Ali Curung the new shire and intervention - Where has it all gone wrong?

The now defunct, Ali Curung Council Inc, recognised the value of maintaining and encouraging community infrastructure such as the art centre and internet facility also promoting tidy yard prizes. .This worked to reduce Council and community apathy and increase community pride. . Aboriginals were working in jobs in the council and the art centre and overall community engagement seemed to be improving . The Internet cafe was in full swing and increasing in popularity not only for Internet access but as a place where the older people could learn better literacy and numeracy skills. The art centre was making money and became an incorporated body.

The in coming Barkly shire management had indicated for some time that activities such as the Art Centre and the Internet Cafe would not be supported. Following rules of government formulated for affluent, functional communities of main stream Australia, the shire management had no interest in building community capacity. The dissolving of the Ali Curung Council and the mass exodus of staff created a vacuum that has yet to be filled.

So once again governments failed to understand the necessity of the vital, small, first steps needed to lift communities like Ali Curung. These small steps provide motivation and allow them to understand, communicate and participate more fully in all the processes.

Now communities have to contend with alienation by a remote shire councisl and continue to be victims of bureaucrats with little understanding of aboriginal communities and who have neither the skill or desire to truly communicate with and help the people they serve.

Last I saw of Ali Curung, it was looking more untidy than ever and the red desert dust remained less disturbed in the council buildings. The old council compound was full of broken machinery and there seemed little difference to the much touted essential services. There were even inferences by the council that 'Homemakers', an essential service, that cares for and feeds the elderly was giving out too much food.

Aboriginals no longer worked in the council and many long term residents simply did not want to live there any more. Clearly, for Ali Curung, the Barkly Shire Council is a disaster.It not only failed in its promise of better services it is also alienated and downgraded the community.

The transition to the new shire was a sad affair. There was a mass exodus of staff from Ali Curung. This was mainly due to the downgrading of working conditions and the uncertainty generated by a new administration. Unwarranted, litigious accusations,aimed at departing staff, flowed from the council office . Insensitive management, with a poor understanding of community, seemed more intent on servicing themselves than the people. It was rumored that $14,000 was spent on blinds for two staff houses.

Since the intervention and new shire take overs, there seems to be anecdotal evidence of increasing community discontent Territory wide. The lack of community engagement now sees more people moving in to towns such as Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs bringing with it increasing levels of social problems. A proper inquiry is needed to find out what is really going on and identify and hold to account non performing bureaucrats and ministers.

Whatever is happening, it is all too devastatingly clear that the Northern Territory Government continues with its massive failures of Aboriginals management, housing, health and education.