Records 1989

The Northern Territory Government supported the relocation of the 2^nd Cavalry Regiment from New South Wales to the Northern Territory; a proposal outlined in the Commonwealth Government’s Policy Information Paper “The Defence of Australia 1987”. The relocation would require construction of working, training and living-in facilities for the Regiment’s personnel and their families.

The NT Government supports the build-up of defence facilities in the Northern Territory due to the strategic importance of Northern Defence, the benefits to the local economy stemming from the operation of the facility, and the resultant increase to the local population by service personnel and their families. The NT Government Submission outlined the strategic, economic and employment benefits of relocating the Regiment to Darwin and offered comments on the environmental impact, infrastructure and community services, and participation by local businesses.

Cabinet endorsed the NT Government Submission to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works Inquiry into the proposed construction of facilities for the 2^nd Cavalry Regiment in the Darwin region. The function of the Committee is to inform and satisfy the Commonwealth Parliament regarding proposed major works.

Read the Cabinet decision:

• Submission No. 5192 / Decision No. 6035 of 9 May 1989 PDF (4.5 MB)

Father Frank Flynn came to the Northern Territory as an Army Chaplain ophthalmologist in 1942. He took great pride in being a member of the Missionary of the Sacred Heart Order and worked primarily as a priest, and as a doctor second. Father Flynn was the first to identify the eye disease trachoma in Aboriginal peoples and instituted the first scientific surveys into the prevalence and severity of this hyper endemic disease amongst Aboriginal peoples. His ophthalmological studies into the problems of dry eye led to the development of spectacles that release stored fluid into the eye to counteract this condition. Father Flynn’s scientific achievements have been recognised both nationally and internationally, and are listed in the Cabinet Submission.

In recognition of his scientific achievements, Government approved an ongoing two-year fellowship of the Menzies School of Health Research, to be known as the Father Frank Flynn Fellowship. The person selected would conduct research of international significance on diseases pertinent to the Northern Territory.

Read the Cabinet decision:

• Submission No. 5338 / Decision No. 6211 of 12 September 1989 PDF (2.4 MB)

The Northern Territory Government approved the staging of the inaugural Arafura Sports Festival in Darwin in May 1991.

The concept of the Arafura Sports Festival had been under consideration for some time as a means of stimulating the development of sport in the Northern Territory, while at the same time providing an avenue for developing tourism and promoting the Territory, particularly in South East Asia.

The proposed timing took into account the need for a two-year lead-time, tourist seasons, climatic conditions, other-multi-sport events in Australia and South East Asia, and religious festivals.

Territory sporting groups would be exposed to a high standard of competition and the experience of competing under Games conditions.

Read the Cabinet decision:

• Submission No. 5198 / Decision No. 6099 of 15/16 June 1989 PDF (3.8 MB)

Government considered an NT Government Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology on the contribution that Australian industry, science and technology can make to reduce the impact of the Greenhouse Effect. The Inquiry sought advice on practical responses to reduce and eventually reverse the greenhouse effect.

The Submission notes that the major causes of greenhouse gas emissions are from burning fossil fuels, loss of vegetation and the emission of effluents from industrial and agricultural processes. It notes that Scientists had predicted a warming of between 1.5 and 4.5 degrees centigrade by the year 2030 and sea levels were expected to rise between 0.2 and 1.2 metres. Greater extremes in climate were predicted through drought, flood and cyclones.

The Government recognised the need for a national coordinated approach to the issue, and provided information pertinent to the Northern Territory situation with informed comment regarding alternative energy sources, transportation issues, priority activities and NT Government policy.

Read the Cabinet decision:

• Submission No. 5365 / Decision No. 6240 of 16 October 1989 PDF (3.6 MB)

Government approved the agreement between CSIRO and the Conservation Commission of the NT for provision of state-of-the-art scientific advice on the Regional Impact of the Greenhouse Effect and associated funding. The Submission states that by the year 2030, dramatic climate change will impact agriculture, manufacturing, construction, public works and services, and on coastal communities.

In conjunction with the Bureau of Meteorology, CSIRO has developed a program to develop climate models so that higher predictive resolution can be obtained for the Australian region.  To complement this study, a Regional Impact Program was being implemented to utilise climate model predictions, historical data, paleological data, and current trends with a view to addressing concerns of regional climate changes and impacts on States and Territories.

Research data would provide the foundation to assess the likely environmental, economic and social consequences of weather changes to enable the Territory to adopt preventative and adaptive responses to the effects of Greenhouse induced climate change.

All States and Territories had commenced negotiations or were finalising negotiations with CSIRO for the Regional Impact Programs. Details of the Victorian study which had been operational for 12 months are included in the Submission.

The Submission notes the Government is considering and implementing strategies relating to emission controls, energy conservation and energy alternatives.

Read the Cabinet decision:

• Submission No. 5429 / Decision No. 6319 of 19 December 1989 PDF (4.4 MB)

To approve the drafting of an equality of status of married persons bill. Following a Report on De Facto Relationships by the NT Law Reform Committee, a number of anomalies were identified in the way the Territory law treats married women.

The rule at common law was that upon marriage, a woman lost most of her rights to deal with property and to have an independent legal capacity. The complex legislative provisions dealing with the capacity of a married women were an historical anomaly and inconsistent with modern conditions. The Bill proposed to repeal obsolete legislation, and to consolidate relevant provisions into a piece of legislation declaring that married women have legal status equal to that of married men.  An example of the draft bill is attached to this Submission.

Read the Cabinet decision:

• Submission No. 5150 / Decision No. 5989 of 28 March 1989 PDF (722.7 KB)

The Government had a commitment to maintaining and developing research programs to assist further development of agricultural industries.

The CSIRO had been undertaking tropical pasture and crop research in Katherine since 1946, in which time it had developed a high-quality research facility.  CSIRO approached the Government to determine its interest in purchasing the facility due to a reduction in funds, and an assessment that its work in crops research had reached a stage where ongoing research is a matter for the Territory.

With Katherine emerging as a key centre for research operations at the time, the acquisition of this high standard facility was seen as an opportunity to centralise the activities of the Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries into one location. The Submission includes a comparison of projects addressed by CSIRO and those expected of the Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries.

Read the Cabinet decision:

• Submission No. 5147 / Decision No. 5986 of 28 March 1989 PDF (1.3 MB)

The Submission includes statistics over four years of business before the Courts in Katherine and advice that the current Courthouse, completed in 1959, was too small to cope with current demands.

Government agreed to the construction of a new Courts Complex in Katherine following consideration of projected population growth, statistical data on court business in Katherine over the past four years, the cost of renovating the existing buildings, and suitability of other sites in Katherine for Court hearings.

Read the Cabinet decision:

• Submission No. 5144 / Decision No. 5981 of 14 March 1989 PDF (2.7 MB)