“Its been very, very slow… and for me I haven’t noticed any progress! ” Valda Napurrula  Shannon talks about progress under the Barkly Regional Agreement.

In July 2018 the then Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, visited Tennant Creek where he announced a regional agreement would be worked on to increase social and economic opportunities in the area. Turnbull signed off on a statement of intent to invest $60 million as part of regional agreement, but five years later questions are being asked about what progress has been made!

“The community is saying they’ve been let let down big time -they have a big wish list.” – Valda Napurrula  Shannon

The Barkly Regional deal was signed in Tennant Creek by the Federal Government, the Northern Territory Government and the Barkly Regional Council to address social outcomes, productivity and child safety – but a local based community advisor and researcher says nothing significant has happened in the Barkly region to address ongoing community concerns… despite funding for the Barkly Regional deal.

Valda Napurrula  Shannon , a Walpiri/ Warumungu woman  who has lived and worked  in Ali Curung and Tennant Creek for the past 30 years shared her concerns with CAAMA’s Floyd Doyle…

Listen to the full interview here :