Issue 15

Territory construction firm Sitzler Pty Ltd has been named as one of Australia’s best businesses at the National Business Leadership Awards, writes Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia. PICTURED: Sitzler started in Alice Springs in 1957 as a partnership between brothers Peter and Paul Sitzler with remote area construction.

Opposition Leader Gary Higgins (at left), in a media handout, "has vowed to offer Territorians a 'real alternative' in 12 months’ time" but he won't discuss it. Party president Ron Kelly has agreed to an interview with News editor ERWIN CHLANDA.

UPDATE August 26: Mr Higgins has now offered to make time for an interview with the News. However, as we had already made arrangements to interview party president Ron Kelly, we thanked Mr Higgins and advised we would take up his offer in the near future.

With one year to go until the 2020 Territory election apathy poses the greatest threat to democracy in the NT. 25,000 Territorians are missing from the electoral roll. About 16,000 of those are Aboriginal, writes IAIN LOGANATHAN, NT Electoral Commissioner. PHOTO: Polling station in the Aboriginal Karnte Camp during the 2012 election.

I’ve been travelling the Stuart Highway between Alice and Adelaide for decades and I never tire of it, writes KIERAN FINNANE.

UPDATE August 21: Fuel price gouging by Erldunda Roadhouse.

If the already dangerously complex issues of youth offending can be fairly dealt by leaving out half the facts, then Alice Springs youth lawyer Sophie Trevitt (pictured at left at a public meeting on youth issues) has done a fine job with her opinion piece in yesterday's The Guardian. ERWIN CHLANDA reports.

A year in the making it is still under wraps as the government is pushing the Town Council to agree to a land swap. ERWIN CHLANDA reports.

"People who are going about their lawful business are being interrogated and harassed when there is no evidence that an offence has been or is about to be committed. Some of the examples would astound you," writes Peter Holden, Chair, Lhere Artepe Supermarkets.

Both the Alice Springs and Darwin "juvies" are too far out of town, have no public transport and a very negative message by being next-door to the main gaols: "You can look forward to a future path into the adult prison system," is the message for the the young offenders, according to the Aboriginal Peak Organisations. ERWIN CHLANDA reports.

Opening up cattle station land to non-pastoral uses may be slowed down by a new veto right for Aboriginal native title holders, writes Ashley Manicaros, CEO, NT Cattlemen’s Association (pictured).

Life is getting even harder for the locally owned liquor stores in the brave new world of booze control, ushered in by last night's Liquor Bill 2019, with the support of the Opposition. ERWIN CHLANDA reports.

... but have we blown our chance – again – asks Trevor Shiell.

The third large old tree was damaged or destroyed by fire in the bed of the Todd River adjacent to the CBD that I've noticed this season, writes historian ALEX NELSON.