I could not help but ponder two stories on opposite pages in the NT News (8 September)

On page four, there was a column in which journalist Paul Shapiro was taken to task by Darcy Fitzgerald for his ultra-negative criticisms of our capital city. What came to mind was the need for balance in reporting.

Then on page five was another story, both alarming and sad, in which Mr Fitzgerald shared evidence of  Darwin being the “ … cocaine, ketamine, cannabis and alcohol capital”.  Along with that, tobacco use by Territorians is the highest in Australia. 

The Chair of Banyan House rehabilitation service, Dr Robert Parker, echoed the alarm this story should raise.  He described alcohol as “ … the most problematic drug in the Territory … (and) one of the reasons we have such a high rate of violence and crime in the NT”.

These two columns left me wondering “where to from here for Darwin and the NT.”