Northern Territory Government Newsroom

December

31 December 2005
Closing Dates Approach For 100 Scholarships And
Territorians are urged to apply for 100 Territory Government Scholarships and Student Teacher Bursaries for 2006 as cut-off dates for applications are fast approaching Education Minister Syd Stirling said today

29 December 2005
Elliot McAdam - Home Is Where The IHANT Is
Housing Minister, Elliot McAdam today announced the members appointed to the new Indigenous Housing Authority of the Northern Territory (IHANT) Board.

22 December 2005
First Step Taken To Secure Future Gas Supply
Acting Chief Minister Syd Stirling has welcomed the signing of a Heads of Agreement by Eni Australia Limited and Power and Water yesterday afternoon.

New High For Indigenous Education In The Territory
Indigenous education in remote Northern Territory communities reached new heights with the release of the NT Certificate of Education results. For the first time, all five remote community education centres that are accredited to provide senior secondary studies have produced graduates.

21 December 2005
Paul Henderson - Lock Up Your House – Save Your Pressies!
Police Minister Paul Henderson today urged Territorians to make sure they remained vigilant about keeping their houses safe over the holiday season.

Motor Vehicle Sales Remain Strong
Continued strong purchasing of utes, trucks and buses have again helped drive growth in new motor vehicle sales in the year to November 2005 Treasurer Syd Stirling said today.

Record 927 Students Celebrate NTCE Results
A record 927 Territory year 12 graduates are celebrating after receiving their NT Certificates of Education results today.

Paul Henderson - Santa Rushed Off His Feet As Territorians Stock Up For Christmas
In the strongest sign yet that the Territory is enjoying a spending spree this Christmas period, Business Minister Paul Henderson today confirmed that Santa Claus has been officially rushed off his feet.

19 December 2005
Kon Vatskalis - $1.7 Million To Arts Community
The Territory’s vibrant arts community is set to benefit in 2006 through a $1.69 million funding program announced today by Acting Arts Minister Kon Vatskalis.

Elliot McAdam - Looking For Opportunities For Accommodation For
Housing Minister Elliot McAdam will tomorrow travel interstate to investigate options for accommodation for older Territorians.

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New Director Of Public Prosecutions
A new Director of Public Prosecutions has been selected following the retirement of Rex Wild QC from one of the Northern Territory’s most important legal positions.

Skills And Training Boost With First Build Skills NT
The Territory Government’s push to build a better skilled and trained workforce has taken an important step forward with the first project for Build Skills NT being approved, Employment, Education and Training Minister Syd Stirling said today.

18 December 2005
Kon Vatskalis - Get Your Christmas Goose Before It’s Too Late!
Parks and Wildlife officers will continue to patrol waterfowl hunting areas for the last few days of the 2005 Waterfowl Hunting Season which finishes on Friday, Acting Parks and Wildlife Minister Kon Vatskalis said today.

Elliot McAdam - Take Care Of Your Christmas Hamsters!
Local Government Minister Elliot McAdam urged Territorians to make sure their pets are looked after if they go on holidays—and to take care if giving pets as Christmas presents.

16 December 2005
Kon Vatskalis - Multicultural Groups Win Cultural Awards
Minister for Multicultural Affairs Kon Vatskalis has announced this year’s winners of the Territory Government 2004-2005 Cultural and Linguistic Awards.

15 December 2005
Kon Vatskalis - Breaking New Ground In The NT Pastoral Industry
An initiative aimed at increasing the participation rates of Indigenous people in the Northern Territory pastoral industry has been celebrated in a publication about the project.

Paul Henderson - Historic Graduation For Territory Recruits
For the first time in the Territory’s history, Police Constables, Aboriginal Community Police Officers and Fire recruits will be graduating at the same ceremony today.

Delia Lawrie - Maximising The Territory’s Ability In Disability Services
Disability Services in the Territory will get its first independent comprehensive review Minister for Family and Community Services Delia Lawrie announced today.

14 December 2005
Break-Ins Fall In Nhulunbuy
Nhulunbuy has recorded a drop in commercial and house break-ins in the latest Crime and Justice Statistics for the Northern Territory.

Drop In Property Crime And Assaults In Darwin
Darwin has recorded a fall in property crime and offences against the person in the latest Northern Territory Crime and Justice statistics.

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Paul Henderson - Henderson Congratulates Police On Job Well Done
Police Minister Paul Henderson today thanked Territory police for their work on the Falconio investigation over the past four years.

More Will Be Done To Combat Crime In Alice
The Northern Territory Government and Police will escalate efforts to combat crime in Alice Springs following the results of the latest NT Crime and Justice Statistics.

Paul Henderson - New Book To Help Communities Prepare For Disaster
A new book to help remote Aboriginal communities prepare for disasters and emergencies has been launched by Emergency Services Minister Paul Henderson in Darwin today.

NT Schools Sign-Up For Age Of Entry Trial Phase II
Minister for Employment, Education and Training, Syd Stirling today announced that 21 Government schools across the Territory have signed up for Phase II of the Age of Entry Trial commencing 2006.

Property Crime And Assaults Fall In Palmerston
Palmerston has recorded a healthy drop in property offences and offences against the person in the latest Northern Territory crime statistics.

Property Crime Falls In Katherine
Katherine is making inroads into property crime with 107 less property offences overall in the year-onyear comparisons of the latest crime statistics.

