1228OPINIONOPINION WEDNESDAYMONDAY JULYAPRIL 27 4 2016 MONDAY APRIL 4 2016 OPINION 29 Speak Up: Are you a member of a Territorian gym? NO I would have to NO I used to be a YES I just signed up YES I’m a member of NO But I do teach think about it before member some time to a yoga class. iFitness, I like to train some classes in joining. ago – 10 years ago. with weights. Fernwood. I like to teach boxing and Pilates. THILINA HEDDIARACHICHI, NIGHTCLIFF BOB BRADY, FANNIE BAY CATHY WHITE, NIGHTCLIFF ANGELA PERCIVAL, COCONUT GROVE LISA SVARA, RAPID CREEK PICK OF THE PICS This fight well LETTER OF THE DAY Shock, but no It’s time to try oneworth said winning sorry IT comes with the Territory. We love our home and we believe it’s IT will go down as one of the darkest days in the Northern Terri- smarter justice worth fighting for. tory’s short history. Our lifestyle and our natural environment are the envy of the Up to six-year-old vision of troubled children abused in our own world. This is the frontier – the place where the blue ocean meets AT a time of justifiable public make our communities safer. jails — broadcast nationally — has brought shame to the Territory. the ochre bush. Where Asia meets Australia. interest and concern about the We are calling for State and While everyone was appalled, no one genuinely said sorry. Tourists from Australia and the world are queuing up to come effectiveness of public spend- Territory Governments to Chief Minister Adam Giles yesterday appeared to not take any here, to visit Uluru and Kakadu and our amazing cities and towns. ing, Australian Red Cross is adopt five recommendations personal responsibility for the atrocities within our youth prisons. Asia is booming and people in China, Japan, Indonesia and Viet- launching a report calling on a to improve the criminal justice While announcing some positive new measures to combat the nam all want some of what we’ve got. They’re buying Territory new way to do justice – a way system in line with the justice problem, Mr Giles apportioned much of the blame onto others, beef in cities powered by Territory gas. that redirects finite taxpayers’ reinvestment approach to seemingly absolving himself of any personal responsibility. Step off the plane at Darwin airport and breathe in that first hit funds into a more effective and achieve lower incarceration The Chief Minister said he saw the shocking vision for the first of tropical air. humane system. rates, reduced prison costs and time on Monday night. Cast a line into the saltwater at Gove. Known as justice reinvest- stronger, safer communities. While he should be taken on his word it is concerning that, de- Sleep under the stars in the centre and you’ll feel it, too. That ment, at its heart is a system We also recommend that all spite an August 2015 report from Children’s Commissioner Colleen special something about living and working in the NT that city that channels funds spent on governments commit to a sig- Gwynne outlining the shocking treatment of youth prisoners cap- dwellers will never understand. imprisonment into crime pre- nificant reduction in the appal- tured on video, Mr Giles did not know the vision existed. We’re proud of where we live. And so we should be. vention and community safety. lingly high incarceration rates If the vision was deliberately “covered up” from Mr Giles, that is But there are drawbacks to living in paradise. It comes at a cost. It’s more effective, more hu- of Aboriginal and Torres Strait an appalling act and akin to someone endorsing child abuse. As a Territory we’re nowhere near as healthy as we should be. mane and it works. The report Islander peoples. Regardless, Mr Giles needs to recognise he is the leader of the Most people in Darwin die before the age of 67. In the bush, they’re on your own and make your highlights the growing costs Please read the report at Government which allowed this treatment of children to happen. ■ ... it takes an all-round education and perspicacity to govern, grading treatment in deten- living 10 years less. No shortcuts ■ A key aim of youth justice is to divert children from the way in this world. We wonder (about $3.5b a year) and in- www.redcross.org.au/justice The ultimate responsibility rests with him. Territory shame which I am afraid the present set up does not have. It is not tion. A baby born today in Darwin has a life expectancy of 81.2 and in IF it has even a skerrick of criminal justice system. We have little chance of achieving this if, when other Burdekins visit humane effects of the climbing reinvest and talk to your local