Ashley Manicaros opinion: Turnbull should not have ignored Darwin after Cyclone Marcus

WE’RE fine Prime Minister ... thanks for asking. If only Malcolm Turnbull would call then we would all feel a little more loved, Ashley Manicaros argues

PM Malcolm Turnbull visits evacuees and volunteers in Bega following Sunday's devastating fires at Tathra on the NSW South Coast. He did not even call NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner after Saturday’s cyclone. Picture: Ray Strange.

WE’RE fine Prime Minister ... thanks for asking.

If only Malcolm Turnbull would call, we would all feel a little more loved.

Almost a third of the population in a capital city of Australia were without power and the Prime Minister didn’t bother to ask what he could do to help.

It is a national disgrace the Prime Minister could not find 10 minutes to ring the Chief Minister Michael Gunner in the wake of Cyclone Marcus to check that everything was okay with his citizens.

Perhaps even offer some national help — a plane load of chainsaws or to find linesmen to help reconnect powerlines, or to start a deeper discussion about the undergrounding of power.

Maybe there is a “Point Piper line” which makes everything north a little fuzzy, just like those who complain about the Berrimah line in the Territory.

We get there is only one conservative politician at the federal level in the NT, who also happens to sit in Cabinet, but quite honestly he has been invisible as well.

On Sunday morning a press release was issued by Senator Nigel Scullion talking about innovation grants or something. Awkward timing. Zero relevance.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten called and Solomon MLA Luke Gosling handed out food cooked by Darwin’s Sikh community. Every little bit helps.

Meanwhile Chief Minister Gunner took the time to call Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews whose state was hit hard by bushfires to offer assistance. Yep, you read that right — we are prepared to help another state but apparently the case is not the same in reverse.

So far none of Mr Gunner’s state or territory colleagues have bothered to contact him to see if he has power on at his place yet.

It seems journalists are not the only ones ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr hates. He doesn’t have much time for Territorians in Northern Australia it seems.

Compare this overall reaction to a cyclone in Far North Queensland in 2014.

During Cyclone Ita the Federal Government was on the ball co-ordinating national assistance. 7000 homes were without power in the wake of Ita. Did I say earlier a third, more than 20,000 homes, were without power in Darwin? The eye was not the only silent part associated with Cyclone Marcus. National leadership was as well.

It is also a disgrace that the only words uttered by political leaders on the national stage were from the likes of Greens Leader Senator Richard Di Natale.

He blamed the federal government’s failure to address climate change as the reason the cyclone and bushfires have ravaged communities across Australia over the past 48 hours.

“Australians are bearing the brunt of their failure,” Senator Di Natale said.

Mate, the only thing we are bearing the brunt of is your stupidity. Oh and by the way, thanks for asking how everyone is up here.

Senator Di Natale is, of course, politically wounded after losing the weekend’s unlosable Batman by-election. Strangely he did not want to blame climate change for that loss.

The NT News editorial team called on our community leaders to lead from the front. I’m not convinced our local leaders have been outstanding so far.

On Friday the weather bureau held a press conference where they insisted media attend to give the latest updates. On Saturday morning they held another, albeit online, briefing in the short hours leading up to Cyclone Marcus.

Our Chief Minister was no where to be seen at either.

His authority carries weight and should have been used to stress the importance of preparing. That isn’t politicking, that is leadership.

Instead he was following the advice of those who work for him to shelter.

Prime Minister Turnbull calling may have only been a symbolic gesture but not calling is a demonstration of where we stand with his government.