POINTS TO PONDER

The high percentage of police resignation in the NT is in part attributable to training programs. NT police training is for a shorter period than required by interstate police departments. Trainees elect to train in the NT, complete their post-training probationary period, then head for their home states, gaining tenure because they are qualified. Our NT police training program needs to be upgraded, because at the moment we are supporting states and diminishing our own force.

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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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The NT Government is putting $964,000 into a program to inspire aspiration in Aboriginal students (NT News 10/5). When it comes to motivating students, the government and education minister Moss would be wise to consider all students and not just some, to the exclusion of others.

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POINTS TO PONDER

The Yirrkala incident resulting in the death of a young man is very sad. Unfortunately, these community disturbances seem to be increasing in frequency. Staff in these places used to live in relatively safe environments, but no more. Where they can, service providers commute to work from nearby towns. Those too distant for daily travel to work, live in secured houses in locked and gated compounds. Will it be like this forever?

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The filth and mess left behind as the innumerable and growing groups of itinerants move from one squatting point to the next in Darwin and Palmerston is thoroughly disgusting. Multiple hours of time and cost have to be devoted to cleaning up behind these groups by local government authorities. Many itinerants are from communities demanding respect for their country, while they litter the areas they are visiting

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The May Day holiday and the march by union groups remind us of the importance of worker’s rights and entitlements. However, they fail to highlight the obligations of employees. Less than 20% of workers are now union members and the number continues to decline. How long will it be until unions are history?

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POINTS TO PONDER

The more Australians (and those with residential visas) who are repatriated, the more there are clamouring to come home. How is it that the more that come back, lead to waiting lists growing longer rather than shorter. It seems as if this is a mathematical problem that would test the logic of a university professor.

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John Adams (‘No appetite for real change’ Sun. Terr. 25/4) misses the point. Change has to start with those who break the law, invoking the judicial responses leading to imprisonment. During the past 30 years, there has been an escalation, not a diminishment, in crimes leading to internment. If there is to be a lessening of incarceration as Mr Adams advocates, then the behaviours leading to imprisonment have to be curtailed. The onus is on the offenders, not victims and institutions, to change their ways.

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There is too much pussyfooting around the issue of ‘age of criminal responsibility’. Young people by the age of 10 know the difference between right and wrong. And if they don’t, then parental neglect and irresponsibility in their upbringing is the main culprit. It is high time that parents were held accountable in law for the actions of their under age children. Instead, government excuses them of all responsibility (for neglecting their children) during their formative years.

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Those who damaged the Palmerston War Memorial if caught and found guilty, should be publicly named and shamed. This should include their photographs being included in print and TV media. Those who do dastardly acts in relation dr to tangible remembrances to defence force personnel do not deserve anonymity or protection from recognition. They should be revealed to us all as persons whose conduct is vile and reprehensible. Theirs is the worst kind of behaviour for they are dishonouring those who gave their lives in service for our country.

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Listening to the radio and from other media sources we are being told that the Northern Territory is in the “post Covid era”. Territorians are being lulled into complacency, with the coronavirus being treated as “historically past”. This is a dangerous message; We are still very much in the Covid era and neglect appropriate cautions at our peril.

If COVID-19 gets out into our community we will not know what has hit us!

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Those who damaged the Palmerston War Memorial if caught and found guilty, should be publicly named and shamed. This should include their photographs being included in print and TV media. Those who do dastardly acts in relation dr to tangible remembrances to defence force personnel do not deserve anonymity or protection from recognition. They should be revealed to us all as persons whose conduct is vile and reprehensible. Theirs is the worst kind of behaviour for they are dishonouring those who gave their lives in service for our country.

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Muirhead, is a rapidly expanding suburb with proposed extensions likely to grow it to a division housing 10,000 plus people. What Muirhead DESPERATELY needs is a government primary school along with commercial and retail facilities. It does not need a tavern any more than the sea needs water. A tavern should be the last, not the first consideration when it comes to amenities.

Anything to do with conflict and aggravation between the sexes is all one way. Everything that goes wrong, goes wrong because of the sins of the male gender.

In specific terms:

• Girls and women never ever give boys or men the come on.

• Females never throw themselves at male sportsmen.

• Girls never access social media looking for male ‘companionship’ that goes wrong.

• Women never ever ingratiate themselves on male counterparts in the hope of promotion within organisations.

• Women never ever contact men on social media with invitations to view improper photographs that are akin to soliciting contact.

• Prostitution is a trade repelled by women and encouraged only by men.

• In terms of attitudes to intimacy, women are enlightened and men are blighted by their selfish desires for physical fulfilment.

• vAll women are faithful to relationships they establish. It is only men who e3ver go wrong.

• 100% of all domestic violence is attributable to men. They are so wrong in what they do.

