Huge thanks to our veteran Territory politician, Gerry McCarthy, who has announced he will be retiring after 12 years as Member for Barkly and 40 years service to communities across the region.
This has been a very difficult decision for Gerry but he feels now is the right time to pass the torch onto someone who shares his passion and commitment to drive change and create prosperity in the Barkly region.
Gerry was elected to the NT Parliament in 2008 and has served in a range of senior portfolios including Lands and Planning, Transport, Construction, Correctional Services and Arts and Museums. In these capacities he has delivered significant transport, infrastructure, construction and arts and museum projects including the Defence of Darwin Experience commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin.
Gerry has spearheaded the Territory Government's biggest-ever project - a $2.1 billion investment in remote housing and land servicing which so far includes the construction and upgrade of around 1800 homes in remote areas across the NT. He has also overseen major Town Camps Futures and Local Government reforms.
Serving an electorate around one and a half times the size of Victoria means Gerry has travelled more than a million kilometres to visit his constituents during his time as local member. His legacy within the Barkly includes construction of the Barkly Work Camp, McArthur River Bridge, a causeway at Gilbert Swamp and a modern gymnasium at the Tennant Creek High School. Further, Gerry's zeal to safeguard one of our greatest coastal treasures resulted in declaration of the Limmen Bight Marine and National Park.
On behalf of the Territory Labor Government, I thank Gerry for his notable, honourable and longstanding service to the people of the Barkly and the wider Northern Territory and wish him well in his retirement.
I love the Bull from the Barkly and will greatly miss his contributions to public service.
