GOVERNMENT POACHING CAUSES CONCERN

The expansion of the NT Government’s propaganda and PR wings is causing problems for the commercial Film and Television Association of the NT (FATANT) . The Association , with some 70 members, has complained to the government about the way commercial staff is lured away by government departments to carry out work which could and should be done by private enterprise.

The poaching of staff damages the capacity and running of already existing businesses . Private enterprise finds it hard to compete against the government’s capacity to offer higher salaries .

Over the past year , at least four ministers, including the Chief Minister, Paul Henderson, have been made aware of the situation . Other ministers told of the problem were Marion Scrymgour, now an independent , Dr Burns , when he was the Health Minister, and Kon Vatskalis.

It is understood Dr Burns was surprised to learn that the NT Health Department has a section known as the Interactive Communications and Development Unit which has about $70,000 worth of equipment , including several video production suites , a camera , and a staff of five making it the second largest production house in the NT.

The Unit produces health related film and TV material which private enterprise believes should be tendered out in accordance with the Federal government’s intention to stimulate business.


Education has $30,000 worth of camera equipment sitting in a cupboard but currently no staff to operate it and other departments with growing production units include Primary Industry and Police . There is a belief in FATANT that money intended to be spent under the Federal government intervention to improve conditions in Aboriginal communities is being diverted into government departments to purchase more expensive equipment and to expand propaganda activities .

SECRET FIRE SERVICE RISK ASSESSMENT

What has happened to the risk assessment report on the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service ?. Carried out by a southern consultant , Jim Kent, the report was handed to the NT Police Commissioner early this year. Little Darwin understands the extensive report, said to be 50 or more pages in length, revealed a most unsatisfactory situation that has existed for years which has been the cause of much legitimate complaint to fire service management.


In fact, the damning report appears to have confirmed in spades an earlier three page occupational health and safety report which was immediately discredited in bureaucratic fashion and buried. Not so long ago Police Commissioner White did a tour of fire stations and received an “ earful” about shortcomings in the fire service and requests for details of the Kent risk assessment report . The home truths were not what he hears when talking with the rank and file in the constabulary . It seems the report is too hot to be seen by the firefighters and the public as it is still under wraps.

PLUMBING THE POLITICAL DEPTHS

A prominent Darwin plumber is likely to have his certificate of registration cancelled for failing to fix the source of a leak which exploded and nearly washed the NT Government up the mighty Limpopo River without a paddle.

The Dutch plumber , who boasted he was related to the brave boy who digitally saved Holland’s vital tulip industry from inundation, had been called in earlier in the week to investigate an ominous rumble in the S-bend which services the l5 executive washrooms in parliament house, aka the marzipan Wedding Cake.

The mystery roar, described variously as one of those rude sounds made by Neddy Seagoon in the Goon Show and the great Krakatoa explosion , happened on the hour every hour. It also generated what looked like a leak under the carpet , the place where many contentious issues are swept . Unable to solve the puzzle, the dodgy plumber stuffed a wad of media releases into the S-bend and it went silent . Then he presented a bill for $20,000 , free tickets to the V8 car races and an invite to the Chief Minister’s Xmas booze up.

Came the day of an important caucus meeting , which started with the usual singing of Solidarity Forever , and the soggy media releases disintegrated. With a frightening roar , the S-bend cleared and erupted like the Pohutu Geyser at Whakarewarewa after yet again being soaped by a visiting team of drunken Aussie rugby league players. The cascade brought tears of fear to the eyes of caucus members as a biblical flood suddenly filled the chamber in the middle of a Hillsong bonding session. With water up to their chins, somebody screamed, “ Don’t slam the door !”, fearing a tidal wave of grey water would pour down their cake holes. Interpol has been called in to track down the plumber who is believed to be in charge of the bilge pumps aboard a bumboat on the Zeider Zee

NIGHTCLIFF BREAK INS/ COURT DELAY

Once again ,two shops in the Nightcliff Village have been broken into in one night . For one of the shops it was the 32nd raid on their premises in six years , which must be close to a Territory record. It is also a massive financial burden and distressing for people trying to make a living, their trading hours reduced because of lawlessness.

With the usual fanfare, the NT Government recently announced CCTV would be installed at Palmerston , Casuarina and elsewhere in the city. But not at Nightcliff where shopkeepers and nearby residents, especially in the housing commission areas , have been under virtual siege for years . Little Darwin recently detailed the intolerable situation at Nightcliff which obviously demands a new co-ordinated approach .

