ADJOURNMENT

Mr EDGINGTON (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I move that the Assembly do now adjourn.

Mr MALEY (Nelson): Madam Speaker, I acknowledge the passing of a much-loved member of our community, Mr Ernie Rayner, and pay tribute to a life that made a genuine and lasting difference to so many across the seat of Nelson and in the Northern Territory.

Ernie was the kind of person you could rely on; he was steady and hardworking. His passing has left a deep sense of loss for his family, his friends and many people whose lives he has touched over the years.

Ernie’s story in the Northern Territory began in 1959 when he arrived at Coolibah Station. Coolibah back then was known as remote rough country, and this is where he met his wife, Pauline. Ernie took many roles across the Northern Territory from stockman at VRD to head stockman at Willeroo, AIB stock inspector, horse breaker, bush mechanic and jack of all trades. Ernie was a proud Territorian through and through.

When I did my roadsides and Ernie and Pauline drove past, Ernie would always beep and wave in his later years. I always knew who he was because he would have his hand out waving.

He believed strongly in community, in lending a hand and looking out for you and your neighbours. Whether it was through his work, his friendships or the quiet way he supported others, Ernie embodied the practical down-to-earth spirit that the Northern Territory and the rural area are built on.

What stands out most, however, is not just the achievements but the character of the person behind them. As Ernie’s son so beautifully shared in his eulogy:

‘Over the years, dad became the sort of man people relied on—the one who knew how to get things done, who did not panic when things went wrong and always found a solution, even if it meant improvising with 8-gauge wire and a couple of cob-n-coes, a hammer and sheer determination or frustration, depending on the day.

‘Dad loved his family in the same quiet, strong, independent way he did everything—steady, loyal and without the need to draw attention to it. He was not a man who bragged or talked himself up; he was a man who showed up.’

Ernie also had a deep interest in Northern Territory history and heritage. After being recommended for a project to help uncover items of historical significance in the NT Museum, he travelled along remote pioneer trails and through the bush to carefully record the locations of heritage items. That work led to a partnership with bush author Annie Ingham which ultimately resulted in Ernie authoring the book Wild Cattle, Wild

Country. For a humble man like Ernie it was a tremendous achievement, and one that both he and his wife were incredibly proud of.

In the rural areas of the Northern Territory people like Ernie are the backbone of everyday life. They are the quiet contributors, volunteers, helpers and steady hands. They do not seek recognition, but their absence is deeply felt when they are gone.

On behalf of this Assembly, I extend my sincere condolences to Ernie’s wife, Pauline, family and loved ones through this difficult time. I hope they take comfort in knowing how respected he was and how many lives he made better simply by being part of them.

Vale, Ernie Rayner, and thank you for everything you gave to the Territory.

Mrs FINOCCHIARO (Spillett): Madam Speaker, I acknowledge the 2025 Northern Territory Order of Merit winners, a program delivered under the Northern Territory State Order of Merit Framework administered through Golf Australia. This annual program brings together Territory golfers into a single aggregated ranking system recognising consistency and performance across an entire season. Since its introduction in 2021 the Northern Territory Order of Merit has become an important pathway and benchmark for golfers competing at all levels.

The success of the program relies on the commitment of clubs, volunteers and administrators who deliver competitions week-in and week-out, as well as the support of our sponsors who invest in Territory sport. I acknowledge the contribution of SEM NT, along with Jacks of All Golf Carts and Darwin Mazda whose support of local competitions and stroke events help sustain the program.

I turn to the 2025 Order of Merit recipients. In the men’s division, Mal Roney of the Katherine Golf Club claimed both the Scratch and Nett titles, finishing the season with the highest points totalled across both categories. In the women’s division Sophie Minchinton of the Darwin Golf Club also achieved a double result, securing the leading position in both the scratch and net standings.

I also acknowledge the Senior Order of Merit winners from 2025. Brian O’Gallagher—no, I am joking; you wish! John Robins of the Darwin Golf Club was awarded the senior men’s title, while Robyn Levick, also of the Darwin Golf Club claimed the senior women’s title, recognising consistent performance across the season.

Finally, I recognise the Junior Order of Merit winners. Sophie Minchinton again features, taking out junior girl’s title, alongside Jacob Rawlings of the Palmerston Golf Club who was awarded the junior boy’s title. Their results reflect the strength of junior development within Territory golf.

I congratulate all five recipients of the 2025 Northern Territory Order of Merit awards and thank them, along with their clubs, officials, and sponsors, for their contribution to golf in the Northern Territory. The Territory’s wonderful outdoor lifestyle is reflected in such activities, and it is always good to celebrate these milestones. Congratulations to all of you again.

Australia Day honours are special, and the Territorians who received them are exceptional. Their outstanding contributions to our community, dedication and service inspire us all. Appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the general division were Cecil Black for significant service to local government, to the legal profession and to the community; Bill Yidumduma Harney for significant service to the Indigenous community of the Northern Territory; and John McLaren for significant service to the community.

Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the general division were Kerry Ambrose-Pearce; brothers Casey, Frankie and Donald Akemarr; Frank Shadforth; Paul Sweeney; Donald Lockley; Francis Ahmat; Dr Felix Ho Lam Ho; Daniel Tellam; the late Dr Kevin Guyurruyurru Rogers; Dr Stephen Davis; Margaret Mickan; and the Honourable Anthony Graham.

Awarded the Public Service Medal were Health CEO Chris Hosking and Attorney General’s Department CEO Gemma Lake. Awarded the Australian Police Medal were Detective Superintendent Lee Morgan and Senior Constable Josef Hart. Beverley Shuker was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal; Aaron Brooks was awarded the Ambulance Service Medal; and Mark Cunnington was awarded the Emergency Service Medal.

These wonderful, amazing Territorians have made the Territory a better place. They have served with distinction and passion. I thank them for all they have done for our community. We are richer and better for their contributions. Again, the heartiest congratulations to all.

I acknowledge the wonderful achievements of Glen Scholz, a Territorian whose commitment to sport deserves recognition. Glen is a two-time cancer survivor who has turned personal adversity into purpose, using his passion for cycling to inspire others and to support lifesaving cancer research.

He has continued to compete at a national level in cycling. In January this year, he competed at the AusCycling Road and E-Sports 2026 Road National Championship, in the para-transplant category. There he claimed a bronze medal in the individual time trial and secured two podium finishes across two events, adding to his record of National Championship performances.

To stand on a National Championship podium after everything his body has endured is a remarkable achievement. Glen himself has spoken about what this moment represents: not taking a single start line for granted, and riding alongside others who have also fought extraordinary battles for their lives.

Beyond competition, Glen continues to contribute through Tour de Cure Australia, raising funds for cancer research and volunteering as a bike mechanic on tour. In March this year, he will undertake a 1,400-kilometre ride from Canberra to Hobart in further support of this cause.

Glen Scholz is a committed member of the community, devoted husband, proud father, all-round good human being, and a great Territorian. His story is not only one of sporting success but of resilience, service and compassion. I congratulate him on his national championship bronze medal wins and thank him for his ongoing contributions to cancer research and to sport in the Northern Territory. Glen is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved with perseverance and purpose.

I pay tribute to an elite sportsman that we will claim as one of our own, cricketer Kane Richardson. Kane spent much of his childhood in the Northern Territory, playing junior cricket and excelling. He was born in South Australia, but I think it is safe to say the Territory is where his skills were nurtured. He owes everything to us, right? He played for Waratah Cricket Club and PINTs before representing the NT at the under-15 and under-17 national championships.

I want to do his first-class career justice, so I will put on the record the words of NT Cricket:

The right arm fast bowler made his first-class debut for South Australia in 2011 before going on to develop into a world class short format player, culminating in 25 One Day Internationals … and 36 T20 Internationals … for Australia including being part of the victorious 2021 T20 World Cup winning team.

Richardson’s best international bowling figures of 5/68 earning him Player of the Match honours in an ODI against India in Canberra in 2016 where he dismissed Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane.

He is known as a highly skilled death bowler and he played 34 first-class, 98 List A and more than 200 T20 matches for South Australia. As he said in announcing his retirement from professional cricket:

I feel like I have squeezed every drop out of myself and it is the right time to finish such an enjoyable part of my life.

…

… I had dreamt about being a cricketer since I was a kid in Darwin.

As NT Cricket CEO Gavin Dovey said:

Kane is one of the four best players to ever come through the NT player pathway. He’s been a fantastic ambassador for the Territory and he is a great role model for regional and country kids who may need to take the road less travelled to achieve their dreams.

Congratulations, Kane Richardson. You will always be a Territorian to us.

In the Territory we are very active in encouraging a healthy outdoor lifestyle for all Territorians, particularly young Territorians. Our government is proud to have delivered our promise to implement free swimming lessons to school-age children. As well as teaching safe practices around the water and empowering young Territorians, there are obvious health benefits to swimming. Then there are those who develop a deep passion for the sport.

I pay tribute to the achievements of Sean Deutsch, a class of 2025 Darwin High School graduate who recently represented the Northern Territory at the Victorian State Championships held at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre. Sean competed as a member of the Northern Territory Swimming Representative Team, following selection based on qualification in five or more events. Sean qualified in an impressive 11 individual events, meeting and exceeding the selection criteria.

The championships attracted strong interstate and international competition, including athletes from China, New Zealand, Japan, South Africa, South Australia and Tasmania. Across the championships, Sean competed in 11 individual events and two relay events, recording 11 personal best performances. He concluded the meet with a total of 13 medals, comprising three gold, six silver and four bronze. Sean also achieved three new national open qualifying times in the 50-metre backstroke, 100-metre backstroke and 200-metre individual medley.

