The Northern Territory news Mon 8 Nov 2021
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2021-11-08
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/10070/855007
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/855081
12 OPINION MONDAY NOVEMBER 8 2021 NTNE01Z01MA - V1 PROTESTER BEHAVIOUR UNNECESSARY THE chaotic clash betweenprotesters and police officerson Saturday did not need tohappen.Protesters were given ample warning to abide by Greater Darwins lockout regulations for a few days, in order to hold their displays lawfully once the Top Ends Covid cluster came under control. Their blatant flouting of the laws resulted in arrests and injuries and was a diversion of police resources that was totally unnecessary. It is a well-established fact that the Territorys police resources are stretched thin. Not only do police need to deal with the relentless amounts of crime being committed (think back to the 340 reports made in Alice Springs over a weekend in October) but they also have to handle the lack of consideration for Covid-19 declarations. Every person involved in Saturdays display, including the ones who did not participate in the chaos, needs to take a hard look at themselves. They are causing more harm than good and are refusing to acknowledge they are in the minority. The same day as the clash, almost 4000 eligible Territorians either received a dose of the vaccine or booked in their jab. It shows Territorians are more than prepared to step up, protect their families, friends and the wider community, and support their favourite local businesses. So grow up and get jabbed. FINISH LINE IS IN PLAIN SIGHT AS WE roll into Christmas andthe holiday season, theres asense the world might be dusting down after the bruising weve copped since Covid hit two years ago. On Saturday night in Darwin even with a Covid lockout in place venues were buzzing and the streets bustling with people in search of fun. The announcement that thousands of additional jabs have been administered in the Top End since last weeks Covid exposure in Darwin is excellent news that confirms theres a pool of people who have put off but arent opposed to vaccinations. Ultimately, the lack of opportunities will tip the scales towards getting vaccination rates around the 90 per cent mark. Peer pressure is a powerful tool. Who wants to spend Friday night watching Gardening Australia when your mates are at Monsoons? The higher the vaccination rate, the less risk of shutdowns such as the one that hit Mindil Beach Casino on Saturday or that saw the long-awaited NTFL debut of Eddie Betts in Palmerston colours delayed for at least another week. Territorians are nearly over the line and the worst of Covid-19. Lets keep it up and look forward to holidays. WHERES THE CONSISTENCY? WITH this lockdown/lockout, a friend of mine having been in the NT since March 2021, left Friday morning to return to Victoria via Queensland. He was stopped at the police check on the Adelaide River plains and was allowed to keep going with the advice to ensure he had sufficient fuel to go straight through Katherine. He refuelled, but was then stopped by another police check on the Stuart Highway and was not allowed to go any further, had to turn back around. Not good enough Mr Gunner, where is the consistency? Marrakai Bill A PETITION IGNORED THE Member for Katherine recently presented the Labor administration in Darwin with a petition with more than 60 signatures, the majority of signatures being from business owners. The petition related to the governments proposal to construct a community centre with a large retail component in Katherine East. Concerns have been expressed that the complex will divide the Katherine community. The petition was ignored. The Katherine electorate is traditionally conservative. In four decades of selfgovernment, Labor has held the seat for only one term before it swung back to the Country Liberals after a term of poor representation by its Labor representative. Katherine being located below the Berrimah Line is another factor that may have played a role in the petition being ignored by Darwin-based bureaucrats. The Katherine Town Council appears to be quite ambivalent on the issue. The council has stated however that community consultation on the issue will take place early next year. Hopefully the government will learn a lesson from people power and undertake meaningful engagement rather than the usual box ticking exercise. Council members have been quick to point out that in addition to its normal rates revenue, the council is heavily reliant on government funding. This certainly puts the council in a difficult position. Is this democracy? Is this local decision making? I think not! Bruce Francais, Katherine DARWIN, NOT KATHERINE APPARENTLY Darwin does not know the difference. It is only Katherine that is in lockdown NOT Darwin. King Roman, Nightcliff CHARACTER TESTING MALCOLM Turncoat Turnbull reminded the current French president (whilst smooching up/ crawling to Macron after the longdue cancellation by Scott Morrison of the Turnbull-instigated French sub fiasco) that some 50,000 Aussie Diggers died defending France in WWI and some 1500 leading up to and during the Normanby landings in WWII? And also reminded President Macron of WWIIs traitorous Vichy French, along with Frances betrayal of the Kiwis war dead by blowing up the Rainbow Warrior in a New Zealand home port. So Bravo! for the NSW Coalitions dumping Malcolm Turnbull from any net zero emissions anything! The book Malcolm Turnbull attacking former Coalition colleagues only confirms Turnbulls longstanding ignoble, character! Tony Abbott, in a manly manner; always went face-to-face in the party room (and not backstabbing on ABC TV)! For example, when then new Aussie PM Scott Morrison sent Malcolm Turncoat Turnbull, to Indonesia to represent Australia, Morrison was repaid by Turnbulls tweeting of Morrisons falling approval ratings! Never forget how Turnbull could tweet from New York to have Peter Duttons suitability to sit in the house examined. If it was not for the likes of Turnbull, then ALP leader Bill Shorten and the Greens, Australias elderly pensioners and working-families energy costs would be but one-third of what they are today! Howard Hutchins REMEMBER THE WARRIOR WHO was lying and deceiving when the Rainbow Warrior and half the South Pacific were blown up? Greg Mills, Wagaman SO MANY FOUGHT HARD SO many have fought so hard to stop Covid the scientists, medical workers, and the general public so why are there some that do the wrong thing or rather not the right thing as they refuse to get vaccinated. There are many countries that require double vaccinations to travel and now just to work. The problem is that there are some, even nurses, who are losing their jobs, which seems contradictory as their first responsibility is to save lives and so vaccinations should be an automatic choice. Is it wrong that a tennis player, even one of the best, is not able to play until he confirms that he is double vaccinated given there are many other players who are vaccinated and wanting a chance? Is it too harsh to say the nonvaccinated deserve to lose their jobs and risk losing their lives? Is it wrong to say that they have made their own choices and accept the consequences? I know the answer, but not everyone will accept it. Dennis Fitzgerald Christie Osborne is finding green tree frogs everywhere after the latest rains in the Top End. Picture Julianne Osborne NT~ News SUPER SNAPS YOURSAY WRITE To Us Make sure to include your name, address and phone number if verification is required. Only your name and suburb will be printed. 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