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The Best of the |
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22 June 2000 ‘Horrified RSPCA officers stared in disbelief at the "worst case of cruelty they had seen" when six starving dogs were seized in Darwin yesterday’. But despite tough new animal welfare laws, the officers and police were powerless to act because the owners were unknown. The dogs were found on the One Mile Aboriginal community where there were about 15 other dogs in poor health. ‘Treasurer denies debt blow-out claims’ In another surprise move the Government played down a claim from the Opposition about a potential debt blow-out. The NT Government debt is $7,700 per person compared with a national average of $1,500. However, the Chief Minister showed a surprising lack of intelligence regarding accountability of government. He was quoted as saying the Opposition wanted it both ways and "On the one hand the Opposition says it wants more open Government and more accountability, and when it gets that it still isn’t happy". Could this be because the more open the NT Government gets the less we like what we hear. ‘GST: tourist park fees to soar 50pc’ Could this be another job for Mr Fels and the ACCC or maybe just the Northern Territory News’ editor. ‘Admission fees to the Territory’s top tourist spots will rise by 50 per cent when the GST is introduced on July 1’. Given that the GST is only 10 per cent this appears a bit rich. Fortunately for the NT Government, the remainder of the increase is being used to meet infrastructure costs. ‘NT missing out on pink dollars’ Despite the fact that tourism is one of the major earning industries in the Territory it receives significantly less promotion than mining, agriculture and general development. Now the deputy managing director of the Cairns-based Gay and Lesbian Tourism Australia said it was time NT tour operators recognised the significance of the gay and lesbian market. And with the Treasurer a well-publicised consumer of gay videos perhaps we could start with ‘Reed’s Fireman’s Tours’. ‘Rare croc captured' Foreign crocs rarely get the attention they deserve. In a small article on page seven, it is reported that a two-metre long American crocodile has been captured on Miami’s private Fisher Island after spending four days lolling in the waves and sunning on the beach. In a novel twist, Florida authorities have put the croc back in a swamp, not a crocodile farm. ‘Man ‘Ate His Dad’’ Once you get that taste….’A Sri-Lankan man who killed then ate his wife 10 years ago has been arrested on charges of butchering and later eating his father’s body parts’. |
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