The Northern Territory Country Liberal Party government led by unpopular Chief Minister , Adam Giles , last seen on crutches , is being tossed about and well grilled like the contents in a flaming wok , above, in Darwin's Smith Street Mall.Territorians are furious over the sale of the Territory Insurance Office . Also visible in this graphic photo is an NT News poster highlighting the government's hard sell on TIO .
The insurance assets have been sold to the world's biggest insurer -Allianz- for $236 million and the banking side went to People's Choice for $48 million. The fear is that insurance premiums will be increased and jobs lost .This concern is felt in North Queensland where there are TIO insurance holders and insurance premiums generally have skyrocketed there in recent years .
The insurance assets have been sold to the world's biggest insurer -Allianz- for $236 million and the banking side went to People's Choice for $48 million. The fear is that insurance premiums will be increased and jobs lost .This concern is felt in North Queensland where there are TIO insurance holders and insurance premiums generally have skyrocketed there in recent years .
There is widespread dissent over the sale and the NT News has been giving the outrage much coverage . A stand was set up in The Mall in Darwin and many people signed a petition against the sale . Several members of the dysfunctional Giles Government are green about the gills as it is easy to gauge the feelings in tiny electorates and they know voters will extract revenge at the next election.
A large protest rally was about to take place this week in Darwin . Longtime influential activist, June Tapp, a contemporary of the late Jim Bowditch, made her feelings clear at a meeting in Katherine and brandished a Northern Territory News poster. There is talk that the government will use the proceeds from the sale to fund a "pork barrel" election fund . The sale announcement came shortly after Inpex announced it would sack 1000 or more workers from its $30billion gas plant in Darwin before Christmas, some likely to be re-employed in the Dry .
The Gove refinery is in virtual mothballs , the workforce greatly reduced . While there has been much talk about the potential massive cost of covering claims made on the government backed TIO due to natural disasters , it is the unexpected economic hits which also shock and impact on the community .
The Gove refinery is in virtual mothballs , the workforce greatly reduced . While there has been much talk about the potential massive cost of covering claims made on the government backed TIO due to natural disasters , it is the unexpected economic hits which also shock and impact on the community .
