Grant travelled the path of self government

FEW politicians, if any, are likely to achieve what Grant Tambling did in his 30 year career. Mr Tambling has occupied political office at every level in the Northern Territory

Former Senator Grant Tambling at his home. Mr Tambling has represented the NT at all three levels of government. Picture: Keri Megelus

FEW politicians, if any, are likely to achieve what Grant Tambling did in his 30 year career.

Mr Tambling has occupied political office at every level in the Northern Territory.

His political life started as an Alderman on the Darwin City Council in 1972 and never looked back after that.

“The early 70s were important because of the pioneering spirit of the Territory and the characters like Tiger Brennan who was Mayor and Goff Letts who was a visionary in the normalising political state like functions,” Mr Tambling, now 75, said.

Former Senator Grant Tambling and his wife Sandy Tambling at his home on the Esplanade. Picture: Keri Megelus

“You can put Territory into generations and it follows the personalities that led the early bits.

“There were some of the older pioneers who were very brash and then the new recruitment of the younger ones who were all under the age of 35 — like Paul Everingham, like Marshall Perron and like me. It was a period of picking up and running with development.”

Mr Tambling was the MLA for Fannie Bay, between 1974 and 1977 member.

Senator Bronwyn Bishop 'works out' with Senator Grant Tambling in preparation for the upcoming ‘tough election’ in January 1990

He, along with Mr Letts lost their seats in 1977, leaving the final work of self-government to the administration led by Paul Everingham.

But by 1980 he was back on the political seen, keeping his profile high with involvement in more than 100 of the Territory’s community groups, getting elected to the House of Representativess in federal Parliament where he served three years before losing his seat. By 1987 he was back as Senator for the Northern Territory where he stayed until 2001.

“My career took me out of the Territory scene and put me into Canberra where I was able to experience the garnering of funds through a Canberra network … across the Hawke/Keating Labor Governments and then the Howard Government,” he said.

“Initially it was very supportive of the CLP were doing as a formation party — it excited the community and for 27 years they stayed in government and were producing the goods.

There was a real pioneering attitude in the community and the progress that was being demanded by the likes of Les McFarlane in Katherine, one of the catalysts of the cattlemen’s association were important to the Territory’s development.

We had high standards of health, education and sport support and that made us a unique place.

“I think the NT community in the period of the late 90s normalised in my view. We participated in interstate conferences. We negotiated with the federal government on land issues and native title. The debates we had stimulated the private sector and that flowed through to the community.”

Mr Tambling feels the same excitement exists with a touch of cynicism.

Grant Tambling and Federal Opposition leader Alexander Downer and his wife leave the annual CLP conference held at the Beaufort Hotel in August, 1994

“I believe every Australian family has a Northern Territory or Darwin connection,” he said. “They either came here to work in the commonwealth public service or they came with defence postings or as business people starting with young children.

“I think it is a mixture of excitement and cynicism. The community judges harshly any changes that haven’t been properly explained to the community. It is incumbent on any government to explain their budgets in a philosophical sense.

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“I would expect in the next decade that statehood will resurface just as euthanasia will and our commitment to defence. That brings with it the support for families so I do not see self government under threat but not without its challenges.”