Media Release from Member for Barkly, Shadow Minister for Local Government and Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Steve Edgington:
I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my friend Elliot McAdam AM, the former Member for Barkly, Patta Ward Councillor and former Chair of Barkly Region Alcohol and Drug Abuse Advisory Group (BRADAAG).
As my friend for around 25 years, Elliot was a man who never let politics get in the way of our friendship nor did it get in the way of his overwhelming passion and commitment to improving the lives of everyone in Tennant Creek and from all parts of the Barkly.
Elliot served with distinction as the Member for Barkly in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly from 2001 to 2008 which included being the Minister for Local Government and Housing.
In 2015, Elliot was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the General Division for his significant service to the Barkly and to the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory.
He was a tireless advocate for our community and never afraid to tackle the real issues, whether it was housing, health, local government, alcohol management, better services, infrastructure and programs through the Barkly Regional Deal, and a focus on animal management.
In recent years, he led the fight against Family and Domestic Violence by heading up the NO MORE campaign across the Barkly and he took on the role as Chair of BRADAAG helping to implement a new model of care to address the issues underlying the harmful use of alcohol and other drugs in the region. He was fighting for a new BRADAAG facility which sadly has still not been delivered.
During his period as a councillor with the Barkly Regional Council he took up the fight for ratepayers to resolve rates issues and wanted an Animal Management Plan. Overall he wanted better services, governance and accountability for the people in the Barkly.
Elliot never missed an opportunity to try and make things better for the people in the Barkly and I will miss our regular chats over a coffee.
My condolences to Barb and to Elliot’s family and friends during this difficult time.
Vale Elliot McAdam AM.
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