DARWIN'S FORT KNOX

On a stinking hot day in Darwin , this writer , in town for a  few weeks from interstate , decided to  drop into the parliament house building  , known as the wedding cake, above, to make use of  the  excellent  library  and research a number of subjects . It was not to be . Upon entering the  front door where there is a security check , I was greeted  by  three men , two smiling, one not so happy looking  seemingly in command, doing  all the talking . Did I want to go to the library, he asked. Yes . No. It's shut on Mondays-go to the public library .

 

Okay, could I see  a journalist - named - who works for the government , if he  is on the premises? Who ? Apparently not  known , but no offer to ring through  and check if he is  upstairs in  the corridors of  power . The  talkative  chap said  you have  to  ring  in advance  and make an appointment  if you want to see  anybody in  the  building . Really?

 

This being the case, I thought it would be  useless  to  attempt to see the journalist on the last day  in  town to  alert  him  to the fact that I had picked up  an amazing story about  a  government   department  continually   fobbing off  payment  to  a   considerable number of  Territorians , highly ranking public servants   telling  increasingly  angry  inquirers not to  take any notice of  what  the Chief Minister said in a media  statement  which  stated  the   dough  was available  and  ready  for   instant  payment. What  gives ?
 

From a  source  deep inside the impregnable  cake tin , I was informed that parliament house has a new  security  set up . If so , the manner in which members of the public  are  treated  attempting to enter the building , especially  those  without  an appointment who might be able to  impart  invaluable  information  for  the  government, needs  an improvement , making the joint even  seem   welcoming .