Tennant Creek News
Ministerial Leadership Needed On Barkly Highway
The Territory Opposition is highly critical of the Henderson Government's lackadaisical attitude to the washing away of the Barkly Highway.
'This is a major transport route into the Territory and it's critical that its repair is the Government's highest priority,' says Kezia Purick, Deputy Opposition Leader.
'The Minister for Transport should have been to the site to inspect the extent of the damage.
'Yet so far the Minister for Transport hasn't even issued a media release informing Territorians about the collapse of a major piece of infrastructure.
'The Minister responsible must be on the first available flight to the region to assess the damage and see first hand the effort to repair the road.
'The failure of the Henderson Government to react in a decisive manner to this breakdown of critical infrastructure highlights how little commitment it has to the regions.
'Inspecting the damage and repair effort in person would also give the Minister greater authority in their dealing with Canberra regarding this matter.
'The Opposition have been highly critical of the Federal Government's decision to ignore the needs of the Territory's regional road network since the Nation Building Fund was announced in December.
'Of the $4.7 billion Fund the Federal Government allocated a pitiful $3.5 million or just .07% to the Territory.
'The Henderson Government must use the collapse of the Barkly Highway as an example of why the Territory needs greater federal funding in the future.'
2009-01-09
