Stephen Dykes Managing Director Gemseekers International Pty Ltd

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Stephen Dykes Managing Director Gemseekers International Pty Ltd Stephen Dykes Managing Director Gemseekers International Pty Ltd and Henry Dupal Operations Manager, Northern Territory APA Group THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE AMADEUS PIPELINE TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY AND TO THE AUSTRALIAN PIPELINE INDUSTRY By Stephen Dykes (Gemseekers International Pty Ltd) and Henry Dupal (APA Group) The growth in power consumption in the Northern Territory (NT) since self-government in 1978 drove the need for constant vigilance on future capacity requirements. In 1980, studies drove a decision to build a coal power station based on the fact that there were no significant energy sources apart from uranium at Ranger and a need for relatively small scale generation precluded the use of nuclear power. Stokes Hill power house was aged, was only 400 metres from Darwin Central Business District and was a heavy polluter burning bunker oil. Gas had been considered but at this time insufficient reserves had been proven at Palm Valley (50 PJ versus an economic requirement of about 250 PJ), gas reserves at Mereenie were considered unavailable as it would be used for reservoir pressure maintenance to recover the oil until about 2000 and industrial disputes and the costs of imported pipe, materials and skills drove estimates for pipeline construction to be more than the coal option. Offshore reserves at Petrel were known but development was thought to be contingent upon an LNG facility and current prices were assumed unable to meet the economic hurdle for such a decision until the mid-1990’s1. By 1983, the coal decision was well advanced, coal would be shipped from eastern States, and a plan for the Darwin electricity system to be extended to Katherine and Jabiru were under consideration. By 1984, the piers for the coal unloading arms at Channel Island had been ordered, and preparatory civil works were about to commence. In parallel there were several attempts at a gas solution. First, through the efforts of John Butters, then General Manager AGL, the Australian Gas Light Company (AGL) offered LNG tankers from Alice Springs. Andy Lucas proposed an 8 inch pipeline from Alice Springs to Channel Island to run the first two 50 MW turbines. AGL then offered to look at a 10 – 12 inch pipeline instead of the LNG tankers and through more meetings were able to demonstrate that a power station using natural gas from central Australia was environmentally and economically preferable. Ian Tuxworth, the then Minister for Mines and Energy was able to convince the Northern Territory cabinet to put a hold on the coal option in early 1984. The Northern Territory Gas Consortium of AGL, CSR, Westpac, Moonie Oil, Boral and Nabalco got together and frantically worked at the feasibility and economics of a gas option. John Butters, who passed away in 2006 will be remembered as a strong supporter of the gas 1 The Amadeus Basin to Darwin Gas Project, Dr E.K. Campbell, paper to 1985 APIA International Convention, Sydney Page 1 option, became chairman of the consortium that designed, constructed and operated the 1628-kilometre pipeline later to be called NT Gas Pty Ltd. The results of the consortium’s studies were presented to the NT Government in August 1984 following which negotiations with the gas producers for wellhead gas, the pipeline consortium for gas transportation and a change from coal fired for gas burning generators commenced. The gas option was becoming a reality. NT Gas Pty Ltd (32% AGL, 32% CSR, 32% Moonie Oil, 2.5% Darnor (NT Government), 1.5% Centrecorp Aboriginal Investment Corporation Ltd.) was formed to manage the pipeline assets which were held in the Amadeus Gas Trust. Gas supply agreements with the Northern Territory Electricity Commission (NTEC – now Power and Water Corporation) and gas producer agreements with both the Magellan and Mereenie joint ventures were entered into culminating in the establishment of the leveraged lease facility with ANZ Bank, the nominated manager. Supply was initially to be only from Palm Valley but the Mereenie Joint venture partners, some of whom were also in the Palm Valley joint venture, struck a deal with NTEC to provide 20% of the gas at a discounted price in order to pay for the Mereenie spur and more importantly the oversizing of the pipe from Palm Valley to Mataranka from 12 inch to 14 inch to cater for future gas supply to Nabalco at Gove. In 1984 construction of the Amadeus Basin to Darwin Pipeline, now known as the Amadeus Gas Pipeline commenced. It was commissioned in December 1986 less than 3 years after the feasibility study was first accepted. The construction of the pipeline was no mean feat. It required the co-ordinated efforts of four different construction companies and was completed in 5 different spreads. This delivery approach was