The Northern Territory news Fri 14 Apr 2017
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2017-04-14
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/10070/266919
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/446525
12 OPINION FRIDAY APRIL 14 2017 NTNE01Z01MA - V1 Public days off Territory style ... and another thing TERRITORIANS, like most Aussies, love spending time in the great outdoors. We all love our jobs and heading to the worksite or office, but any chance to maximise time on holidays is one that will be accepted and welcomed. Were sure when planning annual leave dates this year, eagleeyed workers who want to make the most of the run of public holidays will have noticed the next month and had the dates booked in their diary. With Easter this weekend, Anzac Day the week after and May Day the following week its just time to embrace the hand weve been dealt. And lets face it, the new year is in full swing with the rest and recuperation from the Christmas period worked away. Its time for a good mid-year break. Fishing, camping and heading to the pub all seems like a better way to spend the days between public holidays than being at work. Its a pretty good time to be an Average Joe employee. But bosses on the other hand, having to keep staff with one eye on a few days off motivated could prove a tough task. First and foremost, lets talk about the Easter weekend. Police and traffic controllers will be out to ensure there is no boat rage at boat ramps and that no reckless quad bike riders put themselves or the public in danger. Hefty fines exceeding $1500 are in place for anyone who tries to defy the law. Easter is a time for fun but keeping things under wraps and under control is a must. As most motorists would be aware police will also be targeting drink drivers. Take your time driving, have a rest and make the most of the coming breaks. The Top Ends darling Jessica Mauboy returns to her home town this weekend at the Darwin Convention Centre. The 27-year-old is among the Northern Territorys best-known performers and this show gives her Darwin fans a great chance to see her perform live once again. Jess has come from being a reality television star to an accomplished performer in her own right so lets show her why we love her so much and head to her show on Saturday night. Energy crisis AUSTRALIA has now reached a position where sufficient energy can be supplied for its needs. But Chief Minister Michael Gunner is among the handful of political leaders who is ensuring that the nation will be starved of energy because of a refusal to allow the drastic shortage of gas needed to be supplied across the National Grid. One can be sure that Mr Gunner will not change his mind on lifting the moratorium on fracking until his inquiries into its safety is completed, and even then he will not give a guarantee to do so. He may be regarded as a strong leader, sticking to his guns, honouring his election promises, champion of uncontaminated groundwater, and a hero of the non-fracking community. Or he can be considered a Territory/Nation wrecker and economic ignoramus, leading to financial downfall, causing extra-ordinary unemployment, and hurtful recessionary budgetary chaos in the Territory. One way or another, the issue is coming to a head. As 2017 wears on, New South Wales is predicted to run into a critical power shortage and shocking jump in electricity prices; South Australia and Victoria have already experienced power blackouts- relying on wind renewable energy, which failed Coal is the only energy source to carry the load at the moment. A pity renewables are not yet viable. When CS gas is inevitably allowed, the Territory must reserve a portion for its domestic use. The former NTG, acted against popular opinion of charging higher power prices in order to reduce the debt, which it has done, but for what only to be extended again with the new government. I do have some sympathy for the NT Treasurer, as a shortage of GST and royalties plus Inpex finishing up, will cost the privy purse up to $1 billion shortfall. But how much of that is self-inflicted? Where will Gunner get the extra funding to make up the shortfall if he cannot use the M$875 in royalties from Origins Beetaloo gas basin, which relies on CS hydraulic fracturing? Mereenie gas basin? In any case thats too late now for this budget, a significant lead-up time is required to get the CS gas moving into the system. The system itself, consisting of a new expensive gas pipeline (now in doubt) connecting to the National Grid through Mount Isa, is useless if there is no gas to service it. Thank you Michael for your obstinacy/intrangisence. Very courageous! Ted Dunstan, Karama Jabs old school IN response to a comment by Henry Gray, NT News, Tuesday 4 April: Until 1950s there were no vaccination programs in place for anything at all. Challa Gardens Primary School in suburban Adelaide had a program of immunisation of Triple Antigen (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Whooping Cough/Pertussis) in 1943. I was nine years old and in grade 4, and remember it well. Children lined up in their classrooms where the jabs were administered. I had two at school, and the third was given by our GP due to my prolonged absence with an unrelated illness. I understand the program was provided by the Department of Health via Woodville City Council. My husband recalls a simi lar event in his home town of Cowra, NSW at about the same age, when his school received injections at the local council chambers. During my high school years 1947-49, students at Woodville District High School attended the Department of Health premises in Adelaide City for TB screening that included chest X-ray, Mantoux testing and BCG inoculation. I had it. I know. In 1958 I was a preschool teacher in Darwin when Salk vaccine became available to the general population, as a precaution against polio. I joined the queue at the Darwin Town Hall for my shot, documented in my memoirs. Sabin, considered an improvement and more of a wide spectrum vaccine also against polio, was available in 1963 at the Alice Springs Infant Health Clinic. My husband and I had our doses along with our infant son. The liquid was pink, the spoon blue.Oh, memories! Patricia L. Nelson, Alice Springs Darwin ice age I NEVER thought Id see the day when Id turned off all ceiling fans, needed a blanket, long pants, long sleeves and socks. Freezing! Kerrie Sullivan, Gray I do have some sympathy for the NT Treasurer, as a shortage of GST and royalties plus Inpex finishing up, will cost the privy purse up to $1 billion shortfall. But how much of that is self-inflicted? SEE BELOW 10 YEARS AGO: Laws that make it a possible jail-term offence to spike someones drink or food are likely to be introduced in the Territory within a year. A meeting of all state and territory attorneys-general yesterday agreed to introduce legislation across all jurisdictions. 20 YEARS AGO: Three Gove doctors have resigned in what has been branded a racerelated row. One of the doctors, who resigned yesterday, blamed Territory Health Services administration for the resignations. 25 YEARS AGO: The Territory Government will not rush to introduce laws banning people from riding in the back of utilities, despite an accident which left three people dead. Join our Let's Make the Territory Greater campaign and email your ideas to news@ntnews.com.au and put "Let's Make the Territory Greater" in the subject line. We'll take your ideas to councils as well as the Territory and federal governments. The NT News wants to hear your ideas to make the Territory GREATERLets make the territory Email: ntnmail@ntnews.com.au I Text: 0428 NTNEWS I Fax: 08 8981 6045 I Letters: PO Box 1300, Darwin NT 0801 Your Sa lllllllllllll'tvoURVOICE IN THE TERRITORY 111111111111111 111 EDITORIAL NT'+News o On this day IN THE TERRITORY CONNECT WITH US ~ www.ntnews.com.au -(;) @TheNTNews Facebook.com/TheNTNews 11 111 111111 1111 111 1111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 11111111111111111111 1111 111111111111111111111 11 111 1111111111111111 111 1111 111 1111 111 11111 111 111 111111 11 11 I If , . . ~Letters J..lO,tJO, ~HI~ 1b lX> wn1.\ RELIGto~ ... MO\IE AldJG ... t'