Former Corrections Minister John Elferink rightly fell on his IN LIGHT of the horrors their fault they try but are unable. – SEE BELOW For the sake of the children the bush 73.8. Those figures highlight a stark gap to Australia’s commitment to its own integ- goal when children are subject to inhumane and degrading from time to time, they were imprisonment rates in a time elected representatives. sword — but he only lost his corrections portfolio. He also said brought to light on Four Cor- treatment in detention. — SEE BELOW and for the families and com- major cities, but they also assume things will improve drastically rity, Inpex must follow the babies. of falling or steady crime rates. Sandra Cannon, nothing yesterday, let alone apologise to the children and their ners on Monday, July 25, I am munities to which they will re- over the next 80 years. through with its agreed com- complex for those over 65, for We were better off when we What a wonderful part of It also highlights the failure to Executive Director, families. Mr Elferink will still remain in charge of the Attorney-Gen- ashamed to be a Territorian. turn, we need to do better. We’re not prepared to sit on our hands and hope. mitment to fund over $90 mil- the past 25 years but I have the were managed by Canberra, nature they have allowed us to address the causes of crime or Australian Red Cross, NT Billy the Boston terrier cuts a fine figure dressed as a frog Picture: ELISE DERWIN eral, Justice, Health, Mental Health, Disability Services and Child- My feelings are that the use of intervention, supervis- Professor Karen Healy, Some of the problems we face are caused by remoteness. Both lion in environmental offsets. misfortune to have the Darwin with an Administrator and the see and share with their family. ren and Families portfolios. This decision in itself is outrageous. Territory is not competent to ion, security procedures and Not all angels Australian Association of the distance from Darwin to east coast cities and the isolation of It has financially benefited council garbage collection same public servants, as the R of Berrimah Yesterday, many, including a group of indigenous organisations, govern itself, let alone con- strategies that manage and en- RE: DON Dale Detention Social Workers, VIC our many bush communities, which struggle at times with basic from accessing enormous contractors. people now in charge are called for Malcolm Turnbull to remove the entire Territory Govern- sidering statehood. courage young people to make Centre. Two additional factors services. amounts of potable water for After lodging complaints hopeless. ment because of its handling of the child prisoner abuse issue. It’s a Bronwyn Beesley, positive changes in their lives” need consideration to obtain It’s long been viewed as a reality of living here. But it’s not free, destroying Darwin Har- with the council and the Hous- I love Darwin and the Terri- Fool for thought FAIRremarkable call for action, but it’s oneFAIR that shouldn’t be taken light- FAIRSadadeen according to the YJO infor- some balance. Save mangroves something we should accept. Our children deserve the same bour’s mangroves and dredg- ing Commission over the past tory and used to pride myself LOVED your April Fool’s Day ly. Some would agree this would arguably be the right measure. mation pack available on the Firstly, historical problems I READ with interest the NT opportunities as children in Sydney or Melbourne. ing the harbour, not to three months the number of on living here on and off for jokes in Friday’s : But with the election only a month away, Territorians will get their Department of Corrections within Don Dale have been News article “MangroveNT Newsdam- Aren’t we a part of the lucky country, too? mention the hundreds of ton- bins for approximately 18 units the past 60 years, but it takes North Korea to purchase Dar- say as to who they want to run the NT post-August 27. Justice is key website. very effectively addressed aging expansion opposed” on That’s where the Fair Go campaign begins. With a desire to make nes of greenhouse gases which has shrunk from eight to four, an all-round education and win Airport; yeah, right, it ON AUSTRALIA SLIPPING Broadband by now. No ques- ON NO ASYLUM SEEKER with no support from govern- Labor leader Michael Gunner admitted yesterday his party was I JUST wanted to include my In addition to these objec- since the incidents shown in Monday, concerning the Bay- sure those of us outside the major cities – one in every three Aus- will be released once it is oper- and is inadequate.