Obviously it’s been a huge learning curve for me—something which would give a good laugh to some of my former students!

The hard part for any minister, whose job it is to run a portfolio across the whole of the Territory, is to be able to still represent their own seat.

This is harder still for those of us not operating out of Darwin.

Fortunately, we have a record number of Cabinet members representing bush seats, so it is an issue I share with my colleagues.

In my case, the test is the extent to which I am still batting for Barkly, while at the same time taking on the bigger picture.

Across a number of areas – education and training, economic development and regional infrastructure—those first six months have been pretty successful.

I will be heading off soon to look at interstate approaches to prison work camps to see what lessons we can learn for the Barkly, which will see the territory’s first steps to this new approach to correctional services.

Another good example is roads.

As well as the Barkly share of our record $271 Territory-wide road spend, we were recently able to achieve Federal stimulus roads funding of $3.9 million on upgrading highways in the Barkly region under the stimulus package.

Sections of the highways will see shoulders re-instated and sealed.

More importantly, road shoulders will be increased in width to comply with the National Highway standard which is great news for road safety in addition to regional infrastructure.

The consultations have commenced for the Tennant Creek Jobs Hub and through important election commitments new construction work and upgrades will commence in the new financial year on our schools, police station and housing stock adding to the innovative Federal Indigenous housing developments both in town and out bush that should keep our local contractors busy.

As the Barkly MLA and a Minister in the Northern Territory Government I bring to the peak decision making table a Tennant Creek and regional perspective to the debates and that means a strong voice and lobby for the regional areas based on a thirty year apprenticeship in the Barkly and one should not underestimate that influence!

I am now working on my dry season schedule of community visits – something I am really looking forward to so between now and the Tennant Creek and Borroloola shows, my aim is to hit the road and get to see as many people across the Barkly that I can.

It’ll be good to get out the swag and get around the region—especially after such a good wet season.