COMMENT ON ISSUES

Wronging children

Why do they do these things. Know also that false accusations, that are made up to scores of years after the alleged offence, can cut innocent ones who are falsely accused,  deeply and permanently. There is no comeback for those who are maligned in this way and the accuser is home free.

Commissioner Dole

May Commissioner Dole be blessed as he assumes his new leadership role permanently. And may our police force move forward with confidence and with the respect of the NT public.

Crime is forgiven 

Yes, remanded then bailed without doubt. Why do I commend our police for their valiant efforts, appreciate business proprietors who, despite damage, manage for the most part to carry on, and empathise with victims of car theft and those whose houses are broken into? And why do I have very little respect for those in the judiciary who look for every opportunity to release these criminals, many of them habitual offenders, on bail?

Protest march on Sunday

Thankfully, for the most part, the Northern Territory has not had to endure the constant weekend disruptions of city centres with protests, which can disrupt everyday life. Sunday’s ‘happening’ in Darwin must have been prompted by a light bulb going off in someone’s head.

Public Transport is a war zone area

It is appalling that a service that was once so good and safe to use has deteriorated over time to the point where travelling by bus is akin to inviting oneself into a war zone.  Dastardly behaviour and disregard for the rights of both drivers and passengers are the norm, and it is wrong that such behaviour is tacitly condoned.

The best leaders 

There are so many outstanding leaders in various fields in the NT that the mind boggles at the enormous task facing the judging panel.

Victoria’s status

I think the Award of Banana Republic is well and truly in Victoria’s kitbag. The question is whether Premier Allen will emulate her predecessors ‘ability’ to ‘earn’ the award of Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) almost as soon as she retires or relinquishes the Premiership.

Frank Alcorta passes away

The passing of Mr Alcorta leaves a memory of positive contributions to our community in many different operational domains.  I credit him with being the NT journalist who elicited my first ever contribution to the pages of the NT News. My letter, back a long time ago, was in response to a comment he offered about school leadership and the role of Northern Territory school principals.  His perceptions helped me grow into the roles I later filled in NT Education, and in hindsight, I appreciate him for awakening my awareness.  Frank Alcorta was a journalist, a contributor, and a man for whom I had deep respect, because he prioritised salient issues and elaborated upon things that needed to be done.  We have been blessed by the accomplishments he achieved throughout his life.

City of Darwin Council

I have several issues – not with staff but with CoD Council priorities or lack thereof:

* Ratepayers in our ward NEVER meet or hear from councillors. That is number one—and the main one. Why do councillors remain invisible? I have not seen a councillor for a good ten years. They never come calling and never make contact. There are three Councillors in our ward.  I do know their names from electoral recency, but they never meet ratepayers in any primary forum.  Why?

CBD businesses being driven to the wall by CoD slowness 

I believe that some of the delays may have been occasioned by preoccupation with Council elections. With the new council – with its share of new faces – in place and under the mayorship of Peter Styles, I would have every confidence in the fact that slowed completion programs will quickly become history as the new Council gets on with the business of delivery.  

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Charles Darwin University

How I would love CDU to care for Australian students, especially those in the NT who are not Indigenous and who find themselves confronted by endless challenges of course relevance, timetable confusion, the need to travel between campuses and whose focus in lectures is often distorted because of the insufficiencies of language (English) transactions between students physically attending lectures and those who are engaged at the same time through online entry.  The University lacks nothing in vision, but the realities of learning, and indeed, the quality of degrees have not improved over time.

Rose coloured glasses don’t fit policing

The reality of the Norrthern Territory is that policing is bloody difficult and largely because beople are treated differently to each other. As an example – the behaviours of First Nations people is treated differenly to others in the community. 

First Nations people are preferenced over others when it comes to hospital emergency care, within shopping precincts, on public transport and so on. Rules are changed and processes are altered to try and accomodate them, rather than there being an approach of one response for all.  

In Victoria, there is astonishment that one of the major hospiotals is preferencing First Nations people above all orheres. Well, that has been how it is done in the NT for more than a decade, and that treatment gap in all areas of community function is ever more toward prioritising First Nations people over the rest.

That, of course, applies to policing but also to every other function of government and organisations. And that is NOT right.