POINTS TO PONDER

Filthy spitters and deliberate breachers

Anyone spitting on health professionals serving our community at ANY TIME, should, in addition to substantive fines, be photographed. Their photo and name should be published on one of the front three pages of the major paper(s) serving their state. This content should be included in print and online editions of the paper.

Those breaching self isolation requirements should be treated in a similar fashion.

There is a fair chance that fines will not be paid. They should not be allowed to go unpaid and steps should be taken to retrieve the value of issued infringements. I would suggest that default on payment should evoke an automatic community service order under supervision. The rate might be an hour to be served for each $5 of the fine still owing.

People need to act responsibly and grow up. There is no room for the sorts of behaviours described – not now and not ever.

COVID-19 Scammers are a special class of ‘dog’

All scamming is evil but those setting yup to scam people during these times of coronavirus vulnerability are a special class of low life persons. They are akin to vermin. All who scam upon the weakened and the vulnerable at this time if caught, should be subjected to public identification. Their profiles and evil deeds should be publicised. They should not be entitled to privacy. They deserve to be identified to the public at large.

It seems that too many people are inclined to think the coronavirus is a relatively short term affliction. They speak as if the virus will be done and dusted within a few short weeks. COVID-19 will be with us for many, MANY months. We need to gear our minds for thinking about it’s being within the community and us all being on guard against its infiltration for a long time to come.

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It is a relief to know that the Royal Darwin Hospital is better placed to manage the coronavirus than had been the case before additional funding allowed for the reopening of dormant wards. Hospital preparation and readiness is reassuring for Territorians. However, we must remain constantly vigilant and aware of our personal responsibilities toward countering this wicked virus.

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It is timely that the Australian Government is extending visa limitations for backpackers who are still here from overseas. If they were not able to pick and pack vegetables and fruit, our agricultural and food processing industries would be cactus.

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If the City of Darwin offers a rates waiver, this should apply to those who might pay rates in advance and those using b-Pay deductions. In these instances, rates should be held over and credited toward the time when rate liabilities for everyone are reinstated.

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I feel sorry for taxi owners and drivers who are suffering a massive downturn in business. My concern in considering whether to take a cab is whether it has been recently used by those who might be needing to go into self quarantine. The uncertainty posed by COVID-19 is quite overwhelming and changes decisions that might normally be made.

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It seems that Territorians are being more responsible about physical distancing and public gatherings than many of our interstate counterparts. Crowding into markets and onto beaches is still happening in some interstate locations. This poses the threat of community spread. The more responsible attitude of Territorians on these issues is a positive example to the rest of Australia.

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I am alarmed that GEMCO on Groote Eylandt and the McArthur River Mine near Borroloola are able to fly FIFO workers in and out without quarantining. Both ventures are close to indigenous communities and FIFO workers will probably be mixing with staff permanently on location. This concession agreed by the NT Government must be reversed for it flies in the face of common sense.

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I am alarmed that GEMCO on Groote Eylandt and the McArthur River Mine near Borroloola are able to fly FIFO workers in and out without quarantining. Both ventures are close to indigenous communities and FIFO workers will probably be mixing with staff permanently on location. This concession agreed by the NT Government must be reversed for it flies in the face of common sense.

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As a senior NT citizen since the 1970’s, I view with alarm the intention of seniors from around Australia to buy or rent property in Darwin in order to escape southern threats of coronavirus. We are a small jurisdiction and this migration if allowed could become quite overwhelming for our

health facilities. Allowing residential change at this time would be a very unwise move by our government.

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Scott Morrison asked us not to travel abroad, to stay home. Then we had 16,000 people leave on planes for overseas holidays. We had people leaving for wonderful times on cruise ships.

We had tens of thousands of Australians leave on various overseas holidays LONG AFTER the virus was circling the earth.

AND they want bringing home.

AND they want looking after.

AND they won’t social/ physical distance.

AND they breach self quarantine requirements.

SO do people like me say ‘thank you’ to them!!

Are we supposed to say ‘thank you’ to those returning with the virus they picked up while overseas. Are we especially supposed to say ‘thank you’ to those who, knowing the virus was starting to manifest itself around the world, non-the-less left on holidays overseas? Are we supposed to weep about the fact that common sense seems to be a commodity in short supply when people seek self-gratification notwithstanding risks to themselves and unfortunate others?

NT Virus positives up to 21

Once more, ‘thank you’ returning travellers who went overseas after being advised not to travel abroad. Do you want us to appreciate your selfishness and non-care for the community as a whole.

