www.ntnews.com.au Northern Territory News, Tuesday, December 8, 2009 — 13

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Reality leaves a lot to the imagination.— John Lennon

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THIS WEEK’S QUESTION

YES1900 969 562

NO1900 969 563

PREVIOUS QUESTION

SHOULD the NT Government conduct a cull of feral camels?

Or vote online at www.ntnews.com.au

YES: 29% – NO: 71%

SHOULD the Federal Government

expand income management for

everyone on the dole in the NT?

Miracle workeror confused?RE: ‘‘NO phone warnings for cyc-lones’’ (NT News 4/12).

Once again Hendo has become amiracle worker. First he isn’t goingto let any crocs within 50 km ofDarwin, now the phone text warn-ings ‘‘would not be turned on in theTerritory until February — afterthe cyclone season’’. I’m sure TCMonica was ANZAC Day — isn’tthat in April?

But then Emergency Servicessays the system is turned on here,but would not be used for cyclones.Well, Mr Henderson, have you beencaught out again?

Joe, McMinns Lagoon

Top 120 a topholiday ideaTOP 120! A great holiday seasontopic for barbecues, as icebreakersin the pub and for opinions as towho is where and why.

Billy Moir, Nightcliff

Hale shows histrue valueRE: PAGE 14, Northern TerritoryNews Saturday, Dec 5 ‘‘Hale our

most booted pollie’’.It was interesting to read that

Damian Hale topped the nation forevictions from parliament.

Damian seems very proud of thisepic achievement, so well doneDamian, you are ‘‘The Man’’.

Damian has really proved hisworth with his immature com-ments that resulted in his evictions.On a serious note, bring on theelection. The NT definitely needsalternative representation.

John Curusky, Malak

Nothing to do?Here’s some tipsRE: ‘‘NOTHING to do for teen-agers’’, Northern Territory News,December 3.

The arrogance of teenagers thesedays is astounding.

Joshua Daley of Leanyer couldtry filling up the upcoming schoolholidays by maybe getting a job,mowing the lawn, mowing a neigh-bour’s lawn, volunteering at theRSPCA, kicking a footy or shootingsome hoops with some mates, orpreparing the family’s dinner whilemum and dad work to support him.Go to the library, go for a bike ride,go to the beach, read an actual book,plant a garden.

But perhaps for starters, Joshua,you could stop whining about all ofthe things that are not being pro-

vided for you by other people andget off your own backside and dosomething for yourself! You mayfind that your contribution doesactually amount to something andthat you and other bored, unim-aginative, self-centred teenagerslike you will benefit!Susan Ormond, Darwin

Employmentfigures fudgedSO WE read in the NT News,Friday, December 4, that the inde-pendent member for Nelson is putt-ing the brakes on a new prison, or atleast reducing the size of it.

With more than 90 per cent ofthose locked up inside being Abor-igines from remote communities,one has to ask if the federal and NTgovernments are trying to hide theunemployment figures in the re-mote communities.

Over time, none of the politicalparties have done anything to cor-rect the employment situation.

Fix the employment problem inremote communities and you willreduce the number of those cur-rently locked up!

Start with a hub-town or two withlocal community input.

Some representatives of theseremote communities have alreadyknocked the idea of hub-townsback, but there is no reason why

they can’t be built in areas wherepeople do want them — in order tocrawl out of the slum conditions,poverty, and poor health and enjoythe same community conditions asneighbouring towns and cities.Peter Ivinson, Woodroffe

Police prioritiesin wrong placeIT’S useful to know that policepriorities are revenue collectionand not crime prevention or theprotection of the public.

This morning I noticed a heavilyintoxicated driver so badly out ofcontrol that an entire line of carswas hanging back 100m behind him— he was crossing lines and at onestage stopped.

I called 000 of course, to confirmthat I was in Darwin and not theWest Indies (why is a call centrecheaper in Adelaide than Darwin?)and gave a rego and position. Thedriver fell asleep for 15 minutes(middle of the road) and I waitednearby for police attendance but noone showed and the driver woke upand crawled into his garage.

Around the corner at Nightcliffthere were four parked police cars.

This man could have killed yourfamily or mine but that’s OK — butno one gets away with exceeding thespeed limit by 5km/h. Money talks.

P. Morrison, Nightcliff

Letters to the Editor should be kept to 175 words or less. Send your letters to GPO Box 1300, Darwin, 0801, or email ntnmail@ntnews.com.au

You must include your name, home address or PO Box number. Name and address will be withheld on request. The Northern Territory News reserves the right to edit letters

CARNEY BROADBENTMOILMOSTLY. I have a lookaround at the shops to seewhat’s around and thentry and figure out what Iwill buy.

CHANDRA LEKHAMBRINKINYES. I started early— atthe start of December.There is somuch in theshops you can’t help butbuy something.

1925

ADOLFHitler’sbookMeinKampf ispublished

1980

JOHNLennon,formermember of TheBeatles, is shotdead inNewYork byMarkDavidChapman

BIRTHDAY

JIMMorrison,lead singer ofUS group TheDoors(1943-1971)

EDDIE SHEARERBAKEWELLNO. I’m really bad. I save itfor the night beforeChristmas. I like theadrenaline rush.

DOUG RANNARDBRINKINMOSTLY. I have doneabout 50 per cent. I startedtheweek before last.Hoping to get it all donebefore I fly out.

MARK HODGSONDARWIN CITYNO. I’m lazy.We’removingtoMelbourne on the 31st,so we’re not doingChristmas this year.

HAVE you done your Christmas shopping?

Govt is ignoring mental illness

LEFT OUT IN THE COLD, OR JAILED: People with mental illness are not receivingadequate care or supervision in the Northern Territory, a reader says

TWO tragic caseswith close connections tothe Territory highlight a very seriousproblem. The first case is themurder inVictoria of an ex-Territory resident reportedto have been committed by a personwith along psychiatric history.

The second is the sad case of RolandEbatarintja here in Darwin who obviouslyneeds far better care and supervision thanwhat is available.

The judiciary systemhas to resort to thecustodial system to provide communitysafety, knowing, I suspect, that this is notwhere he should be.

In this report there wasmention of anotherfour files proceeding that were similar andthat would probably end upwith patientsplaced in custody because there is nowhereelse for them to go.

Regrettablymental illness is a reality— itis evident in all places and through all classesof people.

Itsmanifestation can be dramatic:sometimes predictable, sometimes not.

Our society has developedways of dealingwith some illnesses,mostly through drugsand inmany instances these are successfulwith one big proviso.

Youmust stay on yourmedication!Because drugs are ‘‘successful’’ they oftenprovide the feeling of normalcy andtherefore a belief in ‘‘ahh, cured’’.

Not so. The drug ismaking you feel thisway.Without adequate supervision,sufferers can and do present a threat tothemselves and the community.

They need adequate care and the custodialsystem is not where it should occur.

It is a health issue and theGovernmentneeds to develop a resource tomeetthis need. The judiciary should havethese options available when consideringtheir cases.

Ian S. Newnham, Jabiru