| Home | Bookmark | Tell | Active petitions in over 75 countries | Follow GoPetition |
Petition Tag - northern territory
1. No nuclear waste dump at Muckaty 
Legislation is due before the Australian Senate that would name a site in the Muckaty Land Trust, 120km north of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, to be declared and assessed as a national radioactive waste management facility.
Many Traditional Owners strongly oppose this plan and are calling on people around Australia to help them bury the radioactive waste dump proposal.
More information, photos and audio can be found at www.beyondnuclearinitiative.com
www.dumpthedump.org.au
For information on why a Northern Territory waste dump is not needed for continuation if nuclear medicine see: http://vimeo.com/29971907
2. No Youth Curfew in Alice Springs
In the Centralian Advocate on the 9th of September, it was announced that 'hundreds' of signatures have been given in support of a youth 'bed-time' curfew for youth aged 16 or younger.
Having this curfew will drive young people out of the CBD, and into rural places surrounding the town. This is a more dangerous situation for young people to be in.
Also, a youth curfew will divert the Police's attention away from their core police work.
3. Ban the sales of fireworks to the public in the Northern Territory
On the first of July each year Territorians celebrate Territory Day, marking the commencement of Self Government in the Territory on 1 July 1978. The day is celebrated across the Northern Territory in a number of ways, including the famous Territory Day fireworks (both public and private).
What people in the Northern Territory want is for celebratory fireworks to be held in controlled public displays with a ban on sales of fireworks sold to the general public. By holding controlled public firework displays we will still be able to celebrate Territory Day in the Territory way, but in a safe manner which will eliminate the many issues that come with allowing the general public full access to fireworks which are essentially deadly weapons.
We don’t allow people to legally carry weapons such as knives, guns or the likes so why does the NT Government allow us year after year to detonate countless amounts of fireworks before, during and well after Territory Day? Legally, fireworks are permitted to be used on the 1st of July during the hours of 6pm and 11pm. This rule is never adhered to and fireworks can be heard being detonated for up to 7 days prior and for months after Territory Day. There is no possible way for anyone in power to have complete control over when where and how fireworks are used by the general public.
In 2011 there were reports of more than 200 calls to emergency services for help, reports of people aiming lit firecrackers at people and property, serious injuries and burns to children and people as well as the countless amounts of pets who have gone missing, been injured and have even died as a direct result of allowing the public access to fireworks.
What the Northern Territory people want to see is a total ban on selling fireworks to the public and a ban on allowing the general public to detonate fireworks.
We however would love for the NT government to support controlled firework displays that are available to the public to attend, watch and celebrate alongside other Territorians. We want to be able to safely enjoy fireworks as an entire state, together
4. An Unrestricted Racial Discrimination Act for the Northern Territory
Legislation currently before the Commonwealth Government includes plans to reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act which was suspended when the Intervention was introduced into the Northern Territory in June, 2007.
However, this new Act will be a very restricted version to the one which was suspended in 2007. It will NOT have the powers to protect Aboriginal people from the consequences of so-called special measures.
For example, when the RDA was suspended, Aboriginal people had no means of appeal against compulsory acquisition of their land by government on 5-year leases. When this new Act is reinstated, NOTHING WILL CHANGE. There will be no legal avenue to address this issue, or any other issue related to the measures.
Regarding the 5-year leases, former High Court Justice, Michael Kirby, said, "if any other Australians, selected by reference to their race, suffered the imposition on their pre-existing property interests of non-consensual 5-year statutory leases.......it is difficult to believe that a challenge to such a law would fail...."
If this new legislation is implemented, the government will have again failed to keep its promise to Aboriginal people.
Calls to the Australian Government to reinstate an uncompromised Racial Discrimination Act have been ignored.
For Australia to be classified as a racist country is shameful for all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous.
If you wish to assist by conducting your own hard-copy petition, please indicate this in the comments column Thank you.
'concerned Australians'
UPDATE 10 July 2010
Thank you to all who signed this petition. The same petition was also circulated in hard copy and the total number of signatures received was 5,404. The petitions were sent every three or four days over the last two months to the Committee for the Convention for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination at the UN.
There were many signatures from the Northern Territory and this included signatures from almost forty communities: : Willowra, Kalkaringi, Daguragi, Yuendumu, Lajamanu, Utopia, Papunya, Kintore, Nyiripi, Areyonga, Docker River, Ulpanydi, Ti Tree, Santa Theresa, Hermannsburg, Ali Curong, Barron Creek, Mt. Allan, Ampilatwatja, Epenarra, Mungalwurra, Katliwumpa Homeland, Maningrida, Nakara, Mataranka, Galiwin’ku, Nhulunbuy, Tiwi, Yirrkala, Bama, Mairrngatja, Gangan, Raymangirr, Buymarr, Djarrkpi, Baly Baly, Dhalinybuy, Imangara, Suburbs of Alice Springs, Darwin, Katherine and Tennant Creek.
The seventy-seventh session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination will be held at the United Nations Office in Geneva in August 2010. The Australian Government will report to the Committee on the 10th and 11th of the month and non-government organisations, including ‘concerned Australians’ will also provide reports. If you wish to send your own comments to the Committee expressing your own concerns, the email address to write to is ghabtom@ ohchr.org
5. Stop Camel Killing - Carcasses Left Slumped Over NT to Rot!
Stop the Northern Territory Government from culling 6,000 camels in less than a few weeks!! They will be shot from the air, left to suffer and rot into the ground!! Sign this petition and join the My Outback TV Facebook group if you think it should be better managed and if culling is needed, it is to be humane with the meat used for human or pet consumption!! TV celebrity Troy Dann from Outback Adventures has joined this fight - SIGN NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!!!
