Northern Territory Government Newsroom

December

29 December 2006
NT Seeks Drought Assistance
Territory pastoralists in Central Australia remain in the grip of one of the Territory’s worst droughts on record - despite scattered showers and some isolated falls, Minister for Primary Industry Chris Natt said today.

Dr Chris Burns - Road Changes Protect Families and Save Lives
The Northern Territory Government today reminded motorists that some road safety changes designed to protect Territory families will take effect from Monday.

28 December 2006
Kon Vatskalis - Howard Springs Nature Park Draft Plan of Management
Giving Territorians greater access to one of the Top End’s favourite recreation spots will be the priority of a new management plan, Acting Parks and Wildlife Minister Kon Vatskalis announced today.

27 December 2006
Fines And Education - Part Of Rail Safety Assessment
The Northern Territory Government is considering substantially increasing fines for disobeying rail crossing signs as part of a safety assessment following the recent train derailment.

21 December 2006
NT Pitches In To Fight Victorian Fires
A Northern Territory team of 25 fire fighters will travel to Victoria next week to assist in fighting the fires raging across the state.

20 December 2006
Paul Henderson - A Record 929 Territory Students Receive NTCE
A record 929 young Territorians are celebrating after achieving their NT Certificate of Education results today.

Dr Chris Burns - Anti-Gang Laws Target Troublemakers
Territory Police have been armed with tough new powers to break up gangs.

Dr Chris Burns / Karl Hampton - New Renal Unit Opens at ASH
The refurbished renal ward at the Alice Springs Hospital will be officially opened tomorrow.

Dr Chris Burns - Park and Ride – FREE Shuttle Bus to Stokes Hill Wharf
A free shuttle bus service will begin from tomorrow to transport locals and visitors from the city to Stokes Hill Wharf.

Paul Henderson - Record Number For Indigenous Students In NTCE
A record number of thirty indigenous students from six remote schools have passed their NTCE with excellent results.

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19 December 2006
Dr Chris Burns - Crime Figures Show Long-Term Reductions
The latest Crime and Justice Statistics show long-term reductions in property crime across the Northern Territory.

Paul Henderson - Interstate Visitors To The Nt Hit A Record High
Minister for Tourism Paul Henderson today welcomed the release of figures showing a record high for interstate holiday visitors to the NT for the year ending September 2006.

18 December 2006
Dr Chris Burns - Dedicated Traffic Branch for Territorians
The Territory’s Police Traffic Branch has been re-activated after 15 years, the Police Minister Chris Burns announced today.

Dr Chris Burns - Health System in Good Shape
The Northern Territory Government stood by its health staffing record today while denouncing the Opposition’s attempts to politicise the current EBAs.

Paul Henderson - Local Government Advisory Board Announced
The members of the local government Advisory Board have been announced.

Dr Chris Burns - NT Government Delivers Extra Police
The Police Minister Chris Burns said today he had received a memo from the Territory Police Commissioner confirming the Government is on target to add an extra 200 officers to the force by the end of the financial year.

17 December 2006
Kon Vatskalis - Arafura Games To Host 2008 Beijing Paralympics Qualifying Tournament
The 2007 Arafura Games will host the men’s wheelchair basketball Asia-Oceania Paralympic Qualifying Tournament for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.

16 December 2006
Let The Planting Begin
The first of 10,000 trees has been planted at the new 1.5 hectare green belt in Rapid Creek.

15 December 2006
Chief Minister’s Literacy Awards
High achievers in literacy have been honoured in the Territory’s primary schools – with 790 students recognised in the inaugural Chief Minister’s Literacy Achievement Awards.

NT’s richest Art Fellowship on offer
Arts Minister Marion Scrymgour today called for applications to the new Declan Apuatimi/J Bird Public Art Fellowship that offers an exciting new skills development opportunity for artists worth $20,000.

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14 December 2006
Alice Springs Police Response
Chief Minister Clare Martin says Police will be adopting the toughest possible approach to family feuding in Alice Springs.

Dr Chris Burns - Minister Attends National Drug Summit
The Territory Police and Health Minister Chris Burns will attend a national drug summit targeting cannabis and all forms of amphetamines including “ice” in Sydney this week.

Paul Henderson - Tiger Airways Celebrates 1st Anniversary By Expanding Service
The Minister for Tourism Paul Henderson has welcomed Tiger Airways announcement of increased services to Darwin as well as a special fare to coincide with its 1st anniversary celebrations.

Trains Back On Track Tomorrow
The Adelaide to Darwin rail line will re-open tomorrow night as repairs continue following Tuesday’s crash.

13 December 2006
New NT Arts Grants Board Nominations for 2007
Arts Minister Marion Scrymgour today announced that nominations are open for membership on the new Arts Grants Board as well as the newly established Northern Territory Register of Peers.

12 December 2006
Agencies Have Co-Ordinated Response to Derailment
Chief Minister Clare Martin said that Territorians were grateful that there has been minimal injuries from today's derailment of The Ghan.

Dr Chris Burns - Car Theft Victims get an early Christmas Present
The Police Minster Chris Burns today announced free immobiliser vouchers will be made available to 200 Territorians who own vehicles more than 10 years old and who have been the victim of car theft.

