The NT government has been accused of failing to consult with the local government sector on a proposal to replace regional councils with First Nation Governments.

The Treaty Commission’s final report released in 2022 proposes dismantling the existing local government structure in the NT and replacing regional councils with First Nation Governments with the full range of powers currently available to local government.

Eventually, it’s proposed they will become an independent sphere of government with LGAs confined to municipal areas such as Darwin, Palmerston, Litchfield, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs.

The First Nation Governments would also come under a proposed new First Nations Nations Self Government Act rather than existing local government laws.

“It is envisaged this system of First Nations self government would develop alongside Treaty negotiations and would involve the transformation of the local government system, principally in non-municipal areas,” the report says.

Both Labor and the CLP are yet to a make any formal commitment on the proposal, with the government saying after the release of the report that it was carefully considering the recommendations, and discussing them with key stakeholders.

How self governance might look like was also discussed at the NT Treaty Symposia in April.

Councils want costed plan

The Territory’s local government peak, LGANT, says if Labor wants to change how local government functions in regional areas, it needs to present a costed plan and consult with local councils before Territorians go to polls on August 24.

“Aboriginal councils are a reality and they are working hard in regional and remote areas,” President Kon Vatskalis said.

“Labor has also failed to consult with the local government sector around the plans to replace regional councils with the Treaty Commission’s recommended First Nation Governments, and this is a slap in the face to the Aboriginal council elected members across the Territory who have worked so hard for so long to improve the lives and conditions of people in their communities.

“This is a slap in the face to the Aboriginal council elected members across the Territory who have worked so hard for so long to improve the lives and conditions of people in their communities.”

Kon Vatskalis

“Aboriginal councils are a reality and they are working hard in regional and remote areas.”

NT councils under the pump

 Mr Vatskalis said Labor has been squeezing councils by reducing funding and restricting revenue, and local government leaders are deeply concerned about the future of the sector.

“Labor and the CLP must inform the people of the NT about their plans so that voters can make informed decisions in the upcoming election,” he said.

Meanwhile he’s demanding more information from the CLP about how it intends to fund its promised reforms, including local government deamalgamation.

The CLP has propsed to break up so-called ‘supershires’ and reinstate community councils, in a move it says will restore community contro.

 “Without this detail the plan can’t be trusted,” Mr Vatskalis said.

LGANT CEO Mary Watson said the association was always open to improving the local government sector but the key lay in working together.

“Instead of disbanding existing governments and the like, if there are concerns, let’s work together to address those and fund the sector to enable it to empower communities,” she told told Government News.

“So rather than talk to (just) some of those Aboriginal communities, that’s talk to everybody and come up with a solution.”