Alice Springs Town Council requests Territory Parliament comes to town

The Territory’s Parliament sittings could look a touch different next year – if the government follows the request of one Red Centre council. Find out more.

NT Parliament House chamber. Picture: Legislative Assembly of NT

Shifting the Territory’s Parliament south for a sitting “has more positives than negatives”, says one mayor, whose council has formally requested the government make the trip for the first time in more than decade.

At the Tuesday ordinary council meeting, Alice Springs Town Council voted to formally request the Territory government hold a Parliamentary sitting in Alice Springs soon.

While the proposal is still in its early stages, council Mayor Matt Paterson hopes Parliament could come to town by mid-next year.

“We’ve had five parliaments in Alice Springs and I was one of the school kids that was actually lucky enough to have an excursion during question time,” he said.

Alice Springs Town Council Mayor Matt Paterson. Picture: Gera Kazakov

“(Hosting Parliament makes) your politicians more accessible as well, so it would be fantastic, not only from that point of view, but also from a tourism economic benefit as well.

“It’s important for decision makers to be in Alice Springs to see the decisions they make will have an impact.

“It certainly has more positives than negatives.”

In its 50 year history, the Territory’s Parliament has sat in Alice Springs in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011.

While nothing is set in stone, Mr Paterson said it was possible the sitting could be held at the Alice Springs Convention Centre, where it has previously been held.

House Speaker and Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley said she supported the proposal and the trip south was “overdue”.

Robyn Lambley at the official Opening and First Meeting of the 15th Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“I have already written to the Chief Minister proposing that she consider this,” she said.

“It is vital that all our Territory kids get to experience Parliament and democracy in action, not just kids from the Top End. Bringing Parliament to the people is very important.

“We need more Territorians exercising their democratic right to vote, particularly given the appallingly low voter turnouts we see in Central Australia.

“I am hoping that the many calls for an Alice Springs sitting of the NT Legislative Assembly will inspire the government to put this in the forward plan.”

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro was contacted for comment.