Tiwi Islands Mantiyupwi Deal Exposes Government Divisions

The signing of the 99 year lease deal between the Mantiyupwi land owners and the Commonwealth Government on the Tiwi Islands has again exposed the deep divisions within the Martin Government Cabinet on matters of Indigenous policy, says the Territory Opposition.

"The fact the Family and Community Services Minister, Marion Scrymgour, has again broken ranks on the issue of the 99 year leases indicates intractable differences between herself and the Chief Minister on this issue,” says Terry Mills, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs.

"Earlier this year, when Minister for the Environment, Marion Scrymgour, claimed the 99 year leases – 'This has divided our people as no other issue has divided our people.'

"Today she echoed those sentiments after the signing of the 99 year lease.

"Westminster conventions are quite clear on the fate of dissenting Ministers – they cannot maintain their position in the Cabinet.

"The reason is that Ministers have an obligation to support and promote Government policy.

"To repeatedly break Cabinet solidarity is to breach that fundamental obligation: the Martin Government cannot operate effectively with Ministers constantly sniping at policy from the side.

"It's the equivalent of having an assistant football coach publicly criticising the team strategy.

"Minister Scrymgour needs to do the honourable thing and resign from Cabinet.”

2007-08-30