabinet papers
Sarah Hawke
AM - ABC Radio
ELEANOR HALL: The Cabinet papers of the first Northern Territory government are also being made public today.
1978 was the first year of Territory self rule and while the economy grew under the leadership of the Country Liberal Party's Paul Everingham, the problems facing Indigenous communities have changed barely at all in 30 years, as Sarah Hawke reports.
SARAH HAWKE: 1978 was unforgettable for the Northern Territory. It was the year of self government. The Northern Territory flag was raised; even if it was to an anthem of an older era.
("God Save the Queen" and applause from ceremony)
JOHN ENGLAND: Under this flag, may God guide and prosper all the peoples of the Northern Territory.
SARAH HAWKE: The Territory was still Australia's last tough frontier and Darwin was continuing to rebuild after Cyclone Tracey. For politicians it was ruled men could wear safari suits during Parliament.
While fashions may have changed, some of the issues haven't. Cabinet grappled with Aboriginal problems still confronting governments today. Living conditions were worse than that of non-Indigenous Australia, alcohol abuse was prevalent and unemployment high.
But the then chief minister Paul Everingham says the CLP's hands were tied.
PAUL EVERINGHAM: With health, we knew there was a big problem but of course the Commonwealth wanted to retain health for another 12 months so that they could fix it all before they gave it to us. Of course they couldn't fix it all and it still hasn't been fixed today.
SARAH HAWKE: Cabinet did plan for millions of dollars to be ploughed into basic infrastructure for Aboriginal communities, like running water and electricity, areas Mr Everingham argues the Commonwealth neglected.
PAUL EVERINGHAM: It speaks volumes really for the Commonwealth that at that stage we had to immediately implement a five-year plan to put water, sewerage and electricity into remote communities. I'm not saying all of them, but a very big number of them.
SARAH HAWKE: While Indigenous business was difficult, it was easier elsewhere. Cabinet paved the way for the new Ranger Uranium Mine inside Kakadu as well as the mining town of Jabiru. There were also proposals for new casinos.
Dawn Lawrie is one of the few politicians from the 1978 Parliament still living in the Territory. The former independent believes the CLP was a bit arrogant but says it was better than being governed from Canberra.
DAWN LAWRIE: We wanted to make our decisions. Somebody said that the very worst decisions of the Northern Territory government are better than the best decisions of Canberra; because they are our decisions.
ELEANOR HALL: That's former independent Northern Territory politician Dawn Lawrie speaking to Sarah Hawke.
1978 was the first year of Territory self rule and while the economy grew under the leadership of the Country Liberal Party's Paul Everingham, the problems facing Indigenous communities have changed barely at all in 30 years, as Sarah Hawke reports.
SARAH HAWKE: 1978 was unforgettable for the Northern Territory. It was the year of self government. The Northern Territory flag was raised; even if it was to an anthem of an older era.
("God Save the Queen" and applause from ceremony)
JOHN ENGLAND: Under this flag, may God guide and prosper all the peoples of the Northern Territory.
SARAH HAWKE: The Territory was still Australia's last tough frontier and Darwin was continuing to rebuild after Cyclone Tracey. For politicians it was ruled men could wear safari suits during Parliament.
While fashions may have changed, some of the issues haven't. Cabinet grappled with Aboriginal problems still confronting governments today. Living conditions were worse than that of non-Indigenous Australia, alcohol abuse was prevalent and unemployment high.
But the then chief minister Paul Everingham says the CLP's hands were tied.
PAUL EVERINGHAM: With health, we knew there was a big problem but of course the Commonwealth wanted to retain health for another 12 months so that they could fix it all before they gave it to us. Of course they couldn't fix it all and it still hasn't been fixed today.
SARAH HAWKE: Cabinet did plan for millions of dollars to be ploughed into basic infrastructure for Aboriginal communities, like running water and electricity, areas Mr Everingham argues the Commonwealth neglected.
PAUL EVERINGHAM: It speaks volumes really for the Commonwealth that at that stage we had to immediately implement a five-year plan to put water, sewerage and electricity into remote communities. I'm not saying all of them, but a very big number of them.
SARAH HAWKE: While Indigenous business was difficult, it was easier elsewhere. Cabinet paved the way for the new Ranger Uranium Mine inside Kakadu as well as the mining town of Jabiru. There were also proposals for new casinos.
Dawn Lawrie is one of the few politicians from the 1978 Parliament still living in the Territory. The former independent believes the CLP was a bit arrogant but says it was better than being governed from Canberra.
DAWN LAWRIE: We wanted to make our decisions. Somebody said that the very worst decisions of the Northern Territory government are better than the best decisions of Canberra; because they are our decisions.
ELEANOR HALL: That's former independent Northern Territory politician Dawn Lawrie speaking to Sarah Hawke.