The Northern Territory news Mon 4 May 2015
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2015-05-04
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English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin
News Corp Australia
Darwin
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News Corp Australia
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/256768
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/517362
MONDAY MAY 4 2015 NEWS 07 V1 - NTNE01Z01MA Cabbies refused fares because of face paint THREE cab drivers refused fares to two indigenous men because they were intimidated by the face paint on one of the passengers who had taken part in a traditional ceremony in Darwin. Blue Taxi Company spokeswoman Nikki Sadiq said the matter was investigated internally and had been handed to the NT Department of Transport. We had a word with all three drivers who were dispatched to the job who said the reason they didnt pick up the passengers was because they were coming out of ceremony and (one of them) had oil paint on his face and the drivers felt intimidated by the face paint, Ms Sadiq said. Our policy is that if the driver feels intimidated or doesnt feel secure, they are allowed to refuse the fare. Ms Sadiq said the company was contacted by the Department of Transports Commercial Passenger Vehicles (CPV) branch and asked to submit a formal report regarding the incidents after the NT News broke the story. The Department of Transport did not respond to questions from the NT News. Ms Sadiq said the drivers had not been penalised. It is still being investigated, she said. We dont reject the indigenous people. Most of the time we pick them up unless theyre very intoxicated or the driver feels intimidated. The passengers who were shunned by the cab drivers were prominent Territory musicians Jonathan Johnno and Djunga Djunga Yunipingu the brother and uncle of international singing star Gurrumul. They had attended a funeral and were waiting for a prebooked taxi to take them from the Skinnyfish Music offices in Fannie Bay to Palmerston about 4pm on Saturday, April 18. Skinnyfish co-director Michael Hohnen said the taxi arrived but took off without stopping when the driver saw the men. I rang back and booked another one and the same thing happened another two times, Mr Hohnen said. It took four attempts to get one to stop. Ive seen it time and time again over my 20-plus years working with indigenous artists. Mr Hohnen said there was a need for public education in relation to Aboriginal culture and stereotypes. NT Taxi Council chief executive Les Whittaker said the drivers could be fined penalty points for refusing the fares, depending on the outcome of the NT Department of Transports investigation. One penalty point is worth $140, they could be fined several penalty points, but it will depend on the circumstances, he said. EXCLUSIVE MEGAN PALIN Revheads revel in mud and mayhem STACKS, flips and plenty of crashes delighted revheads at this years C&R Constructions Kamfari, Australias muddiest enduro motorbike and quad bike race held in Darwin. Bumper crowds poured into the Holtze bush track, opposite Robertson Army Barracks to see if homegrown rider and last years champion Daniel McInnes could hold on to his crown for a second year running. But it was New South Welshman and eight-time champion Brad Wonka Williscroft who stole the show to collect his ninth Kamfari trophy. A tinnie of XXXX in one hand and a sausage sanga in the other was standard for the 3500-strong crowd, with the amount of mud and dust on ones body considered a badge of honour for the faithful. Mates Matt Goona Lougoon, Ben Fatty Jennings, and Murray Muzza Hudson and his son Max mark Kamfari on their calendars every year. Its something youre not going to see anywhere else really, Mr Lougoon said. RESULTS: See SportTyson Newcombe makes his way through the mud in the Kamfari four-hour bike racing enduro Picture: IVAN RACHMAN A pair of croc pots TWO idiots allegedly broke into Crocosaurus Cove and threw a pink buoy into the enclosure of one of the most dangerous beasts in the Territory. Burt the fearsome saltwater croc who is about 5.1m long and weighs a slight 700kg demolished the buoy along with a wet floor sign that the perps are believed to have lobbed into his cage about 4am on Sunday. Duty superintendent Del Jones said the not-very-clever individuals, both aged 19, were now in the police cells. A security guard on foot patrol saw the two men come out of the building, she said. They jumped over a fence and decamped down Shadforth Lane. The guard raised the alarm and Metropolitan Patrol Group cops arrested the pair a short time later. The two men have been charged with unlawful entry. HOW WE FIRST REPORTED THIS STORY The Territory Jazz n Blues Festival is swinging its way into Darwin with James Morrison and his iconic band Hot Horns Happening playing on the lawns of Sky City Darwin this Sunday. The NT News have two VIP passes plus fve general admission tickets to give away to lucky readers. For your chance to win simply visit ntnews.com.au/competitions Open to NT residents only. Competition closes 11.59pm 6/5/15. See ntnews.com.au/competitions for full terms and conditions. WIN TICKETS TO SEE JAMES MORRISON & HOT HORNS HAPPENING