Maningrida to sign new Local Decision Making Agreement, gaining agency over homelands education plans

A town in the heart of Arnhem Land has called the Territory’s leaders to their doorstep to sign a new agreement over their community’s future.

Chief Minister Eva Lawler and Local Decision Making Minister Selena Uibo are expected to sign a new Local Decision Making agreement in Maningrida. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

A town in the heart of Arnhem Land has called the Territory’s leaders to their doorstep to sign a new agreement over their community’s future.

The majority of Territory ministers are expected to attend a two-day community cabinet session in Maningrida from Monday.

Chief Minister Eva Lawler said this would be her first community cabinet session as leader, with one of the highlights of the visit the expected signing of a new Local Decision Making agreement.

Ms Lawler said the agreement between the government and non-government organisations and community leaders would give the people of Maningrida greater agency over issues like homelands education.

Ms Lawler said bringing almost all the ministers to Arnhem Land would give them an opportunity to see the issues at the coal face and take action where needed.

Chief Minister Eva Lawler is expected to fly to Maningrida on Monday to signing of a new Local Decision Making agreement. Picture: Zizi Averill

“Instead of having just one minister out there — who only hears part of the story or has to follow up with the portfolios — you take the majority of the ministers there we have an opportunity for the community to meet with us,” she said.

Ms Lawler said a similar meeting in Wadeye was planned for later this year.

Critically the Chief Minister said the new LDM agreement had taken on the feedback from a scathing parliamentary inquiry last year.

In mid-2023 the parliament’s Public Accounts Committee released its report into LDM Frameworks and there was “considerable confusion” about the scheme — even among the 11 communities with active agreements.

It made eight recommendations for reform, highlighting the limited funding, a lack of clarity and transparency and inadequate engagement with communities, councils and the federal government.

Chief Minister Eva Lawler and Local Decision Making Minister Selena Uibo are expected to sign a new Local Decision Making agreement in Maningrida. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

During the inquiry the Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the NT revealed that it had withdrawn from the LDM scheme “due to fatigue, from policies that don’t live up to the promise of real change or reform and loss of confidence and trust in the process”.

In October LDM Minister Selena Uibo said a joint review by APONT and the government investigating funding arrangements would be publicly released.

On Sunday, Ms Lawler said there had been “more communication” with LDM communities, while resourcing of plans remained with the government agencies.

Originally published as Maningrida to sign new Local Decision Making Agreement, gaining agency over homelands education plans