The Wire

With the Northern Territory election five days away, Indigenous issues have emerged as the major point of contention between the major political parties, as they ramp up their appeal for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander vote. The Country Liberals fired the first shot promising Northern Territory Indigenous communities more autonomy and support to establish a breakaway land council or local government council. Meanwhile, Labor has promised to revise the Super Shire strategy into housing shortage and disadvantage that has eroded the decision-making power of Aboriginal communities. And commentators say the legacy of the 2008 NT intervention, although a federal issue, has also been a dominant issue in the state election campaign.