Territorians are being polled on their name of choice for the proposed National Aboriginal Art Gallery
Nine years since it was first announced and eight years after it was flagged as an election promise, developers of the long-awaited National Aboriginal Art Gallery are still trying to decide what name to give it.
Northern Territory
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern Territory. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Nine years since it was first announced and eight years after it was flagged as an election promise, developers of the long-awaited National Aboriginal Art Gallery are still trying to decide what name to give it.
The 2016 election promise anticipated work would begin in 2020 and visitors would be pacing the gallery’s halls by 2024.
But a series of setbacks and delays, particularly negotiations around a location, have stalled the project
The gallery was first flagged by then CLP Chief Minister Adam Giles in 2015, and in February 2016 Opposition Leader Michael Gunner committed $50m from a future Labor Government as a down payment on the $150m development.
Mr Gunner said at the time a location for the gallery would be decided after the election, with construction set to begin in 2020.
Wrangling around a location stalled the project, with the NT Government eventually acquiring Anzac Oval from Alice Springs Town Council.
The construction tender was released last November and closed on December 14, and the identity of the preferred builder – which was expected to be announced in February – is now scheduled for release in March.
NT Government pollster McGregorTan is currently undertaking a survey seeking community reactions to the development, including a name for the gallery.
Respondents were given five suggested names and acronyms and asked which of those they would prefer.
The five names were:
* Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia (ATSIAGA).
* First Nations Gallery of Australia (FNGA)
* National Gallery of First Nations Art (NGFNA)
* Gallery of First Australians (GFA)
* Australia’s First Peoples Art Gallery (AFPAG)
The survey also asked respondents to rate the importance of the gallery from ‘not at all important’ to ‘very important’ as well as whether or not they would visit the centre.
An NT Government spokesman said the museum would have an Indigenous name and the designation and acronym would come after that.
Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said it was time to crack on with the project nine years after it was first discussed.
“This was actually a commitment of the CLP Government back in 2015 and at that time, $50m had been allocated to deliver it,” she said. “We wanted it to be an iconic national statement that drove tourism into the heart of Alice Springs.
“Since Labor came to power, all that’s happened is total confusion and incompetence around this issue. We’ve seen people employed and not a sod of dirt being turned, it’s been a total mess.”
A Government spokesman said the preferred developer is expected to be announced in March with work beginning during the Dry.
Voters ‘felt disenfranchised’ during election: Paech
Shadow Attorney-General Chansey Paech says the failed Voice to Parliament referendum played “a role” in the election result, maintaining voters were “disenfranchised” heading to the ballot box.
Cahills Crossing permit blitz drives down unwanted visitors
A permit blitz at Cahills Crossing caught almost 20 people without the right permits to travel through, with just six cars continuing their journey uninterrupted.