required to enable the pipeline to be constructed in less than two years and to avoid the wet season conditions prevalent in the tropical northern regions of the Northern Territory. The Amadeus pipeline originally shipped gas from the Palm Valley and Mereenie fields to the Power and Water Authorities’ Tennant Creek, Katherine and Channel Island power stations. Since its initial construction the pipeline has continued to ship natural gas almost entirely for power generation purposes. The Amadeus pipeline has seen many additions and remains the backbone of all gas supply in the NT. Gas related activity was spurred on, all of it reliant on the presence of the Amadeus pipeline, and the developments have been as follows: 1988 Cosmo Howley pipeline (25km) – gas fired power station at the Cosmo Howley gold mine. In 2004/05 the power station ceased electricity generation. The Cosmo Howley pipeline was abandoned in 2008; 1988 Elliott pipeline (2 km) – gas fired power station for the Elliott township; 1989 Manton pipeline (300m) – gas for a temporary power station at Manton. The power station ceased electricity generation prior to 2001 and the pipeline was abandoned; 1995 McArthur River pipeline (330 km) – gas fired power station at the McArthur River mine; Page 2 1996 Darwin City Gate to Berrimah pipeline (19 km) - gas supplied to commercial and industrial users in the Darwin industrial estates and East Arm Wharf areas; 2002 Katherine and Tennant Creek Sleeper Plants – gas supplied for the production of railway sleepers for the Adelaide to Darwin railway construction; 1996 Mt Todd pipeline (10 km) - gas fired power station at the Mount Todd mine. In November 1997 mining operations stopped. The Mt Todd lateral is currently suspended awaiting a decision on future operations of the Mt Todd mine; 2008 An additional supply point at Ban Ban Springs was added to the pipeline in 2008, bringing gas into the Amadeus pipeline from the Blacktip Gas Field via the Bonaparte Gas Pipeline; 2009 Weddell lateral (1.3km) - gas fired power station at Weddell. This connection also became a potential supply point in 2009 with the construction of the Wickham Point lateral which allows gas receipts from the Darwin LNG Facility. This receipt point is an emergency supply point if the Blacktip field is unavailable for delivery to the Darwin Power Stations. Gas receipts come from the Bayu Undan gas fields; 2014 A gas offtake facility was built to supply gas for electricity generation primarily to power the refrigeration plant of the Noonamah Abattoir, a beef processing facility. 2016 Inpex gas plant connection that has used the Amadeus pipeline for initial fuel gas and plant commissioning and will then become another emergency supply point for increased energy security. 2018 - Northern Gas Pipeline connection to ship natural gas from gas producers in the NT to the east coast gas market. Dynamic transportation changes over the years The early years saw pipeline flow rates in the Amadeus pipeline averaging approximately 16 PJ/annum such that no compression was required to move the gas north from the Amadeus gas fields, some 1628 kilometres to the main power station on Channel Island. Electrical power use increased in Darwin and to accommodate the peak electricity loads in the wet season, a compressor was installed in 1995 at approximately the half way-point at Warrego. As Darwin and the NT grew the requirement for the Warrego compressor became full time. In the summers of 2007 and 2008, the Amadeus Basin gas reserves were unable to meet the peak gas demand and although the pipeline capacity existed, the gas was not able to be extracted at the rates required. As a consequence, significant amounts of diesel were used to supplement the gas for power generation. In 2009 the Darwin LNG supply point into the Amadeus pipeline was commissioned to provide an additional supply of gas and to displace the diesel. This gas was initially supplied to the Weddell Power station. Shortly after in the same year, the Blacktip supply came online via the Bonaparte gas pipeline. The initial tranches of gas from the blacktip fields were receipted prior to the completion of the Blacktip gas processing plant at Wadeye. The Amadeus pipeline was used to blend semi processed Blacktip gas with on specification Page 3 Amadeus Basin gas to meet the NT gas specification. Once the production facility at Blacktip was completed the Warrego compressor was no longer required and has since been mothballed. Now, with the operation of the Northern Gas Pipeline coming to fruition, and the prospect of indigenous NT gas reaching the east coast gas market, there is the potential in the near future for compression of the Amadeus pipeline to be required once again. The Amadeus Pipeline’s Peers The State-controlled Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria was formed in 1950 and charged with the specific goal of constructing a brown coal gasification plant at Morwell based on the German Lurgi process.
