1-111111 111 [ 1111 11111111 111111111 11 1 EDITORIAL NT, · actually show some respect for...

1
. . . . . . . + 12 OPINION WEDNESDAY APRIL 23 2014 . ............................................................................................................ :: ····································································-.. ··· ..................................................................................... .................................................................................................. ,_,,,, .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... _ ····································- Email: ntnmail@ntnews. com.au I. Text: 0428 NTNEWS I Fax: 08 8981 6045 I Letters: PO Box 1300, Darwin NT 0801 Your Sa CONNECT WITH US www.ntnews.som.au (I @TheNTNews (j Facebook.com/TheNTNews 111 11111,l IH l-vouR VOICE IN THE TERR.TORY 1111111111111111 11 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I II I II I I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II I I I I I I II I II II I I II II I I I.I I I I 1- 111111 111 [ 1 111 1 1111111 11 1111111 11 1 EDITORIAL NT,.News Plenty of ways to have a ball THE announcement that the annual Daly Waters bachelors' and spinsters' !>all has seen its last days has come as a shock to some. The event had bli!l=ome an institution for locals · and travellers wanting to take part in something unigue to the Territory. Smack bang in the middle of no man's land. the B & S ball always attracted fun-seeking revellers from far and wide. It became well known for its jellY wrestling ana·wet T-shirt com- petitions. local barids and multinational patrons. It was something visitors wrote home about and will tell stories of for years to come. · Publican Robyne Webster said she was sad to see it go and hoped an organisation or l!ommittee would come forward _ to.take over. _ u1...___ .. But as one historic Territory event ends, many others are wait- ing in the wings, ready to take its place. · . With the start of the dry season just around the corner. an array of established and new events are set to lift the of most. ·@Letters Just some of ttie events set to rear their heads.in comings weeks and months indude: The Darwin Cup Carnival, Darwin Festival •. Beer Can Regatta, Cracker Night. Barunga Festival, Garrmalang Festival. Elliott mardi gras, Darwin Outgames, a new season of local shows at Browns . Mart theatre. a new season of shows at Darwin Entertainment Cen- . tre, Freds Pass Rural Show. the Royal Darwin Show. Darwin Pride Festival, Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival. Summer Sessions, Noona- mah rodeo, the return of Mindil Beach Sunset Markets and local art exhibitions. · The 2014 Territory social calendar sure is a force to be reckoned with. ... and another thing YOU'VE croc to !>e kidding me, mate! _ The local bozo whQ tried to entice a 3m saltwater crQc to shore at Nightcliff yesterdc;iy afternoon should buy himself a lotto ticket. Not only did he put his own life in danger, he was very close to l>eing taken in front of a crowd of pepple who'd struggle to get over seeing something like that happen. · The statistics show locals are more likely to be taken by crocs than tourists. We think this kind of stupidity proves this. O TheF ·ixer WHAT: A section of the mosaic footpath at Marlow Lagoon Recreation area has lift ed. tripping a toddler in the process . WHO'S RESPONSIBLE: Palmerston council director of Technical Services. Mark Spangler . CONTACT: 893S 99Sl Do you know of something in the Territory that-needs fixing? Give the Fixer a call on 8944 9750, email [email protected] or follow on -.:witter @NTNTheFixer 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, GPQ Box 1300, Qarwin. 0801 · The union line , IT should come as no surprise tpat Public Service Union boss Kay Densley wants the NT to continue struggling on with a massively bloated, mostly un- necessary arid very unafford- able public service (NT News Letters April 5, 2014). After all, union officials depend on large numbers of ·people being members of their union to support the very cozy lifestyle to which they · have · become accustomed. In her letter Ms Densley even attempts to justify our massively bloated and very · expensive public service by arguing that taxpayer-funded "services" are the most efficient method of delivery. Who remembers the PMG, which .became state-owned Telecom and Australia Post, the old nationalised Qantas and TAA, the previously gov- ernment-owned Common- wealth Bank? All basket-case businesses before they were privatised, now mostly highly profitable, successful businesses. during the time the Martin-Henderson Labor government