In other Nightcliff news, the hearing of an application for a noise abatement order against real estate agent Tony Fotiades , of Sandalwood Street, was adjourned when a magistrate ruled himself out of the case because he knew one of the plaintiff's witnesses , the well known Chips Mackinolty , who lives nextdoor to Fotiades. Magistrate Lowndes said he had been in contact with Mackinolty over many years . Witnesses , including two police officers, were forced to wait around while an attempt was made to find a magistrate to hear the case . There being no one available , the case was adjourned until next month to set a hearing date.

Chips recently figured in the NT News in respect of a computer generated painting he and Therese Ritchie produced of the Nightcliff MLA Jane Aagaard. It shows the beaming member standing with her hand next to a fine bone china cup and saucer, not Royal Doulton with handpainted periwinkles, and what seems like a packet of Scotch fingers. The newspaper account said Ms Aagaard's portrait now hangs in parliament house.

WEIRD WARNING AND ANNOYING CALLS

A strange animated message with a warning " not to read the following if you have moral, ethical or religious reasons against hurting (or even killing ) someone who violently attacks you ,your wife or your kids" has been popping up on the computer screen . Coupled with the bank security number scams , there has been an increase in annoying telemarketing calls from twerps who won't take no for an answer.

BIFF! THUMP! SOCK!- NT JUNGLE RUMBLE

In a desperate bid to overcome his money problems, lovable Humphrey B Bear is to fight a masked Northern Territory politician in the Botanical Gardens as part of the Darwin City Council cracker night celebrations.

The boxing pollie has not been named- but Little Darwin has been told he will have an unusual ring name like the Larrakeyah Lip or the Mouth from the South . He has been in heavy training for the fight and recently narrowly won a punch up with a tipsy bridesmaid at a wedding in a torrid 10 rounder.A sporting vicar who officiated as the referee in the nuptials brawl received a black eye , was kicked in the gizonkas and has since taken a vow of celibacy .

In an exclusive interview with Little Darwin , Humphrey B Bear , out doing roadwork this morning in Mitchell Street , said he is looking forward to the rumble in the jungle. "I love yuz all in Darwin , " he said , skipping , jabbing , sweating , grunting, chewing on a slippery salmon. Yogi Bear has a long association with Darwin and used to appear at promotions for Tim the Toy Man -Timmy Forday- at Parap.

Channel 9 has secured the exclusive rights of what promises to be one of the great sporting events of the century. It will be beamed via a North Korean satellite which is gathering barnacles in the Sea of Japan - emitting strange sounds like a live recording of Legislative Assembly debates in Aussie Mandarin .

MAORI GUIDE FOR NT POLITICS ?

Because of their cultural background and obligations , it is inevitable that indigenous members of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, from time to time, have to go against decisions made by their own political party .

Not so very long ago, Alison Anderson and Malarndirri McCarthy crossed the floor opposing the McArthur River mine legislation, in the process receiving flak from ALP members , the usual iron- fisted, single –minded mining juggernaut and derision from assorted hacks.

And just recently Marion Scrymgour felt so strongly about an issue it led to her quitting the ALP. For her stance, she was made to appear emotionally unbalanced -even reportedly crying , which she did not, at that leaky caucus meeting. Even if she had wept , so what ? Prime Minister Bob Hawke managed to shed a tear or two in public and nobody inferred he was erratic, bonkers , unstable. Malcolm Fraser appeared to weep in public and US Deputy Sheriff John Howard came close to blubbering after his defeat. In fairness, it must be said that the only members of the Legislative Assembly who seem to show some real guts and stand for principles, against enormous pressure, are its indigenous members .

Perhaps the time has come when the indigenous members should consider forming a power bloc of their own to give them collective clout and protection from organised , unreasonable attacks . In a situation very similar to that which pertains in the Territory, New Zealand’s Maori Party was formed on July 7, 2004 . Its co-leader , Tariana Turia , launched the party after resigning from the Labour Party where she had been a Cabinet minister in the fifth Labour- led government. She had been told that if she voted in favor of Maori ownership of the foreshore and seabed , it would be “ incompatible” with holding ministerial rank. She resigned, and won back her seat at a by –election two months later. A high profile academic, Pita Sharples, was another co-leader of the Maori Party . After the 2008 election , the Maori Party , with four seats, supported the National –led government , Turia and Sharples becoming ministers .

Properly united and determined as the Maori Party , with strong policies, such a group , within the party , could be more influential in NT politics , especially as the next election is likely to see a few more independents stand , so many voters fed up with lightweights on both sides of the two main parties.