Recommended publications
  • Debates Part II-Questions Part III-Minutes
    NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA LEGISLA TIVE ASSEMBLY Second Assembly Second Sessjon Parliamentary Record Tuesday 12 February 1980 VVednesday 13 February 1980 Thursday 14 February 1980 Tuesday 19 February 1980 VVednesday 20 February 1980 Thursday 21 February 1980 Part I-Debates Part II-Questions Part III-Minutes 18990.803-1 PART I DEBATES DEBATES - Tuesday 12 February 1980 Mr Speaker MacFarlane took the Chair at 10 am. KATHERINE HOSPITAL ADVISORY BOARD ANNUAL REPORT Mr TUXWORTH (Health): Mr Speaker, I table the Katherine Hospital Advisory Board report for the year ended 30 June 1979. This is tabled pursuant to section 15 of the Hospital Advisory Boards Act. Section 14 of the act requires the board to submit an annual report each July while section 15 requires such a report to be tabled on the first sitting day thereafter. The current report was not received until November and today is the first opportun­ ity to table the report. DRC REPORT and COMMONWEALTH OMBUDSMAN REPORT Mr EVERINGHAM (Chief Minister): Mr Speaker, I table 2 documents. The first one is the final report of the Darwin Reconstruction Commission and the second is a report of the Commonwealth Ombudsman. Section 19(1) of the Ombudsman Act 1976 of the Commonwealth requires the presentation of this report by the Prime Minister in the Legislative Assembly. He was not able to get here because he is on his way back from America and he has asked me to do it for him. PERSONAL EXPLANATION Mr EVERINGHAM (Chief Minister) (by leave): Mr Speaker, in the NT News of Saturday 9 February,an article appeared which, amongst other things, stated that the Chief Minister hit back with 2 points.
    [Show full text]
  • How Well Did You Listen and Learn for Primary Students?