Notably, he set a new Australian record in the 100-metre butterfly, which is an outstanding achievement at this level of competition. Sean’s results reflect a high standard of preparation and performance and are a credit to himself, his coaches and the Northern Territory swimming program.

I congratulate Sean Deutsch on his achievements and thank him for representing the Northern Territory with distinction. All the best wishes to you, Sean, for the future. I think you will be one to watch.

Mr BROWN (Arafura): Madam Speaker, the Jabiru airport is critical infrastructure in the Northern Territory. The CLP and federal governments must work together on a long-term solution to ensure this airport remains operational.

With Jabiru airport scheduled for demolition in October this year as part of the Rio Tinto Energy Resources Australia rehabilitation of the Ranger Mine, community members and stakeholders across West Arnhem have been raising serious concerns for months about the devastating consequences it will bring. I have spoken directly with stakeholders on the ground in Jabiru, Kakadu Air, the West Arnhem Regional Council, the Northern Land Council, Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation, ranger groups, traditional owners and multiple tourism operators who are united in their call about the ripple effects of the airports closure and what will happening in the region. I believe the Kakadu Air mob met with Ms Boothby recently and said that we are all onboard that the airport should not be closed.

Jabiru Airport is essential for health services, healthcare access, emergency services, employment, tourism and connection to the rest of the Territory. I was there last week talking to the Kakadu Air mob that run the Jabiru Airport, and they have been sending food to Gunbalanya—500 boxes of Weet-Bix—because Cahills Crossing is a bit flooded, and it does not look like it is slowing down.

Communities such as Warruwi, Gunbalanya, (inaudible) in the rock country and (inaudible) rely on the airport as their only source—and the cheaper option—to bring out food, medication and to fuel up at the Jabiru Airport when on the way to Darwin. If Jabiru Airport is lost, with it the service that is ported then Gunbalanya—the main community in the region—will be cut off by road for six months of the year. This will have serious impact on the region.

Without reliable air access, there will be no guaranteed supply of fresh food, no timely access to medical treatment and no emergency evacuation capability except that from Darwin. The issue is that there will be less freight than more fuel to do that, if it is coming directly from Darwin. That is why Jabiru Airport is important because it has a fuelling dock.

This is not an acceptable outcome in any part of the Northern Territory. The NT Government and Commonwealth Government must find a permanent solution to keep the airport running and operational, and we have only six months left to do it. The people of Jabiru and West Arnhem deserve clear answers, especially the businesses who are still asking questions; hopefully we will find a solution in the near future.

K McNAMARA (Nightcliff): Madam Speaker, I have been thinking about the year ahead and speaking to my constituents about 2026. In light of many tragic events around the country and across the world, I know that many in our community are feeling despair.

I often have people tell me that they are struggling with despair—despair at the state of the Territory under this government, despair watching right-wing governments around the world—including this one—inflict harm on the vulnerable while calling it good governance, despair at tragic events unfolding here and across the

world that feel preventable and unstoppable. It is exhausting and isolating, and I understand it completely, but I also know that despair is a luxury we cannot afford. It is exactly what those in power are counting on.

Recently, I asked people in our community, ‘What are your wishes for 2026? What do you hope for? What are you fighting for? What would a better world look like to you?’

I promised that I would bring those wishes here into parliament today and put them on the record for people in my community.

In 2026 Sam would like to see the development of a Darwin region conservation reserve network that includes values like biodiversity, recreation, culture and traditional use.

Georgie wishes that in 2026, DHA be made to hand back Lee Point to the Larrakia people once and for all.

Richie wrote that he would like to see hospitals at full strength to support schools to keep First Nations children in education and change the age of arrest to match the international law under the rights of a child. He also wrote that he would like to fix remote communities with proper running water, power and change the housing charges to be equitable and realistic.

Sandra said that she would like for the media-fuelled polarisation of society to stop. She wishes for people to regain the middle ground and come together as a community to support each other, noting that it seems to be the political class and big business that wants the polarisation to continue, but that it is not in the best interest of Territorians.

Sarah wishes that in 2026 we see the end of interstate investors pricing first-time local homeowners out of the market. Alongside this, she wants a stricter watch on contracts for mates and nepotism in government and big business. She also wishes to see the overturning of NDIS funding cuts and to see real support for people living with disabilities.

Vic wishes for a dedicated soup kitchen set up for members of our community who are homeless. Tom hopes for a restart of the NT treaty process and a federal treaty.

Eliza dreams for 2026 are that the CLP government would stop glorifying militarisation and punitive justice. She wishes it would listen to the experts and humbly recognise that whilst the current approach to crime might feel good as it is action, that we are only increasing cycles of violence and incarceration. She wishes that our leaders would have a more long-term vision for the Territory and would begin long-term investments in education, housing and social support so that we can see all people thrive, not just the white and wealthy.

Oliver wishes that Lia Finocchiaro would engage with people even if they did not vote for her. Michelle wrote that in 2026 she would like to see better facilities for the disabled and older people. Brad wants to see a small and rapid shuttle bus service so that vulnerable and less able people can get from housing precincts to the shops and back safely.