was in power 10,000 extra public servants were added to an already way- overstaffed NT public service, no doubt all to the cheers of Kay and her.union buddies. . This is of a Labor/ union arrangement. On_ e might call it "socialism by stealth". But at the end of the day •A bloated, overpaid. unproductive. feather-bedded public service is no longer affordable here in the NT, or anywhere in Australia, and certainly not federally after six years of the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd Labor wreckers - SEE BELOW such largesse is siillply · unsustainable. The unions and their Labor partners are their own worst enemies. They send govern- ments into huge debt by sup- porting a totally unnecessary expansion in the size of gov- ernment. Then when the books are checked by an in- coming government that may actually show some respect for taxpayers' funds, Labor and the unions scream blue murder - calling out cuts, cuts, cuts! This is always the case with Labor/union governments. They destroy the fipances and ·. the economy of any jurisdic- tion govern, and then union/Labor people like Ms Densley pathetic argu- ments for of big gov- ernment - and often advocate for even more-expensive tax- payer-funded programs. I fully support any govern- . ment that treats the funds pro- vided by taxpayers with the utmost respect by reducing the size and therefore the cost of government. And as far as possible encourages the private sector to provide as many of the so-called "servi- ces" that governments cur- . rently provide. A bloated, overpaid, unpro- ductive, feather-bedded public service is no longer affordable here in the NT, or anywhere in Australia, and . certainly not federally after six years of the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd La)Jor wreckers. Dave Wane Who's to blame? WE often see stories in the media of how certain ethnic groups or religious persuasions are eating away at our Chris- : tian heritage. While this may seem true to some, the real problem is the watering down of our values by all ofus. On Good · Friday, when I was a child, tliere was no busi- ness trading at all.. This was accepted as right, given we are a Christian society. Over the years this has been watered down by the same society. On Good Friday this year l was amazed te see the Pinelands Supercheap Auto business open as usual. How have we come to this? This business cannot be deemed to be in the essential service sector. One can only presume that · greed was the motivator. I do not wish to sipgle out Supercheap as I would like this message . to apply to all busi- nesses that opened on Good Friday. When our GUlture and way of life is eroded to the extent that other religions and beliefs become more relevant, let's ponder who's to blame. · Name and address withheld Sex and the. city , . I AM writing to add to the conversation about legalising brothels in the Northern Territory. I ;igree with Business Minis- ter Dave Tollner's call (NT News , April 21) for a discussion about legalising brothels. If Darwin wants to be a grown-up and mattire . city then I think it needs to proaeed with legalisation. Brothels-are a fact of life, and I believe that research shows that sex workers are safer once their industry is legalised. Sex workers deserve workplace safety and rights. . There is obviously already a growing sex work industry in the Territory, so why not make it legal? Legalisation could save on police enforcement costs and costs to the judicial system eventuating from enforcing laws. · And the government would get more tax. Plus the profession can't be stopped - it is known as the world's oldest profession after all. · Let's be a trUly international city and legalise brothels. We have a choice: we can choose moral outrage or maturity. Charles Tyler. Parap 0 0 · ' th• · · d .10YEARSAGO: Electricity prii::esshould . n '. . IS · ay eontinuetobefrozen.theTerritory'sChamber . · · · ,. . of Commerce said last night. Chamber president . IN TH I': TERRITO RY . Bruce Fadelli said ra i sing power costs for major 20 YEARS AGO: A multi-million-dollar trucking deal has opened the way for what could be the largest business involvement by Australian Abori gines in history. Universal Transport Operations would move concentrate from the M<::Arthur Ri ver to Bing Bong port 90km north . 25 YEARS AGO; Production figures yesterday have cemented claims tne Timar Sea 0ilfield will replace Bass Strait as Australia's oil source. The oilfield, 450 miles northwest of Darwin, lifted production by 60 per c;ent last month bringing BHP's SO per cent share to 20.42S barrels a day. I:. · consumers was "detrimental to economic growth". +_