    How well did you listen and learn? A quick recap of your visit to the Parliament of the Northern Territory Parliamentary Education Services Department of the Legislative Assembly How many symbols can you remember that are on the Northern Territory’s Coat of Arms? Parliamentary Education Services Department of the Legislative Assembly Parliamentary Education Services Department of the Legislative Assembly Describe the flag of the Northern Territory? Parliamentary Education Services Department of the Legislative Assembly Parliamentary Education Services Department of the Legislative Assembly The number of members in the Legislative Assembly is: a. 35 b. 26 c. 25 Parliamentary Education Services Department of the Legislative Assembly There are 25 members elected for four years. Parliamentary Education Services Department of the Legislative Assembly On what date of the year do we celebrate Self Government? Self Government was granted in 1978 – giving law making power to the Northern Territory Parliament on almost all matters. Parliamentary Education Services Department of the Legislative Assembly July 1, 1978 July 1 Swearing in of NT Ministers by Administrator John England on 1 July 1978. Pictured: John England, Paul Everingham, Ian Tuxworth, Marshall Perron, James Robertson, Roger Steele. Northern Territory Library, Northern Territory Government Photographer Collection, PH0093-0188 Parliamentary Education Services Department of the Legislative Assembly Who is the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory? Parliamentary Education Services
    [Show full text]
  • Cabinet Records Release from the Director
    NORTHERN TERRITORY ARCHIVES SERVICE NEWSLETTER APRIL 2009 N0.34 From the Director Cabinet records Welcome to Records Territory. release In the previous edition I advised that the Northern On the 1st of January 2009, the first Cabinet records Territory Archives Service is no longer responsible created under Northern Territory self-government in for Northern Territory Government recordkeeping. 1978, became open for public access. An amendment to the Information Act was recently The Northern Territory Cabinet consists of introduced in the Legislative Assembly which defines government ministers who meet to make decisions the roles of the Archives Service and the Records on matters such as major policy issues, proposals Service. These are now two separate areas of with significant expenditure or employment Government managing government archives and implications, matters which involve important records respectively. I note that the same archives initiatives or departures from previous arrangements, and research services continue to be provided by the proposals with implications for Australian, state and Northern Territory Archives Service in Darwin and local government relations, legislation, and high level Alice Springs. government appointments. In this issue we bring you the regular update about Cabinet submissions and decisions are an invaluable who is researching what in our search rooms, and record of the decisions of successive Northern updates about some of the unique archives collections Territory administrations, and cover a wide range of that have recently been deposited in our Darwin and issues relating to the social, political and economic Alice Springs repositories. We also provide a glimpse development of the Northern Territory. of some of the promotional activities undertaken by staff across the Territory in the areas of oral history, In 1978, the Northern Territory Cabinet received archives collection, and release of Cabinet records.
    [Show full text]
  • Vocational Education & Training
    VOCATIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING The Northern Territory’s history of public philanthropy VOCATIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING The Northern Territory’s history of public philanthropy DON ZOELLNER Published by ANU Press The Australian National University Acton ACT 2601, Australia Email: [email protected] This title is also available online at press.anu.edu.au National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Creator: Zoellner, Don, author. Title: Vocational education and training : the Northern Territory’s history of public philanthropy / Don Zoellner. ISBN: 9781760460990 (paperback) 9781760461003 (ebook) Subjects: Vocational education--Government policy--Northern Territory. Vocational education--Northern Territory--History. Occupational training--Government policy--Northern Territory. Occupational training--Northern Territory--History. Aboriginal Australians--Vocational education--Northern Territory. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Cover design and layout by ANU Press. Cover photograph: ‘Northern Territory Parliament House main entrance’ by Patrick Nelson. This edition © 2017 ANU Press Contents List of figures . vii Foreword . xi Acknowledgements . xiii 1 . Setting the scene . 1 2 . Philanthropic behaviour . 11 3 . Prior to 1911: European discovery and South Australian administration of the Northern Territory . 35 4 . Early Commonwealth control, 1911–46 . 45 5 . The post–World War Two period to 1978 . 57 6. TAFE in the era of self‑government, 1978–92 . 99 7. Vocational education and training in the era of self‑government, 1992–2014 . 161 8. Late 2015 and September 2016 postscript . 229 References . 243 List of figures Figure 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Thesis Submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
    Visions and Violence of Policy An ethnography of Indigenous Affairs bureaucratic reform in the Northern Territory of Australia Thomas Michel Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Sydney A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2019 1 This is to certify that to the best of my knowledge, the content of this thesis is my own work. This thesis has not been submitted for any degree or other purposes. I certify that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work and that all the assistance received in preparing this thesis and sources have been acknowledged. I declare my previously published works are: Michel, T. (2018). The Lifeblood of the Cyborg: Or, the shared organism of a modern energy corporation and a small Northern Territory town. Energy Research & Social Science, 45 (November 2018), 224-234. Michel, T. (2016). Cyborg Wadeye. Arena Magazine, 142, 34-37. Michel, T. (2015). The Special Case of Reform in the Northern Territory: What Are The Lessons? In I. Tiley & B. Dollery (Eds.), Perspectives on Australian Local Government Reform. Sydney: Federation Press. Michel, T., & Bassinder, J. A. (2013). Researching with Reciprocity: Meaningful Participant- Based Research in a Remote Indigenous Community Context. Paper presented at the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government (ACELG) 3rd National Local Government Researchers' Forum, 6-7 June 2013, University of Adelaide, South Australia. http://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/ocs/index.php/acelg/PNLGRF/paper/view/478 Michel, T., & Taylor, A. (2012). Death by a thousand grants? The challenge of grant funding reliance for local government councils in the Northern Territory of Australia.
