FACT SHEET 23

What Territorians say they understand about Statehood in 2005

• During the 2005 Show circuit, the Statehood Steering Committee visited Fred’s Pass Rural Show, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine, Darwin and Borroloola Shows where we surveyed 1457 people on their understanding of Statehood.

• A survey was developed with ten quick questions to prompt Territorians to consider how much they know about Statehood and identify issues they may want to know more.  We intentionally did not ask people whether or not they support Statehood, although some people indicated they do already and some said they do not.

• Key Findings of Survey Results

  • The Statehood Steering Committee is mindful that this was a sample of people with access to major centres and it may not reflect the views of Territorians in more remote areas.

  • More than half of people surveyed are either not comfortable, or not sure if they are comfortable, about what Statehood means.  Just 47% indicated they are comfortable with this issue.

  • 42% indicated there are issues concerning Statehood about which they want more information before they would support Statehood.  20% of those want information on financial and tax issues.

  • This indicates some people are concerned that Statehood may mean the Territory would be disadvantaged financially or that taxes could increase.  The Statehood Steering Committee has developed a Fact Sheet on financial relationships with the Commonwealth. (Fact Sheet 6)

  • 66% of people are of the view that we do not have the same rights as a State with a further 20% unsure.

  • 51% of people surveyed are not sure of our Territory constitutional status.  The Northern Territory Self Government Act 1978 is an Act of the Commonwealth Parliament.

  • The survey asked people about how they want to receive information.  The most popular was 30% surveyed prefer to receive information on Statehood by direct mail.

  • The second most popular means of receiving information was television with 19% of participants wanting to view information on Statehood this way.  10% want to listen to it on the radio and 13% want to receive information from a variety of media.

• The information collected tells us how we should talk to Territorians about Statehood.

• These surveys are not conclusive.  The Statehood Steering Committee has a lot more work to do.

Northern Territory Statehood Steering Committee

statehood@nt.gov.au