Some had very achievable hopes, like Joe who simply wishes for a bin at the Darwin Trailer Boat Club ramp. Joe, I love an achievable dream; good luck with that, and I am sorry it is not in my electorate.

Harriet had quite a wish list for 2026, wanting to cancel the Singleton Station water licence; make it illegal for anyone to sell or plant buffel grass; abolish youth prisons and empty the watch houses; ban corporate political donations, especially from fossil fuels, gambling and the military; cancel AUKUS and get the US military out of the NT; less funding for police and prisons and more funding for community-led alternatives; and making gas exporters pay their fair share of tax so that we can start to meaningfully address poverty and inequality in the NT. It is quite a list. They also added that they hope the CLP government will start listening to people with expertise and lived experience when it is making decisions, and they hope for some humility from our leaders.

I am a person of my word, so I will let you know Alan hopes that the Greens disappear into political oblivion. Sorry to disappoint you, Alan, but it will not happen. I am sure there are people in here who would agree with that, but I said I would read it out, and I did.

Here are some of my wishes for 2026. I wish people understood that our economy is simply a human creation—it is a human system that could be changed for the better by those in charge any time they wished—but the ecological boundaries of our planet are very real and there is no changing them. I wish to God that leaders would start listening to scientists when they say that we are crossing ecological boundaries

that we cannot come back from and that every bit of carbon dioxide and methane we pump into our life support system is killing that life support system.

I wish that in 2026 all Australians would feel the same visceral horror watching children being pulled from the rubble in Gaza as they do watching other footage of white Western children in distress. I wish they would understand that our government’s complicity is not abstract, it is our tax dollars. Our silence and our both-sides rhetoric is material support for a genocide. I wish that we stop pretending it is complicated when it is actually simple: you either oppose the mass killing of children or you do not.

I wish in 2026 that we recognise that no-one should be able to own their seventh investment property while someone else cannot afford their first home to live in and that we be as outraged by empty investment properties as we are by rough sleepers and understand that those two things are directly connected.

I wish that in 2026 settlers like myself would do the uncomfortable work of understanding that we live on stolen land, not as a guilt-inducing abstract concept but as a material reality that shapes every day of our lives. I wish that we would listen to First Nations people about sovereignty, not because it makes us feel good about ourselves but because it is the literal truth of this place.

In 2026 I wish we would stop treating vulnerability as a personal failure and start recognising it as a universal human condition. Every one of us will be dependent on others at multiple points in our lives. The way we abandon people who need care is not just cruel; it is a wilful denial we will all eventually need the same care.

I wish that in 2026 people would understand that when every major media outlet is owned by three billionaires, you are not getting the news; you are getting the perspective that serves billionaires. I wish that people would ask themselves why the Murdoch papers are invested in making them afraid of refugees, unions and climate activists but never of landlords, mining executives or wage theft.

I put on the record these wishes and hopes from the people who sent them to me because holding hope for a fundamentally different world—not a slightly improved version of this one but something genuinely new and better—is a radical act. It rejects everything about the status quo that tells us that this is as good as it gets. My community and I refuse to accept that. We deserve better in 2026.

I have been approached by many people over the last 18 months, from inside and outside my electorate, who have said to me, ‘I have never felt represented in parliament before. We have these two status quo parties and we are sick of the status quo.’ What they are seeing now, particularly from this government, is a government that rejects that people like me and the communities I am in even exist. We do not have a right to be here, apparently. We do not have a right to protest. We do not have a right to be here if we do not agree with the government, is what the Chief Minister has said. She said, ‘Get out of the Territory’.

I want to assure those people that you have a right to be here. I have a diverse community, but I try very hard to bring in all their voices. Even though your voices are ignored by the status quo, they are important voices. The dreams we have matter. The wishes and the radical things we want to change for the better matter, and I will stand up for that.

Ms BOOTHBY (Brennan): Madam Speaker, I was excited to attend the Palmerston Australia Day Awards and Citizenship Ceremony on Australia Day, which recognises individuals and groups who have made significant and lasting contributions to the Palmerston community and acknowledges their outstanding service, leadership and commitment.

I will pay tribute to each of the nominees and winners of each category. They were nominated by other Palmerston members.

Citizen of the Year went to Balachander Mohanraj. He won that category and Bala, as we call him, was recognised for his outstanding volunteer contributions to the Palmerston community over the last 15 years. He has led the annual Good Friday Walk, supported the St Vincent de Paul Society, organised Christmas and Boxing Day gatherings and coached youth cricket. His cultural leadership includes lifetime memberships and active involvement in organisations such as the Tamil Society, Telugu Association and Indian Cultural Society, where he promotes inclusivity and celebrates diversity—and he knows how to put on a party.

