The Northern Territory news Wed 22 Aug 2018
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2018-08-22
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English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin
News Corp Australia
Darwin
application/pdf
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News Corp Australia
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/301480
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/368561
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 22 2018 BUSINESS 21 V1 - NTNE01Z01MA THE Territory revels in being Australias best kept secret. Somewhere a little different from the rest. But then we get a little frustrated with how little Australians know about us, our challenges and our aspirations. And doubly so when negative events, which every place unfortunately has, then shape the way others think of the NT. We have to be honest though, we havent done too DAVE MALONE Master Builders Association NT much ourselves to reshape that thinking. And while we like to believe that this place is special, most Australians think that where they live is just as special. We have to be honest and accept that they are no more likely to wake up thinking about the Territory and its challenges, as we are to reflect on the needs of Cairns, Coffs Harbour or Port Augusta. No doubt a lot of people will say, so what. Well, today, I would argue that our reputation is not so flash. And in the absence of good stories, what people know about the Territory is in creasingly framed by those negative stories. That then has direct consequences on our economic future. Maybe as much as 80 per cent of the economic decisions that will shape our future are not going to be made here. They are going to be made interstate or overseas. I know not everyone agrees with that assertion, but lets just think for a moment. Most of our tourism visitors live interstate or overseas. So to do many of the next wave of job aspirants. Walk through Winnellie, or any of the other industrial areas in the Territory, and there are a lot of na tional firms doing business. Their Boards are based interstate. The same goes for the officials making decisions around Defence infrastructure they are in Canberra and even Hawaii. And almost all of the major projects on the Chief Ministers list are being driven by Boards either interstate or overseas. Unquestionably, there is a job to be done to shape all of that thinking. To get people reconnected with the opportunities in the Territory. That is why the Masterbranding exercise by the Territory Govern ment is just so important. Yes, the immediate public discussion will be about grammar and colours, but that is really a sidebar to much bigger challenges. The Masterbranding will start the process of filling in a really big vacuum around our reputation. It is no silver bullet of course, but it is the genuine and fresh start that is so badly needed. In tough economic times it can be tempting to unpick every idea. To test it for whether it will make a difference today. We just have to resist that temptation, and to get in behind a much bigger goal of rebuilding our reputation, which is very much a longer term strategy. If anything, we would argue that the promotions budget should be topped up immediately. When launching the Masterbranding on Monday night, the Chief Minister mentioned a budget of just over $2 million. We would add a zero to that straight away. The Territory will always offer a totally different experience to travellers and businesses alike. But we will never get the chance to show that unless we throw off the best kept secret mantle and grab our place in the world. OPINION We have to fill vacuum Visit Darwin BMW to test drive today. Darwin BMW 544 Stuart Highway, Winnellie. Tel. (08) 8946 4444. www.darwinbmw.com.au LMVD 403 *Offer applies while stocks last on new runout model BMW X4 xDrive20d, X5 xDrive30d and X6 xDrive30d ordered and delivered between 1 August 2018 and 30 September 2018. M Sport Package and metallic paint values based on manufacturers recommended retail price including GST. Excludes dealer delivery. BMW Service Inclusive - Basic is based on the vehicles condition-based service monitoring system for 5 years from the date of fi rst registration or up to 80,000 kilometres, whichever occurs fi rst. Normal wear and tear items and other exclusions apply. Scheduled servicing must be conducted by an authorised BMW dealer. Not to be combined with any other offers. Excludes government, fl eet and rental buyers. Contact Darwin BMW for further details. THE ULTIMATE BMW RUNOUT EVENT. $16,500 OF COMPLIMENTARY EXTRAS ON SELECTED BMW X4, X5 AND X6 MODELS. Including complimentary M Sport Package, Innovations Package, Metallic Paint, Stamp duty, 12 months registration, CTP and 5 Year/80,000km BMW Service Inclusive Basic.* The Ultimate Driving Machine