:: Katherine Times - Our Editorial ::

Real Position!

Your headline article on page one of the Times on the 9 July 2008 left me a little confused as to Toni Tapp Coutts real reason for running as an Independent at the upcoming NT Elections.Confused not because she has indicated her running as an Independent buconfused because of her change from being an Alderman on the Town Council to NT Politics.Toni first indicated at the Town Council
elections that she would not run as Mayor then she changed her mind and was beaten for this position by the incumbent Mayor Ann Shepherd.Katherinites who voted for Ms Tapp Coutts at the Council Elections must be concerned as to her original intentions for standing for council.It is also of concern that Toni was a candidate for pre-selection for Labor for the seat of Katherine, which further adds to my confusion.Ms Tapp Coutts commitment to the people of Katherine who supported her at the Town Council Elections means little as she now put herself forward as a candidate for the NT Election.Exactly what does she want!I believe there is a place for Independents in politics and I refer particularly to the efforts of Gerry Woods in the NT Parliament.I am also confused because of Toni’s statement that little has been done for Katherine over the past thirty years by Katherine MLA’s Macfarlane, Steele, Reed and Miller something which I find untrue and insulting to the these Katherine representatives.Toni as a former member of the Country Liberal Party, a member of the Labor Party and now purporting to be an Independent I am very confused.

Barry Densley JP, Katherine

THE KATHERINE and District Show was a great success over the weekend with lots of positive feedback and people flooding through the gates.It was impressive to see so many people entering in the categories at the show and many stewards noted an increase in entries from juniors.The entries in the birds and poultry section were up by 50 percent and the horticulture section again looked healthy.Fuel costs and distance did have an impact on the cattle numbers but the rodeo and campdraft were all well supported.Katherine became a bustling town over the past week and this would have benefited many local
businesses.

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PAUL Henderson has called a snap election for August 9 and we’re faced with a very short campaign period.The seat of Katherine is shaping up to be a hotly contested seat and one to watch.With Fay Miller leaving, anything could happen now in this traditionally strong Country Liberals
seat.The disruption to the Country Liberals party with the resignation of Teresa Cummings means they are unsettled but the candidates were really just beginning to campaign.Now it’s down to Sharon Hillen, Toni Tapp Coutts and Willem Westra van Holthe to battle it out for the seat of Katherine.It will be a very interesting couple of weeks.

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