Propery Crime And Assaults Down In Tennant Creek
Justice Minister Dr Peter Toyne says the latest crime statistics for Tennant Creek show a marked improvement in the number of offences

Paul Henderson - Territory Government Secures Regulation Funding
Following strong lobbying, the Territory Government has secured more than $360,000 from the Regulation Reduction Incentive Fund (RRIF), which is administered by AusIndustry, to help reduce business red tape and compliance costs by streamlining and simplifying procedures.

13 December 2005
Government Endorses Middle Years Framework
The Martin Labor Government has endorsed the report for Stage One of the Making the Most of the Middle Years consultation, paving the way for further discussions on how best to implement changes to education for students in Years 7 – 9 in the Northern Territory.

Territorians Have The Most Confidence About
A sign of our strong economic times with Territorians leading the nation for confidence levels in their financial prospects for the year ahead, according to the December 2005 Sensis Consumer Report, Treasurer Syd Stirling said today.

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12 December 2005
Paul Henderson - Darwin To Become Centre For Defence Maintenance
A new Government training scheme has helped secure a deal that could see Darwin become Australia’s maintenance hub for one of the Defence Force’s specialised weapons, Defence Support Minister Paul Henderson said.

School Attendance Officer Program Redesign
Minister for Employment, Education and Training Syd Stirling said today the Territory Government will redesign the School Attendance Officer (SAOs) Program with the goal of developing a better system that gets more kids to school.

9 December 2005
Howard Springs Nature Park
The NT Government’s commitment to Howard Springs Nature Park has been intensified with the employment of Indigenous rangers and a long-term planning team.

8 December 2005
Alice Springs School Dental Upgrade
Students from a Central Australian school now have even more reason to smile after the refurbishment of their on-site dental clinic.

Back To School Payment To Help Family Hip Pockets
Minister for Employment Education and Training Syd Stirling has announced that the Northern Territory Government will implement the $50 Back to School Payment Scheme from the start of Term 1 2006.

Territory Record Strong Labour Force Results
The Northern Territory has the third lowest unemployment rate in Australia according to ABS Labour Force, November 2005 statistics Treasurer Syd Stirling said today.

7 December 2005
Economy Grows With Increase In State Final Demand
There is further evidence of our strengthening economy with the release of State Final Demand (SFD) figures for the September quarter 2005 Treasurer Syd Stirling said today.

Safe And Sustainable Ambulance Service
The NT Government has announced major improvements to the Territory’s ambulance service to ensure safe and sustainable operations into the future.

Territory Leads Nation In Housing Finance For Owner
In the year to October 2005 the number of housing finance commitments for owner-occupation increased by 25.9% in the Territory (from 5,676 in October 2004 to 7,145 in October 2005), compared to 6.4% growth nationally.

6 December 2005
Government Push To Encourage Apprenticeships
The Territory Government’s push to address skills shortages and encourage apprenticeships and traineeships - highlighted at the recent Economic Summit – continues, with the start of advertising for the fourth round of the Skill Shortage Trades Employer Incentive Scheme.

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Latest Territory Innovations At E-Learning Showcase
Vocational education and training (VET) practitioners from across the Territory will gather to see the latest local innovations and developments in teaching and training, using technology and computers, in Darwin for two-days starting today (Tuesday 6th December).

5 December 2005
Territory Jobs Market Growth
In the year to November 2005, there was a 14.2% increase in Territory job ads (from 3,260 to 3,723), while nationally there was a decrease of 3.5% Treasurer Syd Stirling said today.

Youth Business Awards - Entrepreneurs Of Tomorrow
Budding entrepreneurs from Territory high schools have demonstrated the skills to operate small business enterprises of the future Minister for Employment, Education and Training Syd Stirling said today.

3 December 2005
Increase In Territory Apprenticeships & Traineeships
The number of Territorians to start apprenticeships and traineeships in the year to 30 June 2005 has risen by 29 per cent - bringing the total number in-training to 3200 – according to the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) report.

2 December 2005
CLP Opposition Caught Out Over Irrkerlantye
The CLP’s Richard Lim has been caught out as the worst kind of hypocrite Minister for Employment, Education and Training said today.

Darwin House Prices Increase Dramatically
Treasurer Syd Stirling said today the price of a house in Darwin increased by 21.9% in the year to September 2005 - the largest increase in the country - according to the ABS House Price Index (HPI) release today.

Screen Grants Advisory Panel
A Darwin man who worked on the Australian movie Phar Lap has been appointed to the Territory’s new Screen Grants Advisory Panel.

1 December 2005
Anti-Social Behaviour Legislation
Minister for Justice and Attorney-General Dr Peter Toyne has introduced legislation to Parliament to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Delia Lawrie - Celebrating The “Ability” In Disability
Members of Parliament have shown support for International Day of People with Disability with a wheelchair basketball display at State Square today.

Elliot McAdam - Task Force To Improve Town Camps
Housing Minister Elliott McAdam today announced the establishment of a task force that will examine and report on social conditions and governance arrangements relating to town camps in Alice Springs.

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Tourism Changes To Boost Jobs
The Northern Territory Government unveiled changes to the Tourist Commission (NTTC) which are designed to focus on new partnerships and jobs growth in one of the Territories fastest growing sectors.