Kon Vatskalis - Perth Wildcats On The Prowl In Darwin
The Perth Wildcats today announced Sport and Recreation Minister Kon Vatskalis as the No.1 ticket holder in Darwin for the Wildcats National Basketball League game to be held in Darwin next February.

11 December 2006
Invasive Gecko Species Found in Darwin Suburb
Top End residents are being urged to keep a lookout for the “cane toad of the gecko world” – a breed of invasive gecko, which has been recently discovered in Darwin.

Dr Chris Burns - Palmerston Tackles Alcohol Problems
The city of Palmerston has received a $25,000 Territory Government grant to address alcohol misuse.

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8 December 2006
Paul Henderson - More Good News For Tourism In The Territory
Minister for Tourism Paul Henderson today welcomed more good news confirming tourism in the Territory is bucking the national trend.

Kon Vatskalis - New $7m Ausfuel Depot Secures The Territory’s Fuel Distribution Network
Ausfuel’s new $7m depot, the Territory’s largest integrated fuel and transport depot, was officially opened today by the Minister for Business and Economic Development, Kon Vatskalis.

Sundowner Extension Helps Families
The Chief Minister has written to residents of the Sundowner Caravan Park today, confirming that a two month extension has been negotiated to allow them more time to find alternative accommodation.

Malarndirri McCarthy - Ten Canoes Scoops Afi Awards For The Territory
The Chief Minister and Member for Arnhem today congratulated the cast and crew of the film Ten Canoes for taking out several awards at the prestigious Australian Film Industry Awards last night.

Kon Vatskalis - Territory Cricket Legend Hangs Up The Whites
The Territory’s first Australian test cricketer has retired from international cricket.

7 December 2006
Delia Lawrie - Community Education A Priority For Opal Roll Out
The Northern Territory’s Minister for Family and Community Services, Delia Lawrie, will bring together key health organisations to look at ways of maximising the Commonwealth’s roll out of the non-sniffable Opal fuel.

Paul Henderson - NT Youth Are Business Winners
The newly announced winners of the NT Youth Business Awards today presented their business and business plan to Education Minister Paul Henderson at Casuarina Senior College.

Dr Chris Burns - Remote Clinics Connected to Internet
Fifty-four remote Territory health clinics have full Internet access for the first time after a comprehensive $900,000 IT roll-out.

Dr Chris Burns - Time Draws Near for Residents to Have a Say
The Racing, Gaming and Licensing Minister Chris Burns is encouraging Alice Springs residents to comment on an application to declare all public places in the town dry.

6 December 2006
Dr Chris Burns - Better Health for Croker Island
The community of Croker Island has a new $3.33m health centre.

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Paul Henderson - Re-Opening Of Mamaruni School, Croker Island
Minister for Employment, Education and Training Paul Henderson officially reopened the Mamaruni School on Croker Island today.

5 December 2006
Delia Lawrie - Look After Your Mates – “Who’s Bob Tonight?”
Territorians are being urged to leave the car at home during this year’s festive party season. Launching the annual Sober Bob campaign in Darwin city today, Transport Minister, Delia Lawrie, urged Territorians to rely on a sober driver or use public transport when attending Christmas functions over the next few weeks.

4 December 2006
Alice Springs Desert Park Wins Brolgas
Environment Minister Marion Scrymgour today congratulated the Alice Springs Desert Park for winning two Brolgas at Saturday night’s Brolga Northern Territory Tourism Awards at the Alice Springs Convention Centre.

Delia Lawrie - Aranda House Upgrade Makes Way For New Substance Abuse Residential Rehab
More than $1 million dollars is being spent upgrading Aranda House in Alice Springs, converting the building into a 20-bed facility for residential rehabilitation treatment for adult substance abuse clients.

Dr Chris Burns - Dengue Mozzie Targeted
The Territory Health Department is leading a joint effort to eradicate the dengue fever-carrying mosquito on Groote Eylandt.

Kon Vatskalis - Promoting The Territory
The Northern Territory Minister for Business and Economic Development, Kon Vatskalis, is promoting gas exploration opportunities at a time when globally energy dependency is increasing.

Territory Drought Focus Of Meeting
Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries Chris Natt will meet with his federal counterpart in Canberra tomorrow to discuss the issue of drought in Central Australia.

3 December 2006
Delia Lawrie - 25th International Day Of People with Disability - a chance to reflect and plan
The 25th International Day of People with Disability today is an opportunity to reflect on improvements made to the sector and its future directions in the Territory.

2 December 2006
Paul Henderson - Minister Congratulates Brolga Award Winners
Minister for Tourism Paul Henderson has congratulated the winners of the 2006 Brolga Northern Territory Tourism Awards.

1 December 2006
Paul Henderson - Changes To Workers Compensation
Yesterday, Minister for NT WorkSafe, Paul Henderson tabled an amendment to the Work Health Act.

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Paul Henderson - Premiere Promotes Best Of The Red Centre
The premiere screening of a new documentary by filmmaker and adventurer, Sorrel Wilby showcasing the diversity of the NT’s Red Centre, was previewed at the Alice Springs Desert Park today.

Kon Vatskalis - Retail Trade Figures - Good News For Small Business
The latest retail trade figures showing 7.8% growth in the year to October is evidence that the strong Territory economy is paying dividends for small business, Minister for Business and Economic Development, Kon Vatskalis, said today.