Northern Territory Aboriginal Leaders Fail People

Aboriginal members of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly who have made much of their Aboriginal heritage have disappeared from the political radar completely at the time that they should be at their most prominent.

"A couple of stage managed comments on radio and TV from a couple of the members is not enough. These members should be in the press every day expressing their opinions and fighting for the very people they chose to so closely identify themselves with,” Richard Lim said today.

"Their disappearance from the debate means that they have buckled under to ALP internal pressure on this topic. They are at a crossroads. They have to decide whether they are Aboriginal Leaders or ALP hacks first.

"If they decide that their Aboriginality is more important than their party loyalties then they should be out speaking loud and strong on the current debate. After all they have identified themselves as leaders and servants of Aboriginal people in the Territory.

"If they are ALP hacks then they can continue sitting on their hands as they are at the moment and say nothing. But if they do choose to do that then they can never stand up again with any credibility and talk about being leaders of Aboriginal people.

"So where are they?”

2006-05-25