Senator Marlarndirri McCarthy has slammed the Federal Government at Senate Estimates this week when it was suggested projects in the Barkly were on track.
“My own questions to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications during Senate Estimates have been met with disappointing responses,” said Senator McCarthy.
“An assistant secretary from the department falsely claimed Tennant Creek’s new weather radar will be complete this year and was unaware the project’s completion has been delayed until 2023.
“A lack of communication between the Morrison Government and federal bureaucrats is not good enough and the Barkly deserves better.”
Senator McCarthy said residents of Tennant Creek and the Barkly have been left without a weather radar service for too long since Federal Government decided to shut down the region’s station in 2015.
“At the last round of Senate Estimates in February, I was disappointed to find out only three out of 28 initiatives of the Barkly Regional Deal have been completed since the deal was signed in 2019,” she said.
“Three initiatives completed out of 28 doesn’t show any urgency from Scott Morrison and the Coalition Government.
“This $78 million Barkly Regional Deal provided so much hope to the people of Tennant Creek following a terrible incident and the Liberals cannot walk away from their responsibilities.
“The people of Tennant Creek and the Barkly deserve far greater progress and adequate communication from the Morrison Government.”
Barkly MLA Steve Edgington said the Senator was just playing politics ahead of the looming Federal Election expected to be announced in the coming week.
“The delivery of the Weather Radar has been delayed around six months subject to the lease being signed this year,” he said.
“Like many projects around Australia, the delay has been due to issues such as COVID travel restrictions, hindering the the ability of Bureau of Meteorology tech experts to travel as well.”
This article appeared in Tennant & District Times, 8 April 2022.
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