The Northern Territory news Thu 10 Apr 2014
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2014-04-10
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/10070/250526
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/555837
12 OPINION THURSDAY APRIL 10 2014 NTNE01Z01MA - V1 Cash to ease parents load ...and another thing MOST people in the Territory are suffering from the high cost of living and every single dollar counts. Parents of young children will be rejoicing at the fact that childcare subsidies for parents of children aged 0 to 5 years will increase by 10 per cent from next financial year, The extra few dollars a week in the pockets of parents will go a long way towards helping them meet their ongoing commitments. It is also likely to allow them to get back into the workplace more quickly after becoming parents. This is good news for them and good news for the Northern Territory economy. Making family day care eligible for the first time is further positive news. The Northern Territory is one of only a few Australian jurisdictions which subsidises childcare. The changes are budgeted to cost $1.7 million next financial year, which seems a small price to pay for the obvious benefits it will provide. Education Minister Peter Chandler says the family day care change will increase the pool of eligible children by about 1000. This is certainly not insignificant. The Country Liberal Party is clearly looking to put out some positive news ahead of the crucial Blain by-election. But at least its an announcement which has some bite and some hip-pocket impact. Voters have had enough of the rhetoric which comes out of the mouths of our politicians. Parents well and truly do their bit for the economy. Its about time a government gave them something back. Even if its small, it helps. WE cant thank our loyal readers and supporters enough for helping us reach the major milestone of having 100,000 Facebook likes. Its truly a remarkable achievement and proves the NT News legend continues to grow around the world. Each and every day we work hard to give you the best news and views from across the Territory with our trademark sense of humour. Thanks again, we love your support. WHAT: A Telstra cage has been sitting on a footpath on the corner of Chrisp St and Ryland Rd, Rapid Creek for four months. WHOS RESPONSIBLE: Telstra NT general manager Brian OKeefe. CONTACT: 8928 2035. Do you know of something in the Territory that needs fixing? Give the Fixer a call on 8944 9750, email thefixer@ntnews.com.au or follow on Twitter @NTNTheFixer Express yourself NT News, I started to write to your paper, well nigh some four years ago, to complain about one cracker night, when my wife was sick and sore. Shed just come home from hospital, to recuperate and rest amid some loud explosions, and urged me to protest. I didnt think my comments, would be printed by you at all, but when I saw my first letter, the shock of it I clearly recall. Now when I write about something, to the editor of NT News, I do so with faith and conviction, to express my personal views. Freedom of the press is a privilege, and not to be treated with scorn, for we live in a free society, and are proud to be Aussie-born! Lets do our best to encourage, more people to write what they think, and to know theres nothing to fear, even if they do cause a stink! Les Fern, Fannie Bay Screened out SEVERAL years ago I made inquiries to Screen Territory regarding the possibility of funding for a documentary project and was informed funding could only be obtained if the applicant was already in the possession of screen credits (that is; your work has already been screened in Australia). Without screen credits, a film or documentary maker would need to make contact with a handful of producers in the NT, presumably make a pitch and attempt to get the screen credited person on board for their project. Alternatively, a filmmaker can self-fund a project and enter it into a world-class film or documentary festival with the hope of being selected and having the possibility of obtaining a buyer. Needless to say, Ive continued to play the lottery. Clearly the system for obtaining funding for projects should have considerable assurances that the money spent by government via organisations like Screen Territory and Screen Australia will produce works worthy of display and would therefore, rightly or wrongly, give preference to established and successful filmmakers. What I suspect that it doesnt do though is assist emerging filmmakers, who are funnelled into making works that resemble the interests of screen-credited producers. That being said, I personally cannot think of a better way of supporting local production in Australia, nor can I think of a worse way. Salvatore Finocchiaro, Ludmilla Can obstructions THE number of cans not being returned shows how CocaCola Amatil and their mates have been able to derail or at least slow down in the Northern Territory what has been a very successful operation in South Australia and to some extent in areas of Darwin and Palmerston. By their obstructive actions they have forced the recycling process to become less efficient and therefore not as successful as it should be. The amount of our deposit money being left in the hands of these companies is staggering. I suspect the previous government expected the drink manufacturers to have some environmental conscience and do what they could to support the system. How wrong they were, even resulting in being taken to court. I have been amazed the current Government has not realised that all it has to do is legislate that the companies pass the deposit money directly to the Government and then the Government pays the recycling depots. This would reduce the amount of sorting dramatically, only to bottles, cans and cartons, not to the 20-odd separate suppliers, thus reducing the handling fee. The Government could then keep the remainder, hopefully, of course, using it to fund other environmental projects. The cost to the Government to operate the system would be very small compared to the return and such a positive move would encourage more depots to open/reopen. Steve Beagley, Nakara Move mountain WOULD someone please explain to me why the rock pile known as Minmarama Mountain on Dick Ward Drive, an illegal quarry and eyesore on conservation zoned land, has not been tidied up yet? Also, why has an inappropriate development of showrooms and shops been given the go ahead in a surge zone area under the flight path, directly opposite residential houses on Fitzer Drive? Lastly, why has David Tollner, the member for Fong Lim, shown absolutely no support or sympathy so far for residents of Ludmilla north (some of them have lived there for 40 years) who are affected by these developments? Why hasnt he shown any concern about the number of black spots that will be created by access roads to these developments? David Percival, Ludmilla Until the holding of the by-election in the Northern Territory electorate of Blain, no letters, texts or online comments specifically dealing with the election will be published unless senders provide their full names and addresses. Full names and suburbs only will be published. We reserve the right to verify senders identities by calling senders mobile numbers. 10 YEARS AGO: The Education Department wants an extra $65 million to overhaul NT schools. The request is contained in a submission to Cabinet, which has been obtained by the NT News. The department says it needs the money over the next five years. 20 YEARS AGO: The NT Government may not implement a proposal to establish a detoxification and substance abuse centre for teenagers, Correctional Services Minister Eric Poole said yesterday. The proposal was put to Mr Poole by the NT Juvenile Crime workshop. 25 YEARS AGO: The Territorys proposed industrial arbitration system for statehood is expected to go under the microscope when the Industrial Relations Society of Australia holds it annual convention in Alice Springs next weekend. Letters to the editor should be kept to 175 words or less. 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 Northern Territory News reserves the right to edit letters. Responsibility is taken by the Editor, NT News, GPO Box 1300, Darwin, NT, 0801