Issue 6

Is the council, having conducted a poll on the issue, obliged to act in line with its result? "We want to work with the government to make sure the gallery happens," says Cr Paterson (at right in the photo, with Cr Jimmy Cocking). He was speaking with ERWIN CHLANDA.

"We need to make a call on the site and move onto the next phase of the project," say Dale Wakefield and Lauren Moss (pictured). ERWIN CHLANDA reports.

Labor made an announcement, ignored the recommendation of its own advisory committee, botched the consultation process and then called for tenders for a business case a mere three weeks ago, after being in government for two years, writes Gary Higgins (pictured), Leader of the Territory Opposition.

 
"It’s why you come in here to a council meeting, to listen, so we’re aware of all these things that are happening. You just don’t treat people as ... stupid!” Brenda Shields was among those venting their frustration over the Town Council's high-handed actions last night. KIERAN FINNANE reports.

There had been no mention of Anzac Oval and the dismayed public – some 30 to 40 visitors – were told there would be no further debate on  the matter tonight. KIERAN FINNANE reports.

UPDATED 8.11PM, 10 SEPTEMBER 2018.

The bitter debate about the proposed National Aboriginal Art Gallery has long ago crystallised into whether it should be on the Anzac Oval site or not. The council, due to debate the issues in a few minutes, had no trouble understanding that and it formulated its poll accordingly. But the government conflated opposition to the Anzac option with opposition to the gallery, which flawed its "consultation" from the beginning. IMAGES: Read the fine print. ERWIN CHLANDA reports.

As the Centralian Advocate turns over its front page to government propaganda, whose "engagement" stats are the inverse of the town council's poll, the gallery options seem to be: Compulsorily acquisition of Anzac Oval and the government losing any support for Labor other than from the most trenchant zealots – or hit re-start button for the gallery which, run properly and located appropriately, has close to 100% support from the public. ERWIN CHLANDA reports.

The result is the direct opposite of what Ministers Dale Wakefield and Lauren Moss announced as the outcome of their three months long "engagement" with the public. ERWIN CHLANDA reports.

Add these new restrictions to the BDR and the Alcohol Floor Price and you have the ultimate nanny state where the Gunner Government is telling us all what we can drink, how much we can drink and when we can drink it, writes Robyn Lambley, Independent Member for Araluen.

Will the figures from the Town Council's "survey" contradict the figures from the government's "engagement"? ERWIN CHLANDA reports. FROM LEFT: Mark Crees, Lauren Moss and Dale Wakefield this morning.

UPDATE: Fake consultation had pre-determined outcome, says Opposition.

 
Can the Anzac precinct site be made to work? “Absolutely not in my view," says Michael Lynch, member of the original steering committee for the National Aboriginal Art gallery and veteran arts administrator – chief executive in leading institutions, most recently the West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong and previously the South Bank Centre in London, and director of the Sydney Opera House among others. He speaks to KIERAN FINNANE.

Updated 10.15am, 10 September 2018, with additional reporting of this interview.

 
Works containing “a great deal of cultural power” created by “black-skinned proud Aboriginal people” have once again made their journey across the surrounding desert lands to the Araluen Arts Centre. The annual Desert Mob opened last night with this vivid image evoked by Rene Kulitja and translated by Linda Rive. KIERAN FINNANE reports.

UPDATED 6.38pm, 11 September 2018: More text, more images.