A Message from Paul Henderson, Chief Minister
Paul Henderson, Chief Minister
The Northern Territory is the best place to live in the world.
My wife Stacey was raised here, and our three children were all born here.
The Territory is our home.
I arrived 24 years ago looking for adventure and opportunity, and this place has given me more than I could have hoped for.
I believe the Territory is the best place to live, work and raise a family. I am passionate about it keeping that way and about making the Territory even better.
Becoming the Chief Minister gives me the chance to give back to the people and the place that has given me so much.
Today Territorians have the chance to enjoy the best of life – it’s a vibrant, multicultural place surrounded by natural beauty, natural resources, and blessed with being part of the world’s longest surviving culture dating back more than
60 000 years.
We all know these things make the Territory special… and we need to work together to keep it special as we tackle the challenges of today and create the opportunities for tomorrow.
Territorians have a great passion for the outdoors. We probably spend more time outdoors than anywhere else.
The Territory’s natural wonders and resources, around which so much of our economy and our lifestyle is based, makes the global challenge of climate change a very local issue.
And Territorians rightly expect their Government to balance growing our economy and protecting the environment.
It’s easy for other Australians to under-estimate the enormity of the opportunities and the challenges we face.
With a population of just over 200,000 people, and the smallest tax base in Australia, we face enormously complex and difficult problems in the context of an extremely harsh climate, remoteness, and distances beyond comprehension to most other Australians.
As Territorians we know have to work together, and we need to work with others – like the Commonwealth – to achieve our goals.
We have always had a positive and can-do attitude, and that is how I intend to approach this job.
I would like to pay tribute to both Clare Martin and Syd Stirling, who have made an exceptional contribution to the Northern Territory in both Government and Opposition.
By 2001, previous CLP administrations had left the Territory with an economy on its knees, a run down police force, and a Government obsessed with itself.
Clare Martin has steered the Northern Territory well – today we have an economy that is bucking national trends, a growing population and a strong job market.
But the time is right for a change of leadership.
With the new Federal Government comes new opportunities for the Northern Territory, and it is important to develop a forward thinking relationship with Canberra.
This relationship must be based on collaboration and respect.
Territorians know the Commonwealth has the resources we need to tackle the Territory’s enormous challenges.
But the Territory’s history is littered with good intentions from Canberra that have failed because there has been insufficient regard for the knowledge, people and the circumstances on the ground.
The goals are too important, and the task too big, for any of us to be side tracked.
My Government will work with Canberra in a constructive way – by working together, I am confident we can achieve many things.
We have to work together to tackle the overwhelming social and economic disadvantage of so many of our Indigenous Territorians.
I am particularly excited about what can be achieved by getting more Indigenous children to school, more often.
Education is the key to opportunity and we have to unlock this barrier for Indigenous Territorians.
With good will, and with a partnership with Indigenous Territorians and the Federal Government, we can do this.
With the Federal election out of the way, I believe Canberra should better listen to the issues and the concerns that we identify as blockers to our shared objectives.
On issues – like the $100 grog laws, the wholesale abolition of the permit system, and others – Canberra needs to listen more to the Northern Territory.
To underscore the importance of getting this relationship right, I will be taking on the portfolio responsibility of Territory - Federal Relations.
As the new Chief Minister my agenda will be set around the key areas of economic development, jobs, a safer community, and better health and education.
Above all, I will be focused on the needs of Territory families.
The Northern Territory has a bright and wonderful future.
Let’s work together to enjoy our great way of life and make our Territory even better.