• All gender based bullying behaviour is attributable to boys and men. None of this behaviour is born of the actions of women and girls.

• All teasing is done by those of the male gender and all victims are females.

• Every wrong in the world is attributable to men.

The fact that Territorians are going to be asked what they would like for future parks development (NT News 27/4) is a step in the right direction. Key decisions are made far to often without the opportunity for locals to have any input into shaping our future. May consultation not apply only for this one project.

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There is too much pussyfooting around the issue of ‘age of criminal responsibility’. Young people by the age of 10 know the difference between right and wrong. And if they don’t, then parental neglect and irresponsibility in their upbringing is the main culprit. It is high time that parents were held accountable in law for the actions of their under age children. Instead, government excuses them of all responsibility (for neglecting their children) during their formative years.

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The more Australians (and those with residential visas) who are repatriated, the more there are clamouring to come home. How is it that the more that come back, lead to waiting lists growing longer rather than shorter. It seems as if this is a mathematical problem that would test the logic of a university professor.

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How many people has the Commonwealth allowed to go overseas since the international clamp on travel?
Are international borders no more secure than sieves?

Is the notion of international borders closure for real or a sick joke?

The Commonwealth has a lot for which to answer.
Letting people go overseas to India to get married, bringing them back, putting them into quarantine and allowing them to spread infections to others.

NO ONE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO GO OVERSEAS.

NOT FOR WEDDINGS, FUNERALS, SEEING SICK RELATIONS – NOT FOR ANYTHING AND CERTAINLY NOT FOR WORK.
THE COMMONWEALTH IS SO WRONG

THE COMMONWEALTH IS OUT OF ORDER.

Gladys Berejiklian should not be preaching about process and happenings to anyone. She should not be having a go at Mark McGowan.

She should not be saying how wonderful and responsible NSW happens to be compared to other states.

She never ever reminds us about NSW and the “Ruby Princess” fiasco.

Hotel quarantine is NOT the best option.

Get the returnees out of the cities and into remoter accomodation.

Alcohol has been the number one scourge confronting Indigenous Territorians and other itinerants for the past 50 years.

Wet communities, dry communities, beer only strategies, outlawing flagons then reduction in wine cask sizes, limiting trading hours, police on bottle shops and banned drinkers registers; nothing has worked because strategies can always be circumvented. Now the suggestion that a controlled, monitored drinking area for itinerants be located in Darwin is being floated. If established, it will quickly join the long list of other failed initiatives. Chronic dependence on alcohol is dehumanising far, far too many Territorians. There is no solution to the problem.

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We have enjoyed an excellent wet season. The Darwin River Dam is at over 90% of its storage capacity. Rural area aquifers have been replenished.

Now is not the time to consign planning of water futures to the backburner. Rather it is high time to plan in a way that will not see us embarrassed about water shortages in the future. Remember that before the 2020/22 wet season, our dam was well down and many aquifers were almost bone dry.

If the NT News ever publishes an edition that does NOT report on youth crime, trashed businesses, homes violated by intruders and stolen cars, buy a copy and file it carefully.

Such an edition, if ever published, will be a rare collector’s item.

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Why is there an incessant stream of ambulance movements between RDH and the Palmerston District Hospital, mostly for the sake of procedural patient transfer?

Why are patients not moved by the top end patient transfer buses in order to reduce costs and preserve ambulances for emergency purposes?

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The way in which royalties money is splurged by so many recipients (NT News 8/4) is about eye watering waste. Royalties management by the Groote Eylandt Aboriginal Trust is a model that should be emulated by other groups.

There have been a few periodic glitches but royalties money is placed in a trust that has bought into significant business ventures benefiting the NT and profiting those in whose family/clan names the trust is held. The only persons disappointed by this arrangement would be second hand car dealers and hoteliers.

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Entering Casuarina Shopping Square via the travellator at the Woolworths end of the centre, poses a clear and distinct danger for the unwary. Close to the Casuarina bus terminal, this area is continually overwhelmed by people whose intent and actions toward each other is intensely antisocial. No matter when you go into Casuarina, expect to see security staff and indeed police, trying to quell the conduct of gathered masses. The reputation that behaviour in and around the centre is gaining, will result in customers turning away – permanently.

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The number of head injury asessments (HIA’s) and concussions happening because of head-banging collisions in contact sports is alarming. It may by time for football codes to consider mandating impact absorbing headgear for footballers.

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We are less than 12 months into a four year term of government. Already there seems to be a lack of enthusiasm and vibrancy about government leadership. Its laissre faire attitude to carefully crafted opposition suggestions on crime management and point blank refusal to consider a bipartisan approach to fixing the issue was short sighted. Government must grapple with major social issues rather than avoiding responsibility.

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