    [Show full text]
  • Jon Altman Research Collection Part a MS 4721 Finding Aid Prepared by T Hansson, S Berry, C Oxley, C Biggs and C Zdanowicz
    Jon Altman research collection Part A MS 4721 Finding aid prepared by T Hansson, S Berry, C Oxley, C Biggs and C Zdanowicz This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit August 07, 2017 Describing Archives: A Content Standard Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Library April 2015 1 Lawson Crescent Acton Peninsula Acton Canberra, ACT, 2600 +61 2 6246 1111 [email protected] Jon Altman research collection Part A MS 4721 Table of Contents Summary Information ................................................................................................................................. 4 Biographical note...........................................................................................................................................5 Scope and Contents note............................................................................................................................... 8 Arrangement note...........................................................................................................................................8 Administrative Information .........................................................................................................................8 Related Materials ...................................................................................................................................... 10 Controlled Access Headings........................................................................................................................12
    [Show full text]
  • Ordinary Council Meeting - Monday 24 February 2020 - Agenda
    Ordinary Council Meeting - Monday 24 February 2020 - Agenda Ordinary Council Business Paper for February 2020 Monday, 24 February 2020 Council Chamber, Civic Centre Mayor Damien Ryan (Chair) 1 Ordinary Council Meeting - Monday 24 February 2020 - Agenda ALICE SPRINGS TOWN COUNCIL ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS FOR THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE THIRTEENTH COUNCIL TO BE HELD ON MONDAY 24TH FEBRUARY 2020 AT 6.00PM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, CIVIC CENTRE, ALICE SPRINGS 1. OPENING BY MAYOR DAMIEN RYAN 2. PRAYER 3. APOLOGIES 4. WELCOME TO THE GALLERY AND PUBLIC QUESTION TIME 5. DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST 6. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING 6.1 Minutes of the Ordinary Open Meeting held on 28 January 2020 6.2 Business Arising from the Minutes 7. MAYORAL REPORTS AND MINUTES 7.1 Mayor’s Report Report No. 28/20 cncl 7.2 Business arising from the Report 8. ORDERS OF THE DAY 8.1 That Elected Members and Officers provide notification of matters to be raised in General Business. 9. DEPUTATIONS 9.1 CAAFLU Aboriginal Corporation – CEO Phynea Clarke 9.2 International Legends of League 10. PETITIONS 10.1 Free Julian Assange Petition as tabled in the January 28 2020 meeting Page 2 2 Ordinary Council Meeting - Monday 24 February 2020 - Agenda 11. MEMORIALS Nil 12. NOTICE OF MOTIONS Nil 13. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES – RECOMMENDATIONS 13.1 Corporate Services Committee 13.2 Community Development Committee 13.3 Technical Services Committee 14. REPORTS OF OFFICERS 14.1 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 14.1.1 CEO Report Report No. 29/20 cncl 14.1.2 Member’s Conflicts of Interest Update Report No 32/20 cncl 14.2 DIRECTOR CORPORATE SERVICES Nil 14.3 DIRECTOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 14.3.1 Library Youth Hub Update Report No.