POINTS TO PONDER

Well over 1,000 Territorians gave responded to the Government’s matching people to available jobs, expressing a desire to go fruit picking. This change of attitude to an occupation that has been shunned and assigned to backpackers during past years is amazing. Hopefully, the value of such work will remain post this dreadful virus.l

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For TAL to discontinue insuring doctors against COVID-19 risk is reprehensible. This insurer states on the web, “at TAL we’re dedicated to supporting you and your family when life leaves its mark”. Some dedication, when our doctors are out there trying to save our community – and in all probability TAL having to pay out on others who might otherwise succumb to this virus.

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I believe the Northern Territory Government would be well advised to put the August election on hold for at least three months. Queensland’s local government election last weekend was a debacle! Physical distancing was not practised. We don’t need that for the NT. It would undo the good work our government is doing around managing the COVID-19.

POINTS TO PONDER

Well over 1,000 Territorians gave responded to the Government’s matching people to available jobs, expressing a desire to go fruit picking. This change of attitude to an occupation that has been shunned and assigned to backpackers during past years is amazing. Hopefully, the value of such work will remain post this dreadful virus.l

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For TAL to discontinue insuring doctors against COVID-19 risk is reprehensible. This insurer states on the web, “at TAL we’re dedicated to supporting you and your family when life leaves its mark”. Some dedication, when our doctors are out there trying to save our community – and in all probability TAL having to pay out on others who might otherwise succumb to this virus.

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I believe the Northern Territory Government would be well advised to put the August election on hold for at least three months. Queensland’s local government election last weekend was a debacle! Physical distancing was not practised. We don’t need that for the NT. It would undo the good work our government is doing around managing the COVID-19.

Over 1,000 Territorians gave responded to the Government’s matching people to available jobs, expressing a desire to go fruit picking. This change of attitude to an occupation that has been shunned and assigned to backpackers during past years is amazing. Hopefully, the value of such work will remain post this dreadful virus.

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For TAL to discontinue insuring doctors against COVID-19 risk is reprehensible. This insurer states on the web, “at TAL we’re dedicated to supporting you and your family when life leaves its mark”. Some dedication, when our doctors are out there trying to save our community – and in all probability TAL having to pay out on others who might otherwise succumb to this virus.

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Overseas students like the one featured in the front page story of “The Weekend Australian” who admit to flouting social distance rules should have their student visas torn up. They should be deported and denied future entry into Australia. They are just uncaring b……s who don’t give a whit about the country that has accepted them into studentship.

They epitomise the social fever increasingly gripping this country, that they are owed by the Australia and the world.

POINTS TO PONDER

Things are tightening economically and the government is pumping billions into keeping the country afloat. It will be interesting to see if the new prioritisations by people see a reduction in the amounts spent on alcohol, cigarettes and gambling.

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If schools are closed provision will have to be made for the children of doctors, nurses, medical support staff and child care workers. and so on. Without this support there will be a major drop off in medical and related professional staff able to go to work. This surely means some schools will have to be partially opened to provide for this care.

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The NRL competition should be terminated immediately. The players and support staff are on borrowed time and without doubt some level of player/coach/support staff/ infection is just around the corner. There is no chance the season will reach a conclusion. Neither can families cope with fathers and partners being in long term, cotton wooled isolation.

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Why is trading allowed to continue on the stock market? The environment is surreal and the world in a new phase of downturn occasioned by the Chinese Virus. It would make sense for trade to be suspended for the next three to six months.

Boris a dad again

If procreation over time and through decades is taken into account, British PM Boris Johnson must be in the running to take out the gong of UK Father of the Year for 2020.

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Youth crimes condoned and excused

No better example of misplacing responsibility for action than the Royal Commission into Juvenile Detention in the NT several years ago. This $60 million extravaganza came up with recommendations that interpret as the need to go softly on the crimes of young people. These are the young people, admittedly a minority but a voracious minority, turning Darwin, Alice Springs, Katherine, Tennant Creek and other communities into cities and towns of victims.

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AAP on the blink

AAP has been a wonderful friend and revealer of news, ACCURATE news for many years. My thanks to this organisation and its outstanding staff. We will miss you. Google news is less and Facebook revelations and atrociously poor substitute in revealing the news of the world.

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Four bins to differentiate Melbourne rubbish

The bins will look very pretty and stand like tall soldiers on the sidewalk on collection days. Can’t wait for this extension of material types for bins to be visited on Darwin, where many people have trouble differentiating two bins. Confusion will reign supreme.