Comments on: leading actors

By: Francis Xavier Holden

Francis Xavier Holden — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

jen (or ken or anyone)what do locals think of the representation numbers of pollies in NT.

I keep hearing comments here about how there are only around 200,000 people in NT but 25 state pollies. I think Darwin also has a local government layer with 13 councillors for 74,000 people? My local gov has 10 councillors for 150,000 people.

It all seems a bit out of whack to me.

By: David Tiley

David Tiley — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

I agree totally Jen - I think the wowserish demands on our polly’s image is just cruel.

Mind you, Clare Martin probably really wanted to run screaming round the room dressed in the skins of her slaughtered enemies howling with joy like Boadicea at her best.

If she did that, I would be begging her to move to federal parliament.

By: wbb

wbb — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

It can be a fine line. Remember Howard Dean.

By: Guy

Guy — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Indeed. Witness the literal success of Reagan and in the latter day, Arnie.

Hillary Clinton stands to gain from the experience she has had being America’s first lady when the next presidential elections come around.

I think we are heading down the path of professional public image triumphing over professional political substance.

By: jen

jen — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

FX - obviously you are used to the civilised south.
We’re a rowdy lot up here and we need lots of govening, supervision and guidance. Do you know, some households up here have a councillor or a MHR for their own private use?
Most of us though, have to share, but not as much as you do, poor thing, I’d feel positively bereft if my local member wasn’t regularly popping round to see what might need doing

By: Stephen Bounds

Stephen Bounds — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Heh — FX, compare and contrast with my current residence in the ACT where the Territory and Local government tiers are merged.

We get just 17 elected representatives — 21 if you count federal members and senators as well.

I actually think 25 is a pretty good number for a Legislative Assembly. If you think 5,000 constituents per electorate is ridiculously small, ACT uses multi-member electorates which alleviates this problem to some extent. It does take away the personal touch, though, as jen points out!

By: jen

jen — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

The NT News today contains this gem in Letters to the Editor.

I quote.
“The Margaret Thatcher of NT [Jodeen Carney] politics will lead her party in to many battles with the Labor Government’s own Boudicca, leader Clare Martin.”
David,
Is it co-incidence or has your colourful imagery - and I did enjoy it - inspired P.G. Holmes. Or is Clare really Boadicea incarnate if not incarnadine. (indulge me, I resigned today, - from the catholics)

Did she not (Boadicea)spend some time topless or was that another warrior queen? If she did, the NT would be the obvious place to reappear.

No this maybe wrong. I’m thinking now of the painting by Delacroix - Victory? - the embodiment of the French Revolutionary Spirit. Too lazy to google. Tell me story.