The nominees for that category included Christopher Kimani. Chris was nominated for his exceptional contribution as a founding member and coach of the Greater Palmerston United Football Club. Named the NT News Best Coach of the Year back in 2024, Chris continues to champion the growth of the club and

strives for ongoing improvement, with a vision to see it become the leading football club in the Palmerston and Darwin region.

Mr Darrell Ashby was recognised for his ongoing dedication to community service through his volunteer work with St Vincent de Paul. He takes pride in ensuring donation bins are kept clean, safe and well maintained for public use. Darrell was also acknowledged for his contributions to the Palmerston and Litchfield Seniors Association and the 50+ Club, where he is well known for his strong sense of community.

Janette Ashby was acknowledged for her volunteer work with the Palmerston and Litchfield Seniors Association and the Palmerston 50+ Club. These organisations provide a broad range of programs that bring seniors together and support their mental, social and physical wellbeing.

Jennie Copley was recognised as an active contributor to the Palmerston community through multiple voluntary roles and ongoing community-building initiatives. For more than five years Jennie maintained a street library in Rosebery whilst volunteering at Darwin Casuarina Lions Club and the Bali Pink Ribbon Foundation. Jennie also organises home-based fundraising for local and health charities. Her long-term commitment reflects sustained and meaningful community-building efforts that continue year after year.

Valerie Wilkie’s dedicated and inspiring volunteer contributions were recognised with her service with the Rotary Club of Litchfield and Palmerston. As club secretary and project coordinator for Lift the Lid, she led the inaugural event, raising awareness and funds for children’s mental health. She also coordinated Rotary’s Eat Up Sandwich Making Sunday Sesh, helping prepare thousands of lunches for schoolchildren in need. Valerie also welcomes international school students into her home, offering a safe and supportive environment.

Yvonne Coleman was nominated for her exceptional level of service across a wide range of community organisations and events in the Palmerston community. Her contributions with STEPS Training Group, her involvement in International Women’s Day, Diversity Day and NAIDOC Week and her ongoing care for the community garden at Harvest Corner reflect her dedication to the community.

Nicolle Shoobridge was nominated for demonstrating an unwavering, long-term commitment to the Palmerston community through her volunteer service with St John Ambulance NT since 2018. Over the past seven years, she has been supporting, mentoring and nurturing young people through the Farrar youth division. She leads engaging, inclusive training sessions for youth aged eight to 17 and personally cooks a meal for the group, ensuring they are cared for in every sense. Nicolle also supports fundraising for St John, the Cancer Council and other local causes.

Jacob Brant was recognised for his outstanding service and dedication as president of the Palmerston Rugby Union Club. His commitment to the sport extends beyond playing and coaching. Under his guidance, the club has seen improvements to facilities including Moulden oval which he ensures is safe and assessable to players all year round. His leadership strengthens the club and inspires others to volunteer and contribute.

The Palmerston Young Citizen of the Year went to Joshua Harrington. Joshua was nominated and won the Young Citizen of the Year for his dedication volunteering with St John Ambulance since 2019. Now a senior youth member of the Farrar Division, he provides high quality first aid at public events, supports youth training and mentors young cadets with care and professionalism. Joshua's leadership is evident in his role as Secretariat for the St John NT Youth Round Table, ensuring youth voices are heard across the organisation.

He played a key role in securing victory at the 2024 National St John Youth Championships and regularly steps up to support both youth and adults during camps and events. His calm, reliable presence and inclusive leadership have made a lasting impact on Palmerston's safety, youth development and volunteer culture.

Tomika Sariago was also nominated. She was recognised for her consistent and impactful contributions to Riding for the Disabled Top End over the last three years. Her commitment has seen her grow into a supervisory role where she now supports and educates new volunteers, fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment. Tomiko plays a key role in building confidence and skills in children and adults living with intellectual, physical, sensory and learning disabilities and her compassionate approach makes a meaningful difference to the lives of the participants.

Nominees for the Community Event or Group of the Year were St John Ambulance NT, Riding for the Disabled Association Top End, Palmerston Carpet Bowls, the Gujarati Cultural Association of Darwin Inc for The Navrati Festival, and the winner of the Community Event or Group of the Year was the Tamil Society of

the Northern Territory for their The Indian Food Festival. I congratulate all of those nominees and of course the winner as well.

Wedding anniversary! Darrell and On 18 December 2025, Darrell and Janette Ashby celebrated their 60 Janette were married in 1965 at St John's Church, Moss Vale, NSW. Darrell and Janette are long-term local residents in my electorate and committed members of the Palmerston community. Janette is a social butterfly and committee member, currently the vice president with the Palmerston and Litchfield Seniors Association and she is also the Secretary of the Palmerston 50 + Club. Janette was nominated for the Palmerston Australia day awards 2026 Citizen of the year for her volunteering work with both of these groups.

Darrell Ashby is also a committed member of the community, volunteering regularly for St Vincent de Paul and was also nominated in the 2026 Palmerston Australia Day Awards for Citizen of the Year. I congratulate both of them on their huge success being married 60 years. What an absolute milestone and they are both amazing people.

