I was very much part of an era with rebuilding communities in these out of the way places and the success of places such as Robinson River, for example, are a tribute to the many Government departments, contractors, teachers, nurses and other workers who worked alongside community members over those years.

They are experiences I will never forget!

The release this week of the Working Future strategy is about building on those many years of development in our remote areas.

The first thing is to recognise that in the Northern Territory, unlike most inland rural areas in the rest of Australia—we have a growing population in the bush.

Some of the communities I remember as being little more than a few families have grown hugely over that time.

That is why we are taking the next step of recognising these places for what they really are: towns, pure and simple.

While we keep our heads locked into the idea these places are just “communities”, we cannot look to the future with new ideas, and new ways of doing things.

For the Barkly, this will transform Borroloola, Elliott and Ali Curung.

Instead of these towns being seen as mere geographic statistics, we can now look at them being growing centres, serving their local regions.

And this is where some of the fears and confusion has arisen in recent days over the future of outstations and homeland centres under Working Future.

Rather than letting the outstations wither on the vine, we are maintaining resources to these places.

We are not closing down clinics or schools.

Viable outstations will remain that – places where strong people will continue to live on their traditional lands with great pride.

And let’s face it.

If you were living on an outstation while needing regular access to government services, where would you rather have to go?

To a well resourced regional town like Borroloola, Elliott or Ali Curung, or have to travel down to Alice Springs or Katherine, with all the troubles that this can bring with grog and having nowhere to stay?