    [Show full text]
  • Tabled Papers Index
    Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory Tabled Papers — Fifth Assembly (1987-1990) INDEX This document allows users to search all papers tabled during the life of the Twelfth Assembly. To access a document, use the Tabled Paper number appearing in the first column of the Index (eg —0001 or 1257). Please note that we are working backwards to digitise our older records and they will be uploaded as they are completed for the previous Assemblies. Should you require a Tabled Paper from a previous Assembly you can contact the Table Office by email on [email protected] Tabled Papers are all documents tabled in the Assembly, including but not limited to: Messages from the Administrator Administrative Arrangements Orders Papers tabled by Members during Assembly debates Explanatory Statements accompanying bills introduced Petitions Warrants Reports on Members’ travel Committee Reports Papers tabled at Estimates Committee hearings Annual reports required by NT and some Commonwealth statutes Coroner’s reports Subordinate legislation Reports to the Assembly from Officers of the Assembly (Ombudsman, Auditor- General, Electoral Commission) Please contact the Table Office if you have any questions on 8946 1447 or 8946 1452. Fifth Assembly - Tabled Papers - page 1 No Description Tabled Date by 1 Annual Report 1985-1986, ANZ Executor and Trustee Company Limited Deemed 28.04.87 2 Crown Lands Act, Recommendation under section 103, Revocation of Reserve Deemed 28.04.87 No.1081, Town of Nightcliff 3 Crown Lands Act, Recommendation under
    [Show full text]
  • UQFL102 Hilda Tuxworth Papers
    FRYER LIBRARY Manuscript Finding Aid UQFL102 Hilda Tuxworth Collection Size 29 boxes, 1 parcel, 1 tube, 1 album Contents Correspondence, personal papers, newspaper cuttings, photographs, diaries of Banka Banka station (1928 to 1929, 1934 to 1936, 1941 to 1943). Collection reflects Mrs Tuxworth's interest in the local history of the Northern Territory. Biography Hilda Tuxworth, MBE, was a long term resident of Tennant Creek. She was the author of several books on the Northern Territory, particularly the Tennant Creek area. She was an interviewer for the Northern Territory Oral History Committee and a contributor to the Northern Territory Dictionary of Biography. One of her contributions was on Mary Ward, the "Missus of Banka Banka" station. Mrs Tuxworth was the mother of a former Chief Minister of the Northern Territory and MLA for Barkly, the Hon. Ian Tuxworth. "Banka Banka" cattle station, ninety miles north of Tennant Creek, was bought in 1940 by Mary and James Ward and sold to American interests in 1969. The Aboriginal employees on the station were mainly of the Warrumungu peoples. Notes Open access This collection may contain culturally sensitive words or descriptions, some of which might not normally be used in certain public or community contexts. Box 1 Davison, Patricia, The Manga-Manda Settlement, Phillip Creek: an historical reconstruction from written, oral and material evidence, parts 1 and 2, Dec 1979 Folder 1 Newell, KW, ‘Health by the people’, WHO Chronicle, Vol 29, p161-167, 1975, 10pp Hamilton, A, Socio-Cultural Factors
    [Show full text]
  • DINGO MEDIA? R V Chamberlain As Model for an Australian Media Event
    DINGO MEDIA? R v Chamberlain as model for an Australian media event Belinda May Middleweek BA (Hons 1st class) Sydney A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of English University of Sydney March 2007 As surely as Azaria was taken by a real dingo, the Chamberlains were taken down by a pack of baying journalistic dingoes and their publishers – the Adelaide News, the Sydney Sun, and the Murdoch press. Michael Chamberlain and Lowell Tarling, Beyond Azaria: Black Light, White Light, (Melbourne: Information Australia, 1999), xiv. TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract Acknowledgments List of Abbreviations Chronology Introduction 1 Chapter 1: Metaphorisation 1980-1982 29 Tabloids, Broadsheets and the Azaria Event Breaking the Story: August 17, 1980 The Dingo: An Unlikely Thief? The Mother: Anguished Mum Tells The Victim: The Dingo Baby “Ayers Rock”: The Dead Centre Religion: An Ambassador for Jesus Conclusion Chapter 2: Dissemination 1982-1984 62 Waltzing Azaria The Phantom Public Sphere The Popular, Private Eye and Forensic Campaigns The Counter-Publics Hitchcock and Television Conclusion Chapter 3: Commodification 1984-1986 100 Celebrity as “Commodity” and R v Chamberlain as Precedent Chequebook Journalism and a “Live” Judgment about “Death” Frocks, Politics and Feminist Discourse “Controversial Women”: Chamberlain, Lees and Hanson The “Rescue Plan”: Magazines and the Reclamation Process A “Womb with a View”: The Textual Body Conclusion Chapter 4: Mythologisation 1986-1988 143 Media Discourse:
