POINTS TO PONDER

Surely the photo of Moorish Cafe staff on the front page (News 13/5) was photoshopped for effect. If so, that should have been stated and if not the staff gave a lot to answer for because of flagrant disregard of physical distancing requirements. This picture does not convey a good look and sets a very poor example to readers.



I think it is time to worry that as COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed, that less and less attention will be paid to physical distancing. That could mark the beginning of a coronavirus outbreak in the NT.

POINTS TO PONDER

Surely the photo of Moorish Cafe staff on the front page (News 13/5) was photoshopped for effect. If so, that should have been stated and if not the staff gave a lot to answer for because of flagrant disregard of physical distancing requirements. This picture does not convey a good look and sets a very poor example to readers.



I think it is time to worry that as COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed, that less and less attention will be paid to physical distancing. That could mark the beginning of a coronavirus outbreak in the NT.

COVID-19 has united our leaders of all political persuasions. Their combined talents and capacity to unite in countering this virus, is drawing appreciation from many Australians. It would be wonderful if this newfound quality of working together could continue post the coronavirus rather than the country slipping back into party political bickering and one upmanship.

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It doesn’t take “Smart City Data” to confirm fewer people going into the city. If it wasn’t for work, why would anyone want to visit the CBD. Slim Dusty once described Darwin as “the big of the north”. These days sadly, it is more like the north’s dead heart for its vibrancy is well and truly lost.

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It is ironic that the most recent newsworthy story national media can conjure about the NT, have to do with kegs of rolling north and pubs reopening. There is much less on interstate media about the NT leading the way in managing the whole COVID-19 issue.

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If the coronavirus has taught Australia anything, it has to be that we become more reliant upon our own manufacturing land supply industries. Being beholden to imported product has revealed a self sufficiency weakness we can ill afford.

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We have had no new cases of COVID-19 for 25 days (at 2/5) but must be cautious in the way we self manage the freedoms being allowed. It would take one glitch, just ONE GLITCH for embargoes to be reinstated and for the clamps on our gradually reinstated liberties to be reapplied.

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A queue of 30 vehicles waiting for the reopening of Litchfield Park at midday on May 1! That just goes to show how much the curtailment of movement and visitation opportunities have played on our love for the great outdoors and wide open spaces the NT has to offer.

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The airlines plans for taking bookings and opening up flight options around Australia and overseas to Bali at least, seem to be both opportunistic and short sighted. Physical border restrictions are important and those travelling would not be happy if at journey’s end was a fortnight in self isolation.

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It seems that the City of Darwin Council is seeing the light and removing parking meters. That may enhance CBD attractiveness to those from the suburbs. Copying Cairns, a city without parking meters is a wise and timely if overdue move.

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This May Day long weekend is one allowing Territorians to ‘come out’ from under many of the restrictions that have impacted upon us for the past two months. May we treat these liberties responsibly, honouring the trust government is placing in us to act sensibly. Any spike in COVID-19 cases that could result from stupid behaviour would again see us all clamped and restricted.

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Through careful management of COVID-19 issues, it looks like things are heading in the right direction. However this wretched virus is not a scourge to be treated lightly or with any complacency whatsoever. We can afford careful optimism but not unrequited rejoicing.

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Those unthinking rugby players who defied social distancing and gathering size regulations in NSW during the weekend raise a question of trust. Can authorities believe these people will do the right thing by special conditions aimed at restoring competition? You have to wonder at their selfishly childish attitudes.

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Without doubt Mr Gunner is proving himself to be a Chief Minister dealing with COVID-19 with authority and confidence. The like of his leadership effectiveness has not been seen since Marshall Perron was our political leader. Surely the Territory will vote to continue with him and his party in August.

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We need to fully appreciate all frontline people who at this time are managing our Territory in a way that has helped keep us all safe. We need to support them and take care of ourselves by physical distancing and staying at home as much as possible. Work on appreciating family members and strengthening family ties.

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How wonderful that sewage testing can pinpoint the extent and the location of COVID-19 clusters.

A great deal is made of entitlement to privacy. However, in practical terms, the myriad of surveillance options (down to the measurement of faeces in sewage ponds) now available, reduces the notion of privacy to being a joke.

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Recent history is revealing a strong difference between the Giles and Gunner Governments. The last CLP Government drifted to electoral

oblivion. COVID-19 has galvanised our present government and given it focus. We are in for an interesting election.

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It is always a pleasant surprise when shopping, to be served by assistants and business support staff who are pleasantly disposed toward customers. This courtesy guarantees people will return to that enterprise in the future.

Courtesy is all too rare in the NT, especially within the retail sector.

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In many ways it is good that overseas students overstay their visas and work in Australia. Without their contribution many menial and manual work domains would have hundreds of unfilled jobs – positions that homegrown youth and older workers feel to be beneath their dignity. They prefer welfare support options.

POINTS TO PONDER

The issue of mental health is all too ready as a defence justification available to those who perpetrate horrible, life ending crimes on innocent members of the public. The community has been made vulnerable by deinstitutionalising all those who are mentally without proper pre-assessment of individual cases.

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Johnathan Thurston’s exhortation (Sun Terr. 18/8) that parents read with their children is timely. We need our children to be well versed, confident and competent in basic literacy. There is too much emphasis on screens and too little on printed text.

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Two men brutally bash another, breaking his skull in two places, rendering him critically ill with possible brain damage. They go to court and get bail!! And people are not supposed to question the decisions of the courts? I am dumbfounded!!

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I admire the resolute way in which our Chief Minister has lead the government response against COVID-19. His ability to withstand populist pressure to chop, change and make concessions that go against the long term counteractive agenda has been his strongest quality. Thanks to Mr Gunner we know EXACTLY where we stand on most issues.

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With airlines reinstating some routes, it is to be hoped that physical distancing (in terms of passengers booking in, going through security, boarding and deplaning and seat allocation) is maintained. Plane travel has the potential to lead to community spread of COVID-19.

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This meme was sent to me and offers wise advice to those wanting coronavirus restrictions to be prematurely lifted:

” The curve is flattening, we can start lifting restrictions now” =

“The parachute has slowed our rate of descent; we can take it off now.”

Let’s make haste slowly.

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Health Minister Fyles is absolutely right to be concerned about about futures when it comes to the coronavirus. I am ever so glad that she is not being swayed by short term, self interested advice. It is not hard to imagine a North- East Tasmanian situation and the impact a cluster would have in any of our Aboriginal communities. From a health viewpoint, she has the Territory’s back and for that we should all be grateful.

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