Proud day for Territory
editor
NT News
TODAY is Territory Day, a day to celebrate being a Territorian.
The Northern Territory is still one of the more unusual places in the world; living here is living somewhere different.
And, let's be honest, that makes us feel good. It makes us feel special.
There are some aspects of Territory life of which we can't be proud -- we drink too much, we drive like idiots, we live in a society divided by race.
But there are many aspects that should make us walk tall every day of our lives.
Territorians have built a modern, happy, prosperous society out of nothing.
We are renowned for our friendliness and generosity.
And we have a trait -- to be fair, a trait widespread in Australia -- of trusting that someone is good until proved otherwise. It is a trait almost unknown in the tired, cynical world of Europe and America.
Territorians who move interstate or overseas often find that the grass isn't greener on the other side and soon come home again.
Having said that, the Territory is still just that -- a territory. We have few constitutional rights, as was demonstrated by the Federal Government abolishing our right-to-die laws and forcing a nuclear waste dump upon us.
Territorians hoped the new Labor federal government would be more sympathetic towards the NT being granted statehood.
It seems not. All Australians are equal but some are more equal than others.
In the meantime, have a happy and safe Territory Day.
... and another thing
IT may be a cynical outlook, but the Federal Government may not be willing to talk seriously about statehood until the nuclear waste dump issue is resolved -- in Canberra's favour, of course.
The Northern Territory is still one of the more unusual places in the world; living here is living somewhere different.
And, let's be honest, that makes us feel good. It makes us feel special.
There are some aspects of Territory life of which we can't be proud -- we drink too much, we drive like idiots, we live in a society divided by race.
But there are many aspects that should make us walk tall every day of our lives.
Territorians have built a modern, happy, prosperous society out of nothing.
We are renowned for our friendliness and generosity.
And we have a trait -- to be fair, a trait widespread in Australia -- of trusting that someone is good until proved otherwise. It is a trait almost unknown in the tired, cynical world of Europe and America.
Territorians who move interstate or overseas often find that the grass isn't greener on the other side and soon come home again.
Having said that, the Territory is still just that -- a territory. We have few constitutional rights, as was demonstrated by the Federal Government abolishing our right-to-die laws and forcing a nuclear waste dump upon us.
Territorians hoped the new Labor federal government would be more sympathetic towards the NT being granted statehood.
It seems not. All Australians are equal but some are more equal than others.
In the meantime, have a happy and safe Territory Day.
... and another thing
IT may be a cynical outlook, but the Federal Government may not be willing to talk seriously about statehood until the nuclear waste dump issue is resolved -- in Canberra's favour, of course.