Land Council boss slams ‘Darwin-centric’ economic recovery committee

NLC chief executive Marion Scrymgour has criticised Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s newly announced ‘Darwin-centric’ economic recovery committee

NLC chief executive Marion Scrymgour has criticised Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s lack of representation from remote communities on his newly announced economic recovery committee. Picture: Northern Land Council

NORTHERN Land Council chief executive Marion Scrymgour has criticised Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s lack of representation from remote communities on his newly announced economic recovery committee.

Ms Scrymgour, who previously served as the Labor Member for Arafura in the NT Legislative Assembly, described the Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission as “Darwin-centric.”

She has been named as a member of advisory committee ‘Team Territory,’ along with the other Land Council chief executives, but said she only found out she had been included “via the media,” and called for more meaningful representation of remote communities.

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“Michael Gunner, everyone saw the importance of the Aboriginal leadership (throughout the pandemic) as being part of the solution, and not the problem,” Ms Scrymgour said.

“For all the land councils, we hold over 50 per cent of the land mass of the NT.

“The government needs to see Aboriginal people as part of the solution and not the problem.”

She said they put forward Central Land Council CEO Joe Martin-Jard to be considered for the Commission.

“He (Mr Gunner) had an opportunity to put the CEO of the second biggest land council of the Territory on that task force,” Ms Scrymgour said.

“Some of the issues in terms of economic development opportunities are especially important for remote communities.”

Currently, the only Aboriginal representative on the Economic Reconstruction Commission is Treaty Commissioner Mick Dodson.

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A spokesman for Mr Gunner said: “All the Land Councils were invited to a meeting with the Chief Minister to discuss their contribution to the Territory’s economic recovery.”

“Team Territory is in charge of advising the Commission and leading the implementation of its recommendations. It’s an important task and it will continue after the Reconstruction Commission’s work.”