Bus and taxi drivers deserve danger money for the daily occupational challenges they face in Darwin. They are unsung heroes.

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The anti-vaxxer movement will undo Australia’s attempt to vaccinate against Covid-19. Vaccination should be compulsory, unless excused by a doctor’s certificate.

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Congratulations to Scott Morrison who is coming up to 1,000 days in office as our PM. We are blessed to have the steadiness of his leadership in these uncertain times.

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So a strip club is being reopened in Darwin. In light of the Australia-wide ‘respect for women’ campaign in every state, territory and parliament, this should be a real help.

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A woman taking part in an Indian festival was interviewed on tv. She said, “we are happy. Even if we get infected with coronavirus we don’t care. We are happy to be out here celebrating.” And then people wonder how COVID-19 can be so rampant.

Thanks to the media for keeping us aware of when repatriation flights are arriving from various destinations. The surreptitious and unannounced arrival of repatriation flights from overseas is not right.

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When will those wringing their hands about miscreant youth and their antisocial conduct wake up to the fact that parents are neglecting their duties toward raising their children? Why are parents forgiven for neglecting their children?

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The top end of Mitchell Street at night is a throng of drinking, carousing, ya-hooing people. Safety insurance is almost necessary for anyone needing to pass through.

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The City of Darwin Council’s focus on tourism is an established fact. It’s prioritisation of visitors over local, long term citizens is well understood. On a scale of 1-10, with one lowest and 10 highest, Council’s care for tourists is 10, for locals 1.

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The news has picked up on five accounts wrongly sent to people who did not quarantine at Howard Springs. How many thousands have received legitimate accounts for quarantining and have elected to avoid payment?

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The upcoming AFL game (May 28) between the Gold Coast Suns and Hawthorn should be a ripper. Both teams have similar statistics and skills sets for 2021. This will be a game football lovers will not want to miss.

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How can a person who is killed while trying to evade police, be deemed a “death in custody” statistic. They have not been under police control.

CM Gunner was not going to entertain repatriation flights returning from India until the end of May. What happened to that undertaking?

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When will those wringing their hands about miscreant youth and their antisocial conduct wake up to the fact that parents are neglecting their duties toward raising their children? Why are parents forgiven for neglecting their children?

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Bassinthegrass has resurrected musical life and cultural vibrance in Darwin. It has offered a culturally uplifting experience. 14,000 fans have experienced unrequited joy.

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Southern critics of the extreme care being taken in returning Covid refugees from India to Howard Springs need to ease off the criticism about Health Department precautions. We live here, they don’t!

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Where is Corrections Commissioner Scott McNairn on leave and last mentioned in the NT News on March 10. People deserve privacy but don’t we have a right to know what is happening when a highly paid CEO turns up on seemingly indefinite leave.

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The ABC ‘Insiders’ program needs the return of Barrie Cassidy. Cassidy never imposed his viewpoint on the program. It was interactive. Panelists were part of a forum not a question and answer approach. Cassidy was not an incessant interruptor and conversation flowed. ‘Insiders’ is heading south.

IT’S A FACT (4)

There were 265 full page ads in the NT News* in April. That did not count:

. Government announcements.

. Covid information.

. Racing information.

. Any folded lift out.

. Any magazine inclusions.

The least number of pages (1) appeared on April 6

The greatest number of advertising pages happened on April 3 (31).

This year (January-April)v there have been 1374 full page advertisements in the paper.

I began a new observation; the number of stories each month that are about crime and criminal activity as it impacts on the NT. In April there were 125 stories on tghis subject in the paper.

* Includes both the ‘NT News’ and ‘Sunday Territorian’.

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It’s somewhat counterproductive for government to enact legislation allowing super accounts to build toward retirement, if people can raid those accounts for funds whenever the economy suffers a glitch.
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May the outstation feud in Litchfield National Park be resolved. May a decision promoting peace and harmony over land ownership be quickly reached. Discord spoils relationships.
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Fantastic that Kristy Kreme is coming to the Top End. We are being spoiled for choice. May the business flourish and be with us into perpetuity.
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All the best to incoming ICAC boss Michael Riches. He has big shoes to fill. Outgoing commissioner Ken Fleming was the NT’s number one ‘most powerful’ in 2018.

POINTLETS TO PONDER

Youthful criminals should NOT be allowed anonymity. Those found guilty of heinous crimes against people and property should be named and shamed.