Transcript of 1-111111 111 [ 1111 11111111 111111111 11 1 EDITORIAL NT, · actually show some respect for...

. . . . . . . +12 OPINION WEDNESDAY APRIL 23 2014

............................................................................................................. :: ····································································-.. ··· ....................................................................................................................................................................................... ,_,,,, .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... _ ····································-

Email: [email protected] I. Text: 0428 NTNEWS I Fax: 08 8981 6045 I Letters: PO Box 1300, Darwin NT 0801

Your Sa CONNECT WITH US ~ www.ntnews.som.au (I @TheNTNews (j Facebook.com/TheNTNews

111 11111,l IHl-vouR VOICE IN THE TERR.TORY 1111111111111111 11 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I.I I I I ~ 1-111111 111 [ 1111 11111111 111111111 11 1

EDITORIAL

NT,.News Plenty of ways to have a ball THE announcement that the annual Daly Waters bachelors' and spinsters' !>all has seen its last days has come as a shock to some.

The event had bli!l=ome an institution for locals· and travellers wanting to take part in something unigue to the Territory.

Smack bang in the middle of no man's land. the B & S ball always attracted fun-seeking revellers from far and wide.

It became well known for its jellY wrestling ana·wet T-shirt com­petitions. local barids and multinational patrons.

It was something visitors wrote home about and will tell stories of for years to come. ·

Publican Robyne Webster said she was sad to see it go and hoped an organisation or l!ommittee would come forward_ to. take over.

_u1...___ ~ ..

But as one historic Territory event ends, many others are wait-ing in the wings, ready to take its place. · .

With the start of the dry season just around the corner. an array of established and new events are set to lift the ~pirits of most.

·@Letters Just some of ttie events set to rear their heads.in comings weeks

and months indude: The Darwin Cup Carnival, Darwin Festival •. Beer Can Regatta,

Cracker Night. Barunga Festival, Garrmalang Festival. Elliott mardi gras, Darwin Outgames, a new season of local shows at Browns

. Mart theatre. a new season of shows at Darwin Entertainment Cen­. tre, Freds Pass Rural Show. the Royal Darwin Show. Darwin Pride Festival, Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival. Summer Sessions, Noona-mah rodeo, the return of Mindil Beach Sunset Markets and local art exhibitions. ·

The 2014 Territory social calendar sure is a force to be reckoned with.

... and another thing YOU'VE croc to !>e kidding me, mate! _

The local bozo whQ tried to entice a 3m saltwater crQc to shore at Nightcliff yesterdc;iy afternoon should buy himself a lotto ticket.

Not only did he put his own life in danger, he was very close to l>eing taken in front of a crowd of pepple who'd struggle to get over seeing something like that happen. ·

The statistics show locals are more likely to be taken by crocs than tourists. We think this kind of stupidity proves this.

O TheF·ixer WHAT: A section of the mosaic footpath at Marlow Lagoon Recreation area has lifted. tripping a toddler in the process. WHO'S RESPONSIBLE: Palmerston council director of Technical Services. Mark Spangler . CONTACT: 893S 99Sl

Do you know of something in the Territory that-needs fixing? Give the Fixer a call on 8944 9750, email [email protected] or follow on -.:witter @NTNTheFixer

Le~ers'to the editor should be kept to 175 words or less. Send your letters to GPO Box

1300, Darwin. 0801, or email [email protected] 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, GPQ Box 1300, Qarwin. ~T. 0801

· The union line, IT should come as no surprise tpat Public Service Union boss Kay Densley wants the NT to continue struggling on with a massively bloated, mostly un­necessary arid very unafford­able public service (NT News Letters April 5, 2014).

After all, union officials depend on large numbers of

·people being members of their union to support the very cozy lifestyle to which they · have · become accustomed.

In her letter Ms Densley even attempts to justify our massively bloated and very

· expensive public service by arguing that taxpayer-funded "services" are the most efficient method of delivery.

Who remembers the PMG, which .became state-owned Telecom and Australia Post, the old nationalised Qantas and TAA, the previously gov­ernment-owned Common­wealth Bank?

All basket-case businesses before they were privatised, now mostly highly profitable, successful businesses.

