By ERWIN CHLANDA
About 100 Alice Springs locals who followed their invitation to the “Chief Minister’s 2016 Christmas reception” last night were surprised that Michael Gunner (at left) wasn’t there.
If they assumed weighty matters of state were keeping the Chief Minister away they were wrong – although a spokesman for him denies that.
Mr Gunner was at a concert in Darwin by Paul Kelly (at right).
Asked to comment, Mr Gunner’s media advisor said Mr Gunner was “attending to government matters in Darwin,” including negotiations connected with the bid to postpone the deadline for the report of the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory.
“He also attended the Parap School Year Six graduation ceremony and this morning he met with the NT NGOs in Darwin,” said the advisor.
The advisor said Mr Gunner will be meeting with NGOs in Alice Springs tomorrow “among other things. He’s been in Alice Springs five times since he was elected.
“It was not the Kelly concert that was keeping him away. He was not away from Alice Springs for frivolous reasons.”
Families Minister and MLA for Braitling Dale Wakefield welcomed the guests to the well-catered function at the Chifley Hotel.
The invitation came with dress requirements: “Territory rig. Gentlemen: Trousers, long sleeve shirt and tie. Ladies: Day dress/after five.”
Not too many gentlemen bothered about the tie.
Monday, November 18, 2024
The freedom of the press still furnishes that check upon government which no constitution has ever been able to provide – Chicago Tribune.
He’s kept his five previous trips fairly quiet?
So he’s got his excuses lined up, and had a local of the politburo attend in his stead, but anyone with more than a single functioning brain cell can see through that.
Enjoy your term in office Comrade Gunner. Make the most of it.
So hard working Giles was ditched for this Dodo.
Enjoy the next four years of the Party party being in power.
Heh Greg. Don’t feel too dejected about Gunner not attending his Chrissy celebration in Alice. He didn’t attend his function in Katherine the following day either. Must have had another concert to go to. That makes three no shows in a week including the Young Territorians function in Darwin.
Sorry that Gunner did a no show. In fact it is the invitation which was misleading: a very formal invite in the name of the Chief Minister … I used to receive this sort of card from the Governor General at Yarralumla, in my glorious days in the ACT. It would have seem odd not to see him there.
Better say from the start that it is a Party Christmas do and that Dale will be receiving the locals as she is a local herself rather than giving false expectations and hold a reception “in absentia”. Protocol DCM, please take notice.
It is highly unusual that a Chief Minister would not attend a Christmas function hosted by the Chief Minister.
It is highly unusual that our new Chief Minister would not want to take this opportunity to personally thank the people of Alice Springs and Katherine for supporting his new Government.
It is highly unusual that the a new Chief Minister would prefer to attend a concert in Darwin instead.
I would imagine the local Labor rank and file would be as disappointed as the rest of us. This is very bad form.