Messages

http://www.ntnews.com.au/lifestyle/d...-1227572672378


DIRECT air links between China and the Top End are being discussed in the wake of the $506 million Darwin Port sale, the NT News can reveal.


Both Chief Minister Adam Giles and Mike Hughes, the Australian head of the Port's new owner, Landbridge Group, are confident flights could begin in the near future.

The most likely link is to major cities Guangzhou or Shanghai, rather than Shandong Provence, which lies further north and is where Landbridge bases the majority of its business interests.

Mr Giles said flights would be a byproduct of the Port deal and would have flow-on benefits to the tourism sector.

"(To support direct flights) you need to get people up the front of the plane in business class, you need people up the back of the plane and you need trade happening underneath," Mr Giles said.


Landbridge says the Port deal will create interest in the NT and Darwin in China. The company has ties to China Southern Airlines, headquartered in Guangzhou, but Mr Hughes said they would not necessarily operate any service. Regardless, he said the demand was there.

Mr Hughes told the NT News the Port was a "gateway" investment that would complement the company's diverse business interests, which include onshore gas, tourism, real estate, petrochemicals, forestry and manufacturing.

"That's definitely the way we're looking at it (in Darwin)," Mr Hughes said. "The Port is the gateway. The Port facilitates what happens (in terms of growing trade between Australia and Asia).


Oh! what a fantastic idea?! Just give it all away and let the human insect race nick all the pollen (money) to take back to their hive in China.

http://www.ntnews.com.au/business/gi...-1227571634482


AUSTRALIAN Defence Forces were consulted over the Giles Government's 99-year lease of the Darwin Port to a Chinese-owned company, Chief Minister Adam Giles said yesterday.

The $506 million deal was also reviewed by the Foreign Investment Review Board despite it not having to be and that the Australian Defence had expressed approval of the deal before it was finalised, Mr Giles said.

"Having said that, we still did go and ask the question and get the assessment done (with FIRB)," he said.

"We also went and had a chat with Defence about whether or not there were defence implications there.

"We got the tick-off from Defence and we're quite happy that we met any of those concerns that people may or may not have had."


But Mr Giles did not say whether his Government discussed the deal with US Marines who have called the Darwin Port "vitally important" on their website.

The US Navy carries out numerous multinational military exercises and hosts foreign warships every year in Darwin. Australia and the US recently agreed to work together to enhance naval cooperation as tensions grow in the South China Sea.

Australian Defence Forces did not respond to questions by deadline yesterday. But a Federal Government official has indicated that Defence secured a 15-year access agreement to the port before the lease was signed and will also develop an alternative barge in Darwin.

Landbridge spokesman Mike Hughes said on Tuesday the company would set the port up to "put Darwin on the map in China for Chinese companies".



Yes! Smart Work Mr Giles, you dumb Abo! Just giving our port away to the enemy at a cheap lease when our own people need it to defend against them . He thinks it'll bring jobs? Probably only for Chinks doing cheap labour on a free trade deal.

http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northe...-1227570662590


POLICE are searching for three teenagers allegedly involved in a 14-hour crime spree across Darwin today.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Stringer said police want to speak with the youths in relation to a series of offences including criminal damage and threatening behaviour.

Their spree included a drive-off at a the Caltex service station in Eaton which was caught on CCTV (see above).

"They were last seen in scrub land bordered by Dick Ward Drive, Nemarluk Drive and Richardson Park," he said.

He said police were currently searching for three youths in Parap.


They are described as two indigenous males aged between 15 and 16 years old, both 177cm tall, slim build and short light brown hair.

One was last seen wearing a dark grey shirt.

The third is an indigenous girl aged between 14 and 15 with long blonde and brown hair.

Sen-Sgt Stringer asked anyone who may have seen the individuals to not approach them.




I just read the full article in the paper. Damn ! The petrol drive off is only a small part of what they did, they rammed gates of houses, threatened people with axes and baseball bats, driving like maniacs, vandalising property, burning out a car.

["It is electoral cowardice to not take this to an election," he said. "Adam Giles*BOONG* is hoping to make some quick cash here and try and buy back voters because he knows the CLP is in a deep, deep hole."]

http://www.ntnews.com.au/business/te...-1227570163256


TERRITORIANS appear split over the 99-year lease of the Darwin Port, with many taking to social media to voice their concerns while industry stakeholders yesterday said the deal was solid for the Territory's future.

Chief Minister Adam Giles announced the lease to Chinese-owned Landbridge on Tuesday, kicking off a social media storm of angry comments and claims that he sold the Territory out.

Many took to the NT News Facebook page to voice their displeasure, suggesting the lease price of $506 million was not enough for another public asset to be sold off while others called the move "stupid".

Labor leader Michael Gunner said yesterday the deal was "terrible for Territorians" and compared it to the sale of TIO.

"It is electoral cowardice to not take this to an election," he said. "Adam Giles*BOONG* is hoping to make some quick cash here and try and buy back voters because he knows the CLP is in a deep, deep hole."


But Independent MLA Gerry Wood, who also sat on the Parliamentary committee that made recommendations on the sale, said he was convinced the deal was good for the future of the Territory. He added that the deal did follow the committee's recommendations, including limiting future rent increases and ensuring the Government has a say over price and access issues.

http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northe...-1227568498170


NOTORIOUS juvenile offender Ezra Austral is back behind bars just four days after he posted a self-recorded rap song online, in which he sings about criminal activity including dealing drugs and carrying guns.

The 17-year-old has now been charged with car theft, among other charges, while a 20-year old alleged accomplice was charged with drug possession.

In the song, Austral refers to himself as "Notorious Cornwallis".

He boasts about criminal escapades in Palmerston, despite having been required to live on Melville Island for the past five months as part of his suspended sentence.

"I don't give a fuck when I'm on the block, always got a Glock strapped down my jocks, motherfuckers talk shit, you will get shot," he sings.


Austral has regularly posted pictures of himself online carrying high-powered rifles, smoking what appears to be cannabis, and brandishing knives in front of court.

But it seems he now has a new drug of choice, singing that he has been "slinging crystal meth and shit through the streets of Palmerston."

"That's the way I fucking roll, when you try to mess with me ... racked off my head on crystal meth," he sings.

In the rap Austral claims he could make up to $5000 per day selling crystal meth, while making fun of those who earn only $900 per fortnight working.

At one point, he refers to the satellite city as if it is a violence and crime riddled third world country, "Palmer-stan".

When one of Austral's friends was killed in a high-speed car crash recently, Austral said that if he wasn't on the Tiwi Islands, he likely would have been killed.

"That would of been me if I didn't get out of Darwin," he said.

But in the song, he takes a different tune, boasting of being chased by police.