Rem~mber, during the time the Martin-Henderson Labor government was in power 10,000 extra public servants were added to an already way­overstaffed NT public service, no doubt all to the cheers of Kay and her.union buddies. .

This is ~ical of a Labor/ union arrangement. On_e might call it "socialism by stealth".

But at the end of the day

•A bloated, overpaid. unproductive. feather-bedded public service is no longer affordable here in the NT, or anywhere in Australia, and certainly not federally after six years of the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd Labor wreckers - SEE BELOW

such largesse is siillply · unsustainable.

The unions and their Labor partners are their own worst enemies. They send govern­ments into huge debt by sup­porting a totally unnecessary expansion in the size of gov­ernment. Then when the books are checked by an in­coming government that may actually show some respect for taxpayers' funds, Labor and the unions scream blue murder - calling out cuts, cuts, cuts!

This is always the case with Labor/union governments. They destroy the fipances and ·. the economy of any jurisdic­tion th~y govern, and then union/Labor people like Ms Densley m~e pathetic argu­ments for ret~tion of big gov­ernment - and often advocate for even more-expensive tax­payer-funded programs.

I fully support any govern- . ment that treats the funds pro­vided by taxpayers with the utmost respect by reducing the size and therefore the cost of government. And as far as possible encourages the private sector to provide as many of the so-called "servi­ces" that governments cur-

. rently provide. A bloated, overpaid, unpro­

ductive, feather-bedded public service is no longer affordable here in the NT, or anywhere in

Australia, and . certainly not federally after six years of the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd La)Jor wreckers.

Dave Wane

Who's to blame? WE often see stories in the media of how certain ethnic groups or religious persuasions are eating away at our Chris­

: tian heritage. While this may seem true to

some, the real problem is the watering down of our values by all ofus.

On Good · Friday, when I was a child, tliere was no busi­ness trading at all.. This was accepted as right, given we are a Christian society.

Over the years this has been watered down by the same society. On Good Friday this year l was amazed te see the Pinelands Supercheap Auto business open as usual.

How have we come to this? This business cannot be

deemed to be in the essential service sector.

One can only presume that · greed was the motivator.

I do not wish to sipgle out Supercheap as I would like this message . to apply to all busi­nesses that opened on Good Friday.

When our GUlture and way of life is eroded to the extent

that other religions and beliefs become more relevant, let's ponder who's to blame. ·

Name and address withheld

Sex and the. city , . I AM writing to add to the

conversation about legalising brothels in the Northern Territory.

I ;igree with Business Minis­ter Dave Tollner's call (NT News, April 21) for a discussion about legalising brothels.

If Darwin wants to be a grown-up and mattire . city then I think it needs to proaeed with legalisation.

Brothels- are a fact of life, and I believe that research shows that sex workers are safer once their industry is legalised. Sex workers deserve workplace safety and rights. . There is obviously already a growing sex work industry in the Territory, so why not make it legal?

Legalisation could save on police enforcement costs and costs to the judicial system eventuating from enforcing laws. ·

And the government would get more tax.

Plus the profession can't be stopped - it is known as the world's oldest profession after all.

· Let's be a trUly international city and legalise brothels.

We have a choice: we can choose moral outrage or maturity.

Charles Tyler. Parap

0 0 · 'th•· · d .10YEARSAGO: Electricity prii::esshould . n '. . IS ·ay eontinuetobefrozen.theTerritory'sChamber . · · · ,. . of Commerce said last night. Chamber president

. IN TH I': TERRITO RY . Bruce Fadelli said raising power costs for major

20 YEARS AGO: A multi-million-dollar trucking deal has opened the way for what could be the largest business involvement by Australian Aborigines in history. Universal Transport Operations would move concentrate from the M<::Arthur River to Bing Bong port 90km north.

25 YEARS AGO; Production figures yesterday have cemented claims tne Timar Sea 0ilfield will replace Bass Strait as Australia's oil source. The oilfield, 450 miles northwest of Darwin, lifted production by 60 per c;ent last month bringing BHP's SO per cent share to 20.42S barrels a day.

I:. · consumers was "detrimental to economic growth".

+ _