The Satellite City BMX club committee was as announced in January when they had their meeting and I would like to make special mention of the 2026 team at the Satellite City BMX Club. President: Dale Egan does a fantastic job. We have vice president Aaron Scott, treasurer Melita Eassie, secretary Jenna Smith and general committee members Dave Woodbury, Sharon Miller, lndi Simpson, Michael Ralph, Sean Tiedeman and Phil Ballard.

Satellite City's 2026 training calendar is now available, and they will have their annual come and try day on 7 March. I am sure all of the past and new riders are keen to get back into it for the year. You never know, it might still be raining in March. Either way it will be an exciting event and I encourage everybody to get out and have a look.

Lastly, the Northern Sharks Rugby League Club held its AGM in December and elected their committee members for the 2026 season: president, Gordon Hounslow; vice president, Ayesha Kay; secretary, Taylie Pulman; registrar, Kezia Tilley; public officer, Kalani Zio; coaching coordinator, Euan McKillop; junior coordinator, Heather Criddle; senior coordinator, Kalani Zio; social media gurus Dee Gunn and Ayesha Kay; all the apparel is done by Aaron Tilley; and the grants and sponsorship coordinator is Gordon Hounslow. They have general committee members Hildegard Hounslow, Nigel Doyle and Ben Pulman. They are still looking for a treasurer, so if you know anyone, get in touch with them. It is a fantastic family club, and they are the rivals of the Palmerston Raiders. I support both those clubs, so it is fun to decide which shirt I will wear; usually I just wear my own shirt! I wish them all the best in season 2026.

Mr PAECH (Gwoja): Madam Speaker, I honour the life and legacy of Kwementyaye Shaw, a well-respected elder, veteran and community leader whose life helped shape Aboriginal self-determination in Central Australia and the Northern Territory.

I extend my respect to the many family members, friends and colleagues of Kwementyaye Shaw who mourn his passing. The number of people who gathered to farewell him speaks to the deep respect in which he was held. l hope this brings comfort to his family and loved ones as they farewell a man who leaves an extraordinary legacy. To his family, thank you for sharing him with the Territory and for allowing us to have so much of him.

Kwementyaye was born in Mparntwe on the banks of the Todd River on Christmas Eve. A proud Kaytetye and Arrernte man his life took him many places, but Central Australia was always home. He loved nothing more than sitting on the verandah of his Mount Nancy home, surrounded by family, telling stories, sharing wisdom, having a cheeky laugh and a cup of tea and sometimes a wine.

Battalion and At 18, Kwementyaye enlisted in the Australian Army. He served in Malaya with the 4 RAR. After a battlefield injury, he continued to serve with the 9 completed two tours in Vietnam with the 2 Battalion as a section commander and acting platoon sergeant.

When he returned home in 1970, he was confronted by the same harsh conditions he had left behind. He once said that he came back to places where ‘one tap served 60 people, living in humpies and makeshift shelters’. The injustice fuelled a lifelong commitment to improving the lives of Aboriginal people in Central Australia, particularly those living in the fringe camps around Alice Springs.

Kwementyaye was there at the beginning of Aboriginal community control in this region. In the early 1970s he worked alongside Arrernte elders to help establish the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress and Central Australian Legal Aid service. He later served as President of the Congress Cabinet. He participated in the

landmark meetings following the Woodward inquiries and helped establish the Central Land Council, serving from its inception until 2006, including as Deputy Chair, always grounded in the rights and responsibilities of traditional owners. He carried the voice of Central Australia nationally and was the first Central Australian Commissioner of the former ATSI Commission, ensuring this region was no longer ignored.

Living at Mount Nancy, then an unofficial town camp, Kwementyaye saw firsthand how town camp residents were excluded from services and decision-making. As he said, ‘Us town campers never had a voice’, so he helped create one. Alongside other leaders, he formed Tangentyere, which went on to secure housing, leases, services and recognition for thousands of Territorians living on town camps today.

Long before self-determination became a buzzword or government language, Kwementyaye was living it. He was a principled and fearless advocate.

In 1993, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. This was an honour he never sought, but one he deeply deserved. Even in later years his leadership never faded. ln 2018 he carried the Aboriginal flag with pride up Anzac Hill during the NAIDOC ceremony for its first raising there, a powerful moment of truth, service and pride. During COVID, he again led from the front, publicly encouraging vaccination to protect our community.

When I reflect on Kwementyaye’s life, it is clear his legacy is not found in buildings or titles, but in the lives he changed, the voices he strengthened and the pathways he opened for others.

Kwementyaye Shaw is woven into the lives of Territorians through stronger land rights, town camps finally having a voice and the principle that Aboriginal people must lead decisions about their own lives.

The responsibility now sits with parliament to honour Kwementyaye. We must back self-determination in practice, not just in words. We must fix housing and overcrowding in town camps, properly fund community-controlled organisations, all respect land rights and listen deeply to Aboriginal people and their leaders.

