Australia’s preoccupation with the Olympic games has taken its collective mind off the real world and its here-and-now issues.

I hope on the NT election day of August 24, there are no ambulance movements, no vehicle thefts, no home invasions or business break-ins. I hope there are no incidents of domestic violence, or alcohol-induced incidents at shopping centres, in car parks, at bus exchanges or in taverns or nightclubs.

I hope there will be no distractions to Territorians celebrating election day and rejoicing with whoever is chosen to form the new four-year – we have fixed terms – government.