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Our cavalier attitude toward the threat of the coronavirus, reminds one of Ecclesiastes 2:17: “Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow (we) die.”

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During televised press conferences focussed on Covid-19, it seems that journalists are trying to outdo each other in asking inane, irrelevant questions.

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-Kakadu needs fixing and quickly. Closing locations to visitors one after the other will hasten park decline. Kakadu’s appeal is declining at a rate of knots.

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Quedos to A-G Selina Uibo for her response to Greens senator Linda Thorpe’s ignorant thrust and misrepresentations. As Ms Uibo says, fleeting visits by southern experts who follow up with press releases are unhelpful distortions.

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NT job ads might be up, but in part because locals are reluctant to take on menial work. “What, and dirty my hands” is a prevailing attitude. Benefits preferred.

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It’s usually 3 strikes and you’re out. But Willie Rioli’s AFL football career may be saved by West Coast’s understanding. Here’s hoping.

POINTLETS TO PONDER

Txt the editor needed an infusion of light, airy, short, frothy comments ranging from the ribald through to jest. We can become too serious.

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A misplaced sense of entitlement is a virus impacting the thinking and attitudes of far too many topline sportspeople.

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Good on the NT Assembly for passing the bail law amendments. Hope they stimulate self restraint on the part of potential offenders.

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Sexual innuendo around stories published in the NT News is not necessary. It cheapens the paper and sends wrong messages to impressionable young readers.

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Who can blame the motorist for hot footing it after hitting the woman near Barrow Creek. Has he stayed, he might well has been the fatality at the hands of relatives. He did surrender when it was safe to do so.

POINTS TO PONDER

Kakadu National Park is crying out for support, including the need for all those connected with this great Australian asset to be on the same page in redevelopment and management. Kakadu, along with Uluru, is a jewel in Australia’s crown of natural features. We must not lock it away from the world.

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Indigenous youth issues would be better understood by those making decisions about justice issues, were they to access a report titled “The Social Process of Education”. Researcher Mitsiro Shimpo authored the report in the late 1970’s. The reasons for the dilemma we all confront on this issue could still be addressed if Shimpo’s management recipe was applied.

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There are a number of factors that would need careful consideration if a fuel farm was to be set up at Gove. Top of the list are the horrendous freight costs associated with the movement of bulk commodities over vast distances to and from this remote location. The ‘strategy’ is also somewhat compromised by announcement of its location to the whole world.

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POINTS TO PONDER

An amazing feature of the 2021/22 NT budget is, that apart from the four year salary freeze, no extra taxes and charges are being levied against Territorians. Few treasurers can resist diving into wallets and purses in order to levy funds, so our treasurer has worked a minor miracle in resisting the urge to garner funds from extra taxes and charges. This is another ‘plus’ for the government’s policies on fiscal management.

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It fills me with pride that past CM Shane Stone, who was an effective and efficient contributor to NT progress and development, should be chosen to lead the new National Recovery and Resilience Agency. Mr Stone has made an ongoing and everlasting contribution to helping recognise and overcome dislocation caused by drought and flood. His awareness and the wisdom he brings to his new role, will well serve all Australians. We should be reassured by his appointment.

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The IGA supermarket in Zuccoli deserves praise for the clean, well lit premises maintained by owner, managers and staff. No supermarket in Darwin or Palmerston is more inviting or appealing to customers. All products in this extensively stocked store are clearly visible with aisles well marked to show contents. Staff are friendly and helpful. It is a pleasure to shop in a store that offers so much by way of quality service to customers.

POINTS TO PONDER

We once had a police commissioner recruited from interstate (also WA) following a “… robust independent recruitment process over many months” Just a thought on going outside the NT when looking for the best persons to fill positions.
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If the purpose of a parliamentary opposition is to knock each and every proposition raised by government, then Lia Finocchiaro is the best opposition leader an incumbent NT government has ever faced. However, opposition parties have to come up with viable alternatives to policies and practices being rejected. They are also quick to forget their own shortcomings (like the port lease and TIO sale) that happened under their watch when governing.
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The superannuation dilemma confronting employees, especially those in the NT, is grim (Sun. Terr. 9/5). Paltry accumulations were reduced for many by the Federal Government allowing for withdrawals from superannuation accounts of up to $20,000. This helped set people up for a life of poverty when they retire. Beyond the pension, they will have nothing.
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