Visit: www.myoutback.tv team blog for the full story.
6. Repeal NT Laws for Mandatory Reporting of Underage Sexual Activity
The Northern Territory Care and Protection of Children Act 2007 (sections 15 and 26) effectively denies young people the right to medical treatment, support, advice and privacy.
Under the law, everyone (parents, friends, neighbours) in the NT must report actual or suspected underage sexual activity or face a $22,000 fine.
Health workers, teachers, counsellors must follow this law or face a $22,000 fine.
Employers in child-related services who do not advise their staff about their obligations under this law face fines up to $22,000 and 2 years imprisonment.
When a health professional reports suspected underage sexual activity, the young person will be reported to child protection authorities and the Police.
We understand police will interview every reported case of underage sexual activity. An NT woman says two detectives came to her home after her 15-year-old stepdaughter’s visit to a doctor (NT News, 12 May 2009).
This makes the risk of young people getting caught up in the criminal justice system very real. The NT criminal code provides for jail sentences of up to 16 years for anyone (whether under or over 16 years of age) who engages in sexual activity with a person under 16 years of age.
As result, young people are now afraid to seek medical treatment for contraception, STIs and advice on pregnancy. Our group has reports of young people who are now too scared to go the doctor and have no-one else to turn to.
The NT already has an unacceptably high rate of teenage pregnancy. This regime will only exacerbate this problem.
This law breaches human rights. Every person, no matter what their age, race, gender or background, has the right to access medical treatment and the right to privacy.
This law does not protect young people, it puts them at
serious risk. It strikes at the foundation of family relationships, depriving young people of the ability to confide in family members or friends without fear of investigation and prosecution. Inevitably, families will also suffer through false or malicious complaints.
No-one in the community had the opportunity to put
their views on this law before it came into force. The NT Government’s laws on mandatory reporting of under 16 sexual activity were passed by sleight of hand, inserted into the law just the day before it was passed by the Legislative Assembly.
Mandating a certain age for reporting does not allow for the best outcome for every child. The law must have at its heart a reporting regime where harm and abuse are the test, not simply that a person under 16 is engaged in sexual activity.
We live in a country with one of the best health care systems in the world. Our young people should be able to access these services without fear of prosecution.
7. Lower Northern Territory Power & Water Increases
CAN YOU AFFORD THE NEW POWER & WATER INCREASES ANNOUNCED BY THE NORTHERN TERRITORY GOVERNMENT?
The NT Government in Australia has announced increases as of the 1st July 2009 to Power, Water & Sewerage bills for all Territorians. 18% for Power for the first year (then 5% and 2.5% respectively for the following two years). 20% for Water for the first year (then 20% and 20% respectively for the following two years). Sewerage increase is an exact duplicate of water.
This decision will have a dramatic effect that will reach far beyond our household utility bills, and will put great pressure on Territorian families and business – especially small business.
****PW 2008 annual report - profit $57.5m; Bank Balance: $89.3m; Directors remuneration up 38%; no mention of need for price hike!****
Even the former Commissioner, Mr Alan Tregilgas, whoretired last week, says the Government "doesn't need to (put up prices) and I don't think it's appropriate that the Government tries to shift all the costs onto consumers."
1. Power will rise on average, $800 per year.
2. Although the Power increase % drops in the second and third years, Water will increase 20% each year for the whole three years (that’s compound interest).
3. By the third year we will be paying $3160 (power), $2115 (water), $582 (sewerage) – totaling $5857 per year.
4. Now for the flow on effect:
1. Rents will rise because of the water increases.
2. Food prices, Fuel Transport & Services will go up to cover increases in utilities.
3. Any small business that has been struggling to stay afloat because of economic downturn, will retrench/close doors – result? Loss of jobs.
The Treasurer, Delia Lawrie, said this in a media release, 1/04/09:
Treasurer Delia Lawrie today said the Territory recorded seasonally adjusted retail trade
turnover of $217 million in February 2009, a 15.5% increase on February 2008.
“Strong retail trade figures are indicative of a strong economy and Territorians continue to
outspend much of the nation in percentage terms,” Ms Lawrie said.
Of course it is higher…we have higher prices than everywhere else in the country. It’s not because we are buying more - it’s because we are paying more. She also said in the same media release:
“The Territory also recorded a 14.8% drop in annual residential building approvals in trend terms in February, well below the 29.8% drop recorded nationally.”
Yes, but it was still a drop, indicating that people don’t have the money to spend on building a house.
“Buy Local” says the Chief Minister – Local business won’t be able to stay competitive
with the new utility increases, and people won’t have the extra money to spend because of the new utility increases.
Suggested Solution: Perhaps the NT Government can put the Underground Power Cabling Project ($150m) and the Tiger Brennan Overpass Project ($36m – NT Gov. Contribution) on hold for a couple of years so they can upgrade our ageing utilities.
This Petition will run until the 31st May 2009.
8. Pop-culture/Anime convention for Darwin
Darwin has a newly created convention center which would be perfect for pop culture convention, It also has many citizens who like to watch/read anime or who are generally interested in popular culture.
We feel it is a great opportunity to expand on the cities cultural limits and its renown in the general area. It can be educational and teach many people about foriegn culture while bringing tourists from all over the country.