    [Show full text]
  • Devolution”: Self- Management for Territory Schools
    “DEVOLUTION”: SELF- MANAGEMENT FOR TERRITORY SCHOOLS C. A. CAMERON A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts, Northern Territory University, for the degree of Master of Arts. March 1996 Copyright © 1996 Faculty of Arts, Northern Territory University This PDF has been automatically generated and though we try and keep as true to the original as possible, some formatting, page numbering and layout elements may have changed. Please report any problems to [email protected]. DECLARATION The work present in this thesis is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, original, except as acknowledged in the text. The material has not been submitted, either in whole or in part, for an award at this or any other university. C. A. CAMERON ABSTRACT Local self-management, popularly known as devolution, is a political initiative in English-speaking nations over the last couple of decades taken to promote community participation in education. In Australia, state and territory governments are responsible to provide public education services but with this policy they devolve decision-making, management and responsibility, as considered appropriate, to the local level. Functions that are devolved to be performed locally, in the school communities, are managed within parameters established by the governments and as directed, supported and monitored through arrangements made in their respective systems for these purposes. The policy of self-management in education has aroused contention. This has resulted primarily from a publicly perceived ‘rhetoric/reality gap’, wherein governments are seen to advocate ‘devolution’ as educationally beneficial for children but actually institute it as a cost-cutting strategy.
    [Show full text]
  • Northern Territory Chief Ministers
    Reconsidering Northern Territory Chief Ministers David Carment November 2013 Largely due to the Northern Territory’s small population and parliament and its isolation from the rest of Australia, Chief Ministers have been crucial to its development. During the period in which I lived in the Territory and closely studied its politics between 1981 and 2006 six men and one woman held the position. All but Labor’s Clare Martin belonged to the Country Liberal Party (CLP). As is not unusual in the Territory, I met and formed personal impressions about all of them. The recent publication of Clare Martin and Mickey Dewar’s edited collection Speak for Yourself: Eight Chief Ministers Reflect on Northern Territory Self-Government led me to think again about these individuals. Speak for Yourself is an impressive achievement. One editor is a former Chief Minister and the other a distinguished Territory historian. The book has a chapter for each Chief Minister, sections that provide valuable contextual analysis and information, and extensive endnotes. The chapters on Chief Ministers are the edited versions of interviews with all holders of the office until Paul Henderson except Shane Stone, who provided a written text. There is no Australian state for which such a publication would be possible. The Chief Ministers’ recollections differ greatly and are, not surprisingly, sometimes self-serving and misleading but these characteristics only add to their value. What is unsaid is often as important as what is said. Given the paucity of other published first hand accounts from former Chief 1 Ministers and the patchy biographical material on them, Speak for Yourself is an essential source for Northern Territory political history, complementing earlier studies by authors such as Alistair Heatley, Dean Jaensch and myself and more recent work from Ted Dunstan, Mickey Dewar and Robyn Smith.
    [Show full text]