8 NT NEWS. Tuesday, October 30, 2012. www.ntnews.com.au

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Axes at the readyBy NIGEL ADLAM

EVERY Territory Governmentdepartment and agency hasbeen told to save money.

They are drawing up aus-terity packages — ways to cutcosts by eliminating waste, andaxing programs and projectsconsidered unnecessary.

Treasurer Robyn Lambleysaid: ‘‘All departmental andagency heads have been askedto find savings as part of theGovernment’s response to thetitanic budget deficit and unsu-stainable levels of debt.

‘‘No targets have been setand no decisions made.’’

She said details of savingwould be outlined in a mini-Budget on December 4.

But Ms Lambley said thatthere would be no cutbacksin services.

‘‘The Government is commit-ted to maintaining frontlineservices,’’ she said.

Chief Minister Terry Millshinted many executive con-tracts would not be renewed.

He said that departmentalheads had been told they mustmaintain a ‘‘clear line of sight’’

between them and servicedelivery. Labor has said thatthe cuts would cost jobs andvital services.

The NT Government has de-clared it will balance the Bud-get by the end of its first parlia-mentary term in four years.

Ms Lambley said the newCLP administration had in-herited an $860 million deficitfrom Labor.

ALP leader and former treas-urer Delia Lawrie said the debtwas only $590 million.

Both sides agree that thehigher figure is reached by

adding money owed by Darwinport and the Power and WaterCorporation.

The Government is expectedto save money by:

NOT renewing many of the548 executive contract publicservants when their termshave expired;

SCRAPPING several majorPower and Water projects,such as upgrades to the Lud-milla and Leanyer sewerageworks; and

SELLING the NT Fleet, theagency that manages Govern-ment vehicles.

Tapp and CoolDust take Cup

Katherine cattleman Ben Tapp and his faithfulmare Cool Dust Picture: SUE JONES

By CAINE EDWARDS

A TERRITORY cattlestation owner has ta-ken out one of Austra-lia’s most prestigiouscampdraft titles and$20,000 cash.

Katherine cattlemanand helicopter pilotBen Tapp, 47, hasbeaten over 700 ridersand horses from acrossthe country to win the2012 Warwick GoldCup. It was Mr Tapp’sfirst victory in the com-petition since his firstWarwick Gold Cup in1991.

Tapp is a prolificcampdrafter and haswon many titles butsaid this was the high-light of his career andthe event was the ‘‘topof the tree’’ for thesport.

Not willing to take allthe credit, Mr Tapp saidhis horse Cool Dust,who he’s had since she

was a foal, was one ofthe best in the business.

‘‘I’ve got an ex-tremely good mare,’’ hesaid.

The week-long com-petition was tight andhard fought.

Mr Tapp finished ontop in a tie for pointswith his best mate andmultiple Warwick GoldCup champion TerryHall from Goondiwindi.

The friends wereforced to ‘‘ride-off’’ forthe title. The Territor-ian rode first returningan impressive score of91 which meant Mr Hallhad to produce some-thing special.

‘‘I knew it was goingto be close either way,’’Mr Tapp said.

‘‘I was thinking: ‘If hedoes better, then that’sjust how it is’.’’

But Mr Hall couldonly muster 90 points,handing his mate the ti-tle by a single point.

Carroll back forOlympic paradeDARWIN Olympicbronze medallist JoelCarroll will returnhome this week to cele-brate his win.

He will be one ofseven Olympians, in-cluding six-time para-lympian Hamish Mac-Donald, who will hit theTop End as part of the2012 Australian Olym-pic Team WelcomeHome Celebrations.

Carroll won bronze atthe London Olympicsin August with nationalhockey squad theKookaburras. JoiningCarroll at the paradewill be fellow Olym-pians David Smith,

Nina Curtis, JessicaFox, Brooke Pratleyand Ashleigh Southern.

Carroll, 26, has play-ed for University in theDarwin Hockey Associ-ation A-Grade leagueand for the TerritoryStingers in the Austral-ian Hockey League.

He won gold with theKookaburras in the2010 Delhi Common-wealth Games.

The athletes’ streetparade will start fromThe Esplanade and endin Austin Lane from11.30am on Friday.

It will be followed bya public meet and greetat Raintree Park.