1 week Ago By Lee Robinson
Living in the far-flung corners of the Northern Territory outback, voters in the seat of Lingiari hold the unenviable title as the least politically engaged in the nation. At the last federal election, in Lingiari did not cast a ballot. Taking in the NT's remote Aboriginal communities and the townships of Alice Springs and Katherine, the seat covers 99 per cent of the territory.
It's here, where successive governments and other agencies have failed to move the dial on generational disadvantage, that many are questioning whether their voices are being heard. Kumalie Riley says locals could have been hired to work on the construction projects in her community. When Kumalie Riley sees tradies coming in to build new houses in her community of Amoonguna, east of Alice Springs, she senses a missed opportunity.
The Arrernte educator wants the government to do more to help train up locals in the community, where unemployment remains stubbornly high. "We can have builders, we can have plumbers, we can do a lot of that," she said. Kumalie Riley believes the Amoonguna community should have more of a say in decisions that involve them.
Lingiari has been held by Labor since its inception in 2001, but the party's lead has waned to a slim margin of 1.7 per cent. As Australians prepare to head to the polls on May 3, it could be disillusioned voters in the bush who hold the balance of power in determining the country's next leader.
The seat is proving to be highly sought after, having attracted the prime minister, opposition leader and a flurry of senior politicians in recent months. Labor in February announced a multi-year living in the NT's remote communities. A week earlier, on its crime issues.
Marion Scrymgour is re-contesting the seat of Lingiari in the upcoming federal election. Labor's Marion Scrymgour is recontesting the seat she narrowly won in 2022, at a time when Alice Springs was beginning to make national headlines for its deteriorating state of law and order. Ms Scrymgour, a former NT deputy chief minister who also once led the powerful Northern Land Council, helped rouse the federal government to provide a $250 million emergency crime-fighting package in early 2023.
Alice Springs community leaders are pushing for more accountability from those tasked with addressing the drivers of crime. But since then many in the community, including Ms Scrymgour herself, have questioned how effectively the money was spent. "People have seen politicians come and go, and they've seen people promising a whole lot of things and nothing changes," Ms Scrymgour said.
"Over the last three years, as a federal representative, I have worked hard to reset the ledger and to make sure that the federal government was listening." Her main opponent is former federal police officer Lisa Siebert, who is running for the Country Liberal Party. Ms Siebert grew up in a remote Top End community and has worked across the territory in the aviation, tourism and mining industries.
Lisa Siebert, who grew up in the remote NT, is also running for the federal seat of Lingiari. Throwing her hat into the political ring for the first time, Ms Siebert is pledging to focus on "practical solutions". "If we have an idea, we need to show results and we need to show that there are practical solutions and outcomes that are delivered in the policies that we have," she said.
In Alice Springs, business confidence has slumped since COVID due to a drop in tourists and unrelenting property crime. "Many of us are on our knees," said Venita Poblocki, who runs an art gallery in the heart of Alice Springs. "If this year doesn't shape up, you'll probably see some more closed doors come next summer.
" Venita Poblocki says vandalism and break-ins are having a big impact on businesses in Alice Springs. For almost a decade, and touted as a "globally-significant" project to draw tourists from around the world. But with the sod yet to be turned at the controversial gallery site, Ms Poblocki is worried it will become another "missed opportunity" for the region.
"When people come here their minds are blown by Alice Springs and the beautiful surrounds, and that needs to be championed," she said. Venita Poblocki wants to see projects that draw people to Alice Springs. "It's not about sweeping the negativity under the carpet — those issues are there — but at the moment they are way outshining all the positives that this town has to offer.
" Back in the bush, community leaders like Ms Riley say they're tired of false hope and broken promises. Regardless of who wins the election, she just wants life in Amoonguna to improve for her people. "It's all good for the politicians, but it's not good for the betterment of our people.
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