The Northern Territory news Thu 21 Apr 2011
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2011-04-21
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English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin
Nationwide News Pty. Limited
Darwin
Copyright. Made available by the publisher under licence.
Nationwide News Pty. Limited
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/232267
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/664628
4 NT NEWS. Thursday, April 21, 2011. www.ntnews.com.au P U B : N T N E W S D A T E : 2 1 -A P R -2 0 1 1 P A G E : 4 C O L O R : C M Y K N A 4 3 0 4 0 1 NEWS l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l ntnews.com.au Govt cash for roads to ruin By ELLIE TURNER Gerry McCarthy THE Territory Government is throwing cash and resources at flood-damaged arterial roads, according to Construction and Infrastructure Minister Gerry McCarthy. A $7m splash was yesterday announced to build up the Arnhem Highway. The major stock and tourist route was given priority after it flooded to 1.8m, as heavy rain smashed Top End wet season rainfall records, about three weeks ago. Mr McCarthy said $5m would be spent on improved flood immunity and traffic safety on the Arnhem Highway. Another $2.2m was allocated to repairs and maintenance, on the back of upgrades to the Stuart Highway. The Territory Governments 22,000km road network was severely damaged in this big wet season and we are throwing resources at it to provide accessible and safe roads, Mr McCarthy said. Crews have been working around the clock carrying out ongoing repairs. Arnhem Highway on the Adelaide River Floodplain is the main transport corridor between Darwin and Jabiru and the fastest way into Arnhem Land. Strengthening of pavement sections, culvert widening and improved pavement and seal are on the cards. But, while main highways are being pumped up, remote communities continue to fret over the dismal state of their roads. Residents of East Arnhem Shire have fought to be heard on the issue, that for three weeks saw chopperdrops the only way to get food or power station fuel into Ramingining. The last supply truck that tried to access the demolished Barge Rd was bogged. Residents now have track vehicles to transport stock. Mr McCarthy said the government planned to inject more funding into rural road repairs and maintenance. He also said that budget and time blow-outs in ongoing road developments around Darwin city related to the discovery of a World War II bomb crater found onsite, and unpredictable weather. There have been big challenges and Territory is a big place mother nature rules, he said. Sexual Assault Referral Centre NT manager Barbara Kelly, Ruby Gaea Darwin Centre Against Rape co-ordinator Samantha Bowden and Martin Kappel from the Australian Federal Police Child Abuse Taskforce launch a new support network for sexual assault victims in Darwin yesterday. The launch coincided with the International Day Against Sexual Assault Picture: REGI VARGHESE Help for sexual assault victims By ELLIE TURNER The victim is not responsible for the crime A NEW support network for victims of sexual assault was launched yesterday to combat a lack of victim resources across the Territory, health workers say. The cohesive Sexual Assault Network Darwin SAND for short met over a barbecue to mark the International Day of Action against the damaging crime. Ruby Gaea Darwin Centre Against Rape co-ordinator Samantha Bowden said the network aimed to shift blame from victims back to the perpetrators. People often blame the victim for what they were wearing, drinking or who they were hanging around, Ms Bowden said. A change in attitude needs to reflect that the victim is not responsible for the crime. We also want to enhance prevention methods. Agencies including the Federal Police Child Abuse Taskforce, Territory Police and the Department for Children and Families also are involved. The Sexual Assault Referral Centre NT manager Barbara Kelly said she had seen two new rape victims this week alone. The network will help ensure numerous agencies work toward the best outcome for the victim, she said. More women pay to support kids By DAVID WOOD CHILD SUPPORT WHOS PAYINGWHAT n In March, 8,060 Territorians were paying child support n 1250werewomen n 6714weremen n The gender of 96was unknown NEW figures from the Child Support Agency show that about onein-six parents in the Territory paying child support are women. They showed the number of women paying child support across Australia was 100,000 the highest recorded or 13 per cent of all paying parents. In March in the NT, there were 8060 people paying child support, with 1250 women, 6714 men and 96 whose gender was unknown. That calculates to 15.5 per cent being women, compared with 15.7 and 15.8 per cent in June 2010 and 2009 respectively. In June 2006, there were 1099 women, 6618 men and 47 whose gender was unknown, totalling 7,764 parents paying child support, with 14.2 per cent being women. Child Support Agency deputy secretary Philippa Godwin said the group supervised transfer payments between 16,000 parents to benefit 12,000 children in the NT. Most parents do the right thing and pay their child support in full and on time, she said. Ms Godwin said child support was calculated using a formula that aimed to balance the interest of both parents. The formula was based on the cost of raising children and both parents income was taken into account, she said. MONEY FORROADS THE Territory Government has allocated $5 million in the budget for new overtaking lanes on the Stuart Highway. The money comes from the Federal Government and will provide three overtaking sections of 3km each. They will be: southbound near Chinner Road, north of the Batchelor turnoff; southbound near Ringwood Road, south of the Batchelor turn-off; and northbound near Springhill Road, north of Pine Creek. TAXCOMPENSATION TWO-THIRDS of Australians believe the Federal Government should use revenue from the proposed carbon tax to compensate households for any flow-on costs, according to a new survey. The Essential Research poll of more than 1000 people conducted between April 13 and 17 showed 68 per cent believed it was important to assist low and middleincome earners to cover increases in electricity prices.