Shadow Minister for Tourism, Marie-Clare Boothby, says the Gunner Labor Government
needs to come clean on whether recent cuts and job losses at the Territory Wildlife Park are
in preparation to close one of the Territory’s most iconic tourist attractions – or move it closer
to Darwin.
“We have serious concerns about what impact staff cuts, animal exhibit closures and Labor
neglect is having on the Park in the short, medium and long-term when we’ve been told:
- Two T3 Technical stream positions have been scrapped
- Three staff members have left in the past two months
- The Monsoon Forest will permanently close
- Emus have been removed
- Dingos and buffaloes will be removed
- Paid animal encounters ceased two months ago
- Staff are being forced to lie about exhibits that have closed down
“We know Labor is stone-cold broke – our economy is in a $9 billion black hole – so while it’s
shocking, it’s not surprisingly the Gunner Government is penny pinching wherever it can.
“The 2019-20 Annual Report showed employee expenses were slashed by 7.7%, which was
blamed on changes in management of staff, including a reduction in café staff due to
outsourcing of café services.
“The Territory Wildlife Park has been operating in the red for the past five years under the
Gunner Labor Government: in 2016-17 the deficit was $0.8 million, in 2017-18 the deficit was
$0.8 million, in 2018-19 the deficit was $1.6 million, and the 2019-20 deficit was $1.1 million.
Territorians want to know why the Wildlife Park doesn’t feature once in the NT Tourism
Industry Strategy 2030 or the NT Aboriginal Tourism Strategy 2020-2030.
“This uncertainty comes on the back of a Gunner Government backflip on plans to scrap the
Park’s tourist train shuttle – but only after widespread public backlash when it was reported
by the media.
“What is the Gunner Government’s plan for the Territory Wildlife Park? Does it have a future?
Is Labor gearing up to relocate the Park and sell-out Darwin’s rural area and the Daly
electorate in the process, or close it down altogether because of its atrocious financial
mismanagement?” said Ms Boothby.
ENDS