Email: statehood [at] nt [dot] gov [dot] au
Editor
Peter, much of Australia agrees with you! But how does it sit with you that as a Territorian, your voice is not really important when the referenda relating to this discussion are put? The NT might sit at 2020 Summits and COAG, but its citizens' voices do not count as much as those in the States.
Email: pjplus [at] octa4 [dot] net [dot] au
Peter Jessep
I reckon you are all barking up the wrong tree.
We are probably the most over governed country in the World.
We already have a Chief Minister that earns a similar amount of salary to our Prime minister and gets elected by a few thousand votes.
What we really need is to abolish all States and have a central Government with a more powerful Local Government.
The duplication of services in this country is mind boggling, the rules and regulations relating to qualifications, boating, even drivers licences , to name but a few, vary in each jurisdiction so at times we are all wont to wonder if we live in the same country.
I for one will not support more Politicians, more red tape and more Government.
The huge waste of our taxpayers dollar is already too frightening.
Email: info [at] statehood [dot] nt [dot] gov [dot] au
Editor
Colin, why is it that you feel we should not have the full rights of Australian Citizens to legislate over their own affairs? That is what Statehood would give the Territory. We are also underrepresented within the Federal Parliament having very few Senators with which to promote the Territory's view on national issues. Within the House of Representatives we continue to have no guaranteed level of Representation, let alone minimum numbers that are the conditions for the other States.
Email: mikeo_911 [at] hotmail [dot] com
Michael
I think the NT should have become a state ages ago. Australia needs another state and the NT would be great.
Email: charleygal [at] hotmail [dot] com
Charlene
The territory should have statehood because if they did the euthanasia bill would still stand
Email: ch [dot] morrow [at] bigpond [dot] com
Colin Morrow
We Voted NO in 1998. So why are you still pushing it?.
Email: eddie [dot] josephs [at] bigpond [dot] com
Eddie Josephs
I understand we will be given the opportunity to change the name of the Northern Territory as part of the Statehood issue.
Statehood will be an opportunity for us to draw a line in the sand. I believe we should change the name because the name we have was in part given us by South Australia. It is common knowledge that the Northern Territory started it's life as part of NSW. Then South Australia came along. Early in the life of South Australia the Government of South Australia wanted to build the overland telegraph line. They did not want to build the line on land they did not own so, proper papers were drawn up and the area of land was excised from NSW and became, 'The Northern Territory of South Australia.'
South Australia then went ahead and built the overland telegraph line.
When Federation took place South Australia no longer wanted the area of land they had named 'The Northern Territory of South Australia,' so they gave it to the Federal Government to administer.
The Federal Government changed the name to 'The Northern Territory.'
So, we have no real allegiance to the name 'The Northern Territory,' which was decided for us by Canberra.
I believe that if we leave the name of the new state as The Northern Territory then it shows that we lack the sort of foresight I always thought Northern Territorians had. It lacks imagination and I have to say that 'The Northern Territory of South Australia,' we are not.
We already have a South Australia and a Western Australia. We don't need a 'Northern Australia.'
I really believe that at Statehood we should change the name of the Northern Territory to 'Arnhem.'
The name 'Arnhem' has had a long association with the Northern Territory. Arnhem Land is a place that is a mystery to most Territorians because it was always necessary to get a permit to go there.
If we adopt the name Arnhem for our new State I believe the name has sufficient connection with our past to be relevant. It fits in with reconcilliation and we can all become part of the mystery that the words Arnhem Land have held for most Australians, including most Territorians.
Unfortunately I believe that whether or not The Northern Territory changes it's name at Statehood will probably be decided by the people of the Darwin area who are not, in my view, the real Territorians.
Lets show some real guts.
Email: dante1 [at] iinet [dot] net [dot] au
Dante Giacomin
Statehood for the NT is long overdue. NT will not reach its full potential until it becomes a state.
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