Council urges talks over town camps

The council which oversees the troubled town camps of Alice Springs has implored the
Rudd government not to walk away from the negotiating table.

Labor looks set to seize control of the camps next month, after Tangentyere Council
last week rejected an offer of $125 million to improve housing and health services.

In exchange, the commonwealth wanted the council to sign a 40-year lease.
The offer had been on the table for more than a year and on Sunday federal
Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin announced she was taking the first steps
towards compulsory acquisition.
Despite her threats and tough talk, Tangentyere issued a statement on Monday which
called on the federal government to "continue towards reaching a negotiated
outcome".
Tangentyere Council executive director William Tilmouth said the residents of the
town camps had no faith in the Northern Territory government or its ability to
manage housing as part of the lease deal.
"We still believe that we are very close to reaching agreement, and hope that this
can be achieved over the coming weeks," he said.
"Tangentyere has reconfirmed its commitment to 40-year leases, an open and
competitive tender process, and to complete the tenancy reform process."
The commonwealth has made a number of threats to take control of the camps since
March 2007, when former Howard government minister Mal Brough offered the council
$60 million.
But Ms Macklin said on Monday she had come to the end of the road.
"I have tried very hard to get an agreement," she said.
"I've significantly increased the amount of money that we intend to spend upgrading
homes, building new houses, improving infrastructure...
"If they are willing to agree to the offer that's on the table then that will be
able to go forward but the time for negotiation is over."
Ms Macklin also put to rest speculation about the issue of compensation, saying the
federal government intended to pay costs as estimated by the NT Valuer General.
"The compensation will be paid to the housing associations," she said.
"Of course will happen if the compulsory acquisition proceeds which I expect it will."
NT Shelter executive officer Toni Vine Bromley said she supported the council's
decision to reject the government's offer.
She accused Ms Macklin of adopting a "carrot and stick" approach to negotiations.
"We question why Tangentyere is being singled out to trade freehold title to land in
return for basic housing and services as this is not the case for some other town
based indigenous community housing managers and service providers such in Katherine
or Darwin," she said.
NT Chief Minister Paul Henderson has publicly backed Ms Macklin.
"(It will) mean a better future for the entire community of Alice Springs," he said.
"We have been working closely with minister Macklin and the Rudd government
throughout this process and fully support the moves to improve living conditions in
these town camps."
Ms Macklin has said acquisition will not take effect before July 6 and has urged
Tangentyere to reconsider.