Darwin Lord Mayor candidate Peter Styles says he’s running to ensure the Council listens to the community and delivers for them, wants more transparency on ratepayers funds, to revitalise parks and tackle anti-social behaviour

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
But there is also the council election well and truly underway,
and thirteen people have put their hand up for the
seat of Darwin. Now we've been covering a number of
the different municipalities. We kicked off with Lichfield, then headed
out to Palmerston, Darwin next on our agenda, and then
we are going to catch up with some of the
candidates in Catherine as well and doing our best to

(00:21):
get through as many of the candidates as we can
so that you guys can learn a little bit more
about them and why you should vote for them, or
whether their views do not align with yours or whether
they do. Now this morning we've got two of the
candidates who've put their hand up for the Darwin mayor
and joining me on the line right now is Peter Stiles.

(00:44):
Good morning to you, Peter Stiles.

Speaker 2 (00:46):
How are you fantastic? Katie? Another day in paradise. Really
out here.

Speaker 1 (00:52):
It is now at Starzi. You've got six minutes and
a series of questions. Are you ready to get started?

Speaker 2 (00:59):
Let's go?

Speaker 1 (01:00):
Let's do it all right? Why did you decide to
put your hand up to be mayor?

Speaker 2 (01:05):
O Katie? I think the time's come for a mayor
who will focus on and deliver practical results and ensure
that the council works for the people, not for itself.
I think that's one of the main reasons. But we
need someone who's going to listen to people and someone
who's got proven leadership, respect for taxpayers and rate payers,

(01:25):
community led transparent governance, and transparency where your rates go.
So you've got to publish those things out there so
the people know exactly where their rates are being spent.
We need real action on safety, cleanliness, and liveability, and
we need a happy, healthy city where everyone can participate
from right across all walks of life and all sorts

(01:46):
of activities. We need to revitalize the parks in the
open spaces, reduce an amount of anti social behavior, and
generally work for the people and the interest of the people.

Speaker 1 (01:57):
Now, what qualifications or work experienced you have which you
think make you best placed for the position.

Speaker 2 (02:05):
Well, Katie, I've done an awful lot of leadership training.
I've got tertiary qualifications.

Speaker 1 (02:11):
In that area.

Speaker 2 (02:11):
I hold the Master's a business administration. I've worked in
the territory government, I've worked with the federal government, and
I've worked with local councils in the past, so I
have a broad range of experience which gives me the
ability to work with all sorts of people, across all
sorts of areas and all three tiers of government.

Speaker 1 (02:29):
Now, what do you see as the most important issues
for Darwin?

Speaker 2 (02:35):
I think the first thing, Katie is a lord mayor
who listens to the people and acts upon what their
needs are.

Speaker 1 (02:42):
And in terms of your commitments to voters, what are
your top three commitments to voters.

Speaker 2 (02:50):
Well, basically, you've got to get there and you to
listen and act upon what their needs are. You've got
to have town hall meetings and that's regular meanings. It
could be in a park or a town hall or
wherever where you can get people to come out and
actually air their views. I heard some people say to me, well,
you can't do that because people shout at you. The
only reason they shout at you is because people aren't
happy and they need to vent their frustrations with counsel

(03:13):
and probably other people as well. But you've got to
go out and listen to them and take it all
in and then go and act upon those sort of
issues and resolve those issues to the benefit of the
people of Dale.

Speaker 1 (03:24):
I mean in terms of some of the things that
you are hearing already though, and in terms of your campaigning,
I mean, what are some of the commitments to voters.
What are some of the policy platforms for those out
there listening.

Speaker 2 (03:39):
Well, Katie, you've got to have things like, you know,
lights in parks. You've got to mow the lawn, what
are the grass, make sure the antisocial behavior is at
an absolute minimum. You turn the lights on a nighttime
so kids can train in the cool of the evening.
These are so many issues that people want resolved so
they can actually enjoy the benefits of living in the
tropical environment.

Speaker 1 (04:00):
Now you've got about three minutes left, Starzy. Are you
a member of a political party or have you ever been?
I know some people know your political background, others may not.

Speaker 2 (04:11):
They true So for those who don't know, yes, I
was affiliated with the COLP. I was a Deputy Chief
Minister in the COLP government. But I left the COLP
going on to four years ago. I'm not affiliated with
any party. They're not funding me, so I'm out there
as an independent. And the reason I'm doing that is
because I've watched what's happening in the Council over the
last few years and thought, you know, I've got some

(04:33):
skills and some knowledge that I can pass on to
other people in the council because the leader's job is
to develop other leaders. That's your first job, and I'd
like to be able to have the stewardship to be
able to teach some of these other people some of
the skills and knowledge that I have.

Speaker 1 (04:48):
Peter, in terms of your preferences, where are your preferences
going to fly?

Speaker 2 (04:55):
Well, I've did some arrangements that some people were in
negged on deal. That's a bit sad, but that happens
in politics. My preferences are the people who are intelligent,
who actually have something to give. So I've looked at
who's there and I've given my preferences to people I
think would be really good in counsel.

Speaker 1 (05:16):
Now, in terms of why people should vote for you,
why should people.

Speaker 2 (05:21):
Vote for you, Well, Katie, I think they need a
Lord Mayor that's focused on matters that deliver practical results
and insure council works for the people, not itself. So
that's what why I want the job. I believe that
you've got to go out there and if you've got
things to offer, and I still believe I've got a
lot to offer the public. I've served the public all

(05:42):
of my life, both as a police officer in business
and as a community police officer as well as along
with school based policing. I'm understanding a lot of the
issues that are out there and have been part of it.
I raised my family here in Darwin. My family's all
still living here in Darwin, so I've got to look
after them and everyone else.

Speaker 1 (06:02):
Betty, you've still got about thirty seconds left. Is there
anything else you'd like to add before we let you go?

Speaker 2 (06:09):
Well again, I just think they reiterate some of the
things that we need, Katie, and that's about stewardship. It's
about skills and knowledge. It's about developing the next generation
of leaders who comes through, especially in council. They need
to understand what's available. They understand the knowledge that the
skills that other people have that we can pass on
to them, because as we go out one end, they'll

(06:30):
be coming in the other end and they'll be running
the territory. So it's in my interest to make sure
that I pass on whatever skills and knowledge I can
to the next generation.

Speaker 1 (06:39):
Well, Peter Stiles, wonderful to catch up with you. Thank
you so very much for joining us on the show
this morning.

Speaker 2 (06:45):
Good to talk to again Katie, thank you you too,