THURSDAY AUGUST 6 2015 NEWS 03 Australian of Year Batty visits Sad farewell to Cuts hit AUSTRALIAN of the Year and anti-family-violence cam- wildlife park’s paigner Rosie Batty will visit the Territory to speak at two public events this month. The inspirational speaker seniors has engaged in a whirlwind of wise old friend events since she was awarded ’s pre-eminent title of 2015 Australian of the Year in January and has dedicated her time to raising public aware- ness of violence against as Ghan women and children and advo- cating for change. Ms Batty (pictured) will visit several women’s shelters, meet NT police and program facili- tators and speak at two public engagements, one each in Dar- fares set win and . Ms Batty said she was look- ing forward to the journey north and was keen to learn about the Ter- ritory experi- to soar ence. “I under- stand that there some very real PETER JEAN Last year’s Federal Budget challenges with family viol- included a decision to phase ence in the GHAN rail services between out the concession subsidy for but there are also some very Darwin and Adelaide will be Great Southern services, worth committed people, leaders of slashed and ticket costs for $9 million this year. the community who want to pensioners will soar, as opera- A spokeswoman last night do something about it,” she tor Great Southern Rail at- said the company had begun said. tempts to absorb a $9 million contacting its stakeholders to Australia Day Council NT Federal Budget cut. advise them of the potential executive director Kiya Gill In a blow to Northern Terri- impact of the subsidy re- said Ms Batty would join local tory tourism, Great Southern duction on schedules and fares. campaigner Charlie King to Rail will reduce services from The Ghan service stops in deliver the Australia Day July next year in response to Katherine and Alice Springs. Council of the Northern Terri- the abolition of a federal gov- “While GSR has committed tory Address at the Darwin ernment subsidy for pensioner to providing a 20 per cent dis- Convention Centre on Thurs- concessions. count to [pensioner] customers day, August 20, and in Alice Ghan services between Ad- next year, there will still be an Springs the next day at an elaide and Darwin will be increase for the price of travel event organised by the Alice halved to once a week all year and we do expect there to be Springs Chamber of Com- round, instead of only during some reduction in demand,’’ merce. Tickets to both public off-peak periods. the spokeswoman said. events are now on sale. The company will also cut The company would com- Territory Wildlife Ghan concessions for seniors, pensate for the reduction in Park’s beloved barking pensioners and veterans. Ghan by running longer trains. owl Gizmo has passed Great Southern has advised Federal Labor transport Carbon tax away at the grand old the changes will come into ef- spokesman Anthony Albanese age of 22 fect in July 2016. said the decision – which refunds on Picture: KATRINA Chief Minister and Tourism would also affect the Indian BRIDGEFORD Minister Adam Giles said the Pacific service between Adel- removal of the subsidy would aide and Perth – would dam- their way have a significant impact on age the economies of regional regional communities and the towns in the NT, South Aus- EARLY collections of carbon tourism industry in the North- tralia and Western Australia. tax will be given back to the ern Territory. “All of these services make Darwin community through a “This will hurt those who multiple stops in regional combination of direct refunds can least afford it, and I will be centres, pumping $100 million and long-term investments. raising our concerns at a meet- a year into regional Australia, It applies to ratepayers who ing of tourism ministers next thereby boosting local com- were levied the tax in 2013 and week,” he said. munities and creating jobs,” he 2014, and refunds will be made Seniors make up more than said. at an amount of $29.67 per half of the patrons on the rail Federal Social Services year, per rates assessment. services and the increase in Minister Scott Morrison said Darwin council plans to re- fares is expected to result in a concessions were the responsi- turn $6.9 million, Lord Mayor COURTNEY TODD Gizmo barking or whooping same without her territorial 20 per cent reduction in pass- bility of state and territory gov- Katrina Fong Lim saying the away during our Flight Deck barking echoing through the enger numbers. ernments. refund would see money chan- THE Territory Wildlife presentations or on the woodland when I visit the nelled into local projects. Park lost one of its oldest many school visits she at- section,” Mr Stanioch said. “An investment of $4 mil- residents when Gizmo, their tended,” Mr Stanioch said. Flight Deck supervisor lion will go into improvements much loved barking owl, “Gizmo always enjoyed Donna Jensen said Gizmo East Arnhem jobs rise at Shoal Bay Waste Manage- passed away peacefully last her mice treats during her would be missed by all who ment Facility, $1.3 million will Friday. performances and would fly encountered her. be invested in greenhouse gas Gizmo was 22 years old silently over the heads of our “Our staff will remember from cyclone disaster reduction initiatives such as re- when she died and was a fav- guests before eating.” her for her beautiful tem- newable energy and energy ourite of visitors and staff Gizzy, as she became af- perament,” she said. THE rebuilding program in re- the category four cyclone hit k efficiencies and $1.6 million alike. fectionately known, retired Mr Stanioch said barking mote East Arnhem communi- in February. will be directly refunded to the Assistant curator Damien from the daily presentation owls were fairly common in ties is continuing in the wake Rebuilding chief Bob Bead- community,” she said. Stanioch said Gizmo came in recent years due to her the and live be- of Cyclone Lam’s devastation. man said as part of this part- She said the council was to the Territory Wildlife age and the development of tween eight and 12 years in The NT Government has nership, Aboriginal trainees committed to investing in re- Park in October of 1993 after cataracts. the wild. partnered with and apprentices would com- newable energy. being found as a newly However, she would still They are listed as vulner- Progress Aboriginal Corpor- plete trades and other qualifi- Under the Competition and fledged chick in Kakadu Na- make an appearance on spe- able in New South Wales ation in job initiatives for local cations through local contract Consumer Act (2010) Darwin tional Park. cial occasions to greet and endangered in Victoria Yolngu workers involved in work or other employment op- council is not required to di- “Many of our guests schoolchildren and VIPs. and their biggest threats are the rebuilding projects. portunities created. rectly refund early collected would remember meeting “It’s doesn’t seem the loss of habitat and feral cats. Infrastructure in Gali- ALPA’s Chris Hayward said carbon tax, but decided it win’ku, Milingimbi and Ram- the labour contractor models would benefit the community. ingining was destroyed when were flexible and responsive.

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