I also place on record my deep disappointment in the Country Liberal Party government. Kwementyaye’s family had asked if I would support them in asking for a state funeral for Kwementyaye Shaw in recognition of his extraordinary life and service as a Vietnam veteran, a recipient of the Order of Australia and a respected leader of Central Australian whose contribution reached far beyond his own community. That request was refused. The government could have made allowances. It could have shown leadership and honoured a man who gave his life to service to his country, his people and his beloved Northern Territory. It chose not to.

Worse still, not a single member of the Northern Territory CLP government attended the funeral—not one. That speaks volumes. It says a great deal about those lives that are valued and the contributions that are recognised and whose history this government chooses to acknowledge.

l do, however, place on record my sincere thanks and appreciation to those leaders who attended and showed respect. I thank Senator for the Northern Territory, Malarndirri McCarthy, the Member for Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour, the honourable Speaker of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, the Independent Member for Araluen, Robyn Lambley, and the many other leaders of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations who showed up to pay their respects and showed they were willing to stand with family in time of grief. Their presence mattered; it was noticed and it will not be forgotten.

This is how we carry the legacy forward. I will miss his wisdom, his stories and that cheeky glint in his eye. He was strong, black and deadly. To my family, my Aunty Eileen, my Aunty Valentine, my Uncle Bully, my Aunty Ginnie, my Uncle Walter, my Uncle Joseph, thank you for sharing your dad with us. He leaves behind an enormous legacy and he will remain living on through his wonderful children.

Rest in power, my uncle. I love you.

Ms CAHILL (Port Darwin): Mr Deputy Speaker, I take a moment to celebrate some of the youngest residents of the Port Darwin electorate who were the recipients of my annual citizenship awards for 2025. Congratulations to Larrakeyah Primary School’s Nameerah Jahan for consistently displaying the school values throughout the year and Percy Peters for also consistently displaying the school values throughout the year.

Congratulations to St Mary’s Catholic Primary School’s Alinne Tavares Green for all of her contributions to her school community throughout the year; and Wang Shu—better known as Matthew) Ma for his contributions throughout 2025.

I also recognise Caspar Beaumont from Larrakeyah Primary School who won the school writing award for the Santa Christmas short story. Congratulations to the upper primary Wet Season Netball Competition. Years 3/4 team and Years 5/6 who demonstrated excellent sportsmanship and improvement over seven weeks.

A special thank you goes to the coaches who made it all possible for those netballers, Eloise Sherry, Sienna Fryer and Lexi Dorrian.

A special mention to the winner of my Christmas colouring-in competition, Senara Goonewardena, who is aged seven and did an excellent job.

I would also like to give a shout-out to the 2026 Community Pharmacist of the Year in the Pharmacy Guild Northern Territory National Pharmacy Awards, Clare Ross, who works at Blooms Chemist Darwin Plaza.

Earlier, the Chief Minister went through the people who were recipients of Australia Day awards in the Order of Australia Awards. I would like to add a special congratulations to Mr Kerry Ambrose-Pearce—who is a dear friend and a member of the Port Darwin community—for receiving his Medal of the Order of Australia. A well-deserved recognition for a person who has contributed so much to our community over many years, and I look forward to celebrating with him in person.

Congratulations to Hriday Nayyar who not only marked the first anniversary of the publication of his book, Life Chronicles: Experiences and challenges, which details his journey as a migrant to Australia on an international student journey. Hriday made the decision to become a teacher, and it has been a delight getting to know him over the past 18 months as he completed that journey through CDU’s Teaching Program, which culminated in his recent graduation as a qualified teacher and starting his teaching career at Driver Secondary School this week. Hriday is a wonderful example of the contribution that international students make to our Northern Territory, and I cannot wait to see where his journey takes him into the future.

Mrs HERSEY (Katherine): Mr Deputy Speaker, I put on the record our Australia Day citizenship ceremony held recently in Katherine. These people lead our communities, and I commend their leadership and dedication to better our community of Katherine.

On the Friday night prior to Australia Day, I was invited by council to share in the festivities of all of the nominees at a dinner at the Contour Hotel. The nominees for citizen were Tamara Wilcox, Fran Angus, Andrea Read, David Reed and Nicolle Gadd.

The nominees for Community Event of the Year were the Govies Gala, Kalano community fun day, Katherine Prize, Ringers Rugby, Godinmayan for the Balang TE Lewis amphitheatre opening and the 50 Katherine Show and Rodeo 2025 and the Big Rivers Festival of Youth.

Nominees for Young Citizen of the Year were Kate McTaggert and Taitt Green.

I thank Joanna Holden, the Mayor of Katherine, Deputy Mayor, Mel Doyle, and councillors and staff who work tirelessly to provide out citizenship ceremony to our community on Australia Day after the dinner to celebrate everyone. We are fortunate for all of our incredible nominees that volunteer for many events across Katherine.

Thank you for putting up your hands, making our town better and their contributions make for a connected, vibrant and strong community.

