New Chief Minister Natasha Fyles flew into Tennant Creek this week to touch base with local police and health workers and find out the key issues facing the town.
Only the second female to secure the top job, the Chief Minister spoke to the Tennant Times about her new role.
“It’s an honour and a privilege to be the Chief Minister and it’s very exciting,” she said.
“I’m a Territory girl born and bred and I love travelling in the Territory I want to bring the community together and listen to everybody because we have a great future ahead of us.”
With Labor’s strong Federal Election win, Chief Minister Fyles said the Territory Government is looking forward to working with the Albanese Government with representation of Marion Scrymgeour and Marlarndirri McCarthy to deliver on the commitments that have been made for the NT.
She also said she understands the frustration of Tennant Creek residents with the escalating crime in the area.
“Less than two weeks into the job I have gotten out across the Territory and into the regional centres and I’ll continue to do so,” she said.
“It was great to be in Tenant Creek, it is a place I remember fondly.
“Crime and antisocial behaviour is a complex issue and we acknowledge this behaviour continues to frustrate the community and make people feel unsafe.
“So it was important I was there Minister Kate Worden who has held the responsibility of Territory Families – but has now picked up the police portfolio.
“There’s some fantastic people working hard and I think people will see the coordination in Tennant Creek improve and those statistics start coming down.
But any incident is unacceptable and we continue to work on tackling crime and antisocial behaviour.”
Chief Minister Fyles acknowledged the work from her predecessor Michael Gunner who resigned to spend more time with his family.
“I acknowledge Michael’s leadership and he took us through some very tough times economically during the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.
“I think Territorians certainly appreciated the stability of the government after the chaos of the CLP and want to continue that stability but I’ll have my own style and my own ways.
“I’m a strong communicator and I think that will be a strength I’ll bring to the position”
This article appeared in Tennant & District Times, 27 May 2022
