The Northern Territory news Tue 27 Mar 2018
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2018-03-27
This publication contains may contain links to external sites. These external sites may no longer be active.
English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin
News Corp Australia
Darwin
application/pdf
Copyright. Made available by the publisher under licence.
News Corp Australia
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/299221
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/384566
20 OPINION TUESDAY MARCH 27 2018 NTNE01Z01MA - V1 Cheats betray Aussie juniors EIGHT months ago hundreds of junior cricketers gathered at Parliament House to meet their cricketing idols Steve Smith and David Warner. The pair were at the top of their game, preparing in the sweltering Top End conditions for a tour of Bangladesh and only months before their successful Ashes summer. Parents brought their children, who were in complete awe of their heroes, to meet them in the flesh. It was a nice touch from the players to end their Top End training camp with a meet-and-greet with their fans. They mingled with the players, posed for photos which would become a keepsake of a special night for all. For any Aussie kid growing up, the Australian cricket team held an aura about it. But the actions of the team during the third Test in Cape Town have turned supporters into critics. The characteristics of former captains like Steve Waugh, Mark Taylor and Ricky Ponting were built on grit and a determination to never give in. But how do the parents of those children explain the actions of Smith and Warner? The foundation of sport is built on playing within the rules while pushing the boundaries within the spirit of the game. The Top End cricket season is only a few weeks away and the behaviour of the national team will surely be a talking point among Territory cricketers at all levels. Any punishment dished out by Cricket Australia must show the young cricketers of today that their actions were wrong. New standards must be set to restore the faith in international cricket from the grassroots level. ... and another thing THE renaissance of the Pin Up girl scene is continuing but extended beyond the mere fashion which has become part of pop culture. Using burlesque classes to rejuvenate lost confidence through body movement is something even those not keen on the fashion can embrace. Anything that can help someone reconnect with themselves should be supported and is worth giving a go. Blind choice MANY will be thankful to the NT News for last Fridays two pages devoted to the Palmerston Council elections. The five candidate profiles and accompanying ads would certainly benefit those voters with access to your tabloid. Too late for me, though. I, like many others, had already made a blind choice at the early voting centre in the week prior. Meanwhile, Cyclone Marcus gave Palmerston residents and council authorities some breathing space in which to rectify an unsound voting system. But that has not happened. The flaws are obvious. Voters are given two sets of papers on which to select their choice for mayor and aldermen. The paper for mayor has eight names and corresponding boxes. The voter is required to number his preference in descending order. The paper for alderman has 17 names. Here again the voter must preference names in a descending order. At the end of a count, a mayor and seven aldermen will be selected. Straightforward it seems. But the system assumes voters know the strengths and weaknesses of the 25 names before them. However, if not for the volunteering efforts of the NT News, most voters would be compelled to grope about in the dark. The system naively believes voters will make informed decisions before choosing the people who will decide over millions of their taxpayer dollars. But it is a guess whether this lot, too, would make another $13.4 million carpark blunder or build a city centre pyramid. I am sure there are good and selfless men and women genuinely interested in public service among the 25. But others may be there merely for the benefits and perks of office. So how do you separate the grain from the chaff? Contenders are largely unknowns to the average voter. Voters have little to go on other than exaggerated and glowing claims on poster and flyer. What is common knowledge, though, is that some current contenders belonged to the previous council, which was sacked over questionable issues. The council has spent loads on advertising, additional staff, security, an early voting centre, and all such matters to stage an election. It has warned the public that neglecting to vote is a punishable offence. But is this a charade so council bureaucrats can reinforce their positions by having another lot of dumb councillors who can be led by the nose if elected? That is a good strategy for remaining indispensable. Tony Russell, Rosebery Ode to trees HERES my elegy for the trees of Darwin after Cyclone Marcus wreaked havoc in the Top End. The people in Darwin are saddened today The cyclone has broken their trees And left the place in a terrible mess Without any shade for the bees. While the roofs can be mended The power returned and roads covered up once again, But the trees not so fast, they take decades to grow And well not see them flourish for years. The birds are bereft of their perches and nests And look for new places to stay Their food is all gone so the people step in And help them with seed every day. But the sadness prevails over the town. The trees that we loved are all dead. Their wonderful anchors that held them so proud Ripped from the ground in one blow Snapped at the base from the life-giving roots never again will they grow. Were connected so closely we cry for each one and the creatures who lived there for years And look round the town and the mess that prevails and even the strongest shed tears. Peta Heywood Water rescue CYCLONE Marcus left tens of thousands of Darwin and Palmerston residents without potable water or the power to boil it. This had the potential to be a major emergency. We, like many in the rural area, have a bore, and so were not affected. So we began to take water to friends and family in Palmerston and Darwin. May I suggest that government and councils make an inventory of vehicles that could be called upon to cart potable water in case such an emergency happens again? Dr Denise L. Goodfellow, Darwin River Send your letters to GPO Box 1300, Darwin, 0801, or email ntnmail@ntnews.com.au. You must include your name, home address or PO Box number. Name and address will be withheld on request. The NT News reserves the right to edit letters. Responsibility is taken by the Editor 10 YEARS AGO: About 14 years of research has produced Australias leading line of brahman cattle in the Northern Territory, Primary Industry Minister Chris Natt said. The cattle have achieved the best average reproduction figures in Australia. 20 YEARS AGO: The Senate yesterday called on the Government to reverse its decision to allow uranium mining at Jabiluka. Green Senator Dee Margetts said she hoped her motion would send the blockaders of the mine a message of support. 25 YEARS AGO: The Territory Government and oil companies remain deadlocked over the relocation of the Frances Bay fuel tanks after a meeting ended inconclusively. ntnews.com. au/dollar More news for your buck *Conditions a pply Subscribe Now For the first 28 days* Email: ntnmail@ntnews.com.au I Text: 0428 NTNEWS I Fax: 08 89816045 I Letters: PO Box 1300, Darwin NT 0801 CONNECT WITH US ~ www.ntnews.com.au -(;I @TheNTNews Your Sa Facebook.com/TheNTNews lllllllllllll'tvoURVOICE IN THE TERRITORY 111111111111111 111 11111 111111 11111 11 1111 111 111 111 111 111 111111 11111111111111111111 1111 111111111111111111111 11 111 1111 111 111 111 111 111 1111 111 1111 111 11111 111 111 111111 11 11 EDITORIAL NT'+News I . I I I J , . j o On this day IN THE TERRITORY