The winners of our Australia Day awards were Citizen of the Year, Simone Croft; Young Citizen of the Year, Kate McTaggert; and the Event of the Year went to Katherine Community Projects Association for our Christmas lights. If anyone has not seen the Christmas lights celebration in Katherine, you need to get on their Facebook page and have a look. It was fantastic.

We were also fortunate to have members of our community head to Canberra to take part in the National Awards for Australia Day. What an honour for them to represent not only Katherine, but the Northern Territory.

The nominees were 2026 NT Senior Australian of the year, Jenny Duggan OAM, recognised for her environmental work along the Katherine River. Jenny, along with her dogs can always be seen walking the banks of the river keeping it clean of rubbish, so that it is not left to float down the river in times of flooding, like we have seen lately. She has been doing this for many years and also supporting Keep Australia Beautiful and Clean Up Australia with our council.

The 2026 Northern Territory Local Hero is Ron Green, a teacher at St Joseph’s College. Ron takes part with emergency services, RAAF cadets and volunteers for the ambulance.

The 2026 Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) went to Dr Felix Ho, a former Katherinite, but we gladly acknowledge him as his partner is a resident of Katherine, so we will claim him. Dr Felix Ho was recognised for community health.

None of these people won their section, but the nomination and representation of their community is commended and they have done well to represent us and put Katherine on the map at the national awards.

Australia Day in Katherine started at the Katherine Club with an exhibition of old cars put on by the Katherine Vehicle Enthusiasts Club, where everyone enjoyed a breakfast cooked by the staff of the club.

After the citizenship ceremony I attended the pool party put on by the Katherine Town Council. The pool reopening has been a game changer for our town. Many people enjoyed the festivities, music, barbecue, sandwiches and fruit supplied by council members and volunteers. I thank the Katherine Town Council for putting on such a great celebration for our national day, with members taking part in many of the activities.

Last week was the first week of school for our Territory children for 2026. Approximately 32,000 students returned to the 153 Northern Territory Government schools, with 230 new teachers in the Northern Territory this year. I spent the first day of the school year in regional and remote schools to highlight the Finocchiaro CLP government’s commitment to regional and remote education outcomes.

In the morning l joined the Principal of Katherine High School, Nick Lovering, to welcome back students followed by an assembly in the gym. Principal Lovering laid the law for the year ahead about respect for teachers and peers, singing the national anthem at school assemblies and our firm no phones in schools policy. You guessed it—we sang the national anthem, both verses.

Following the assembly, l had a meeting with Principal Lovering, Sean Gordon and Andrew Lloyd from the Yadha Muru Foundation. The Yadha Muru Foundation runs city–country partnerships between remote and city schools as a way for schools to learn from each other, take immersion trips and have staff exchanges. We discussed opportunities for the partnership and how we can engage disengaged high-school-age students through job opportunities, such as school-based apprenticeships and traineeships.

Later in the morning and into the afternoon l visited Barunga School with Principal Malcolm Hales. Mr Hales highlighted the barriers some students face in getting to school, especially during peak Wet Season—which it was the day we went out there; the Central Arnhem Highway had flooding across most of the crossings. It was not that we could not get through, but the amount of water was incredible. It is to be expected in the Wet Season and was spectacular to see.

While at Barunga School l met a couple of new teachers who have moved north from Victoria. I am pleased to report that we have only 55 teacher vacancies across the Territory, which is the lowest number of teacher vacancies, down from 130 this time last year. Every child in every classroom will have a teacher in front of them this year. I attribute this strong rebound to the Finocchiaro CLP government under which we are seeing a decrease in the number of victims of crime, a flurry of strong economic activity and a lifestyle that just keeps getting better.

Dr RAHMAN (Fong Lim): Mr Deputy Speaker, I will speak about the 27 January announcement by the minister for Education regarding the singing of our national anthem in NT public schools, specifically about it being utilised at assemblies and special events to encourage people to stand and sing in English two verses as codified in Australian practice.

The policy goal that was specified when this was discussed was to boost national pride and create consistency. Generally speaking, there is no compulsion on this issue around the country, whether in educational or other settings. There was no punitive aspect of this announcement or a suggestion that it would be a heavy-handed mandate; it was more a suggestion that we could create consistency and do something constructive in our school base to encourage kids to have a sense of pride in the national anthem.

This did not seem like a particularly controversial idea to most people, including the federal Education minister Jason Clare who said that the singing of the anthem already happens a lot in lots of schools around Australia. He said, and I quote from a report:

‘I never knew the second verse until I became a pollie, but you go to schools across the country, and kids sing the first verse and the second verse,’ he told Channel 7’s Sunrise program.

‘There’s a great line in the second verse which says ‘with courage let us all combine to Advance Australia Fair’ … if kids are singing that in the NT and in other parts of the country I reckon that’s a good thing.’

Well, I thought so too. I did not think it was a particularly controversial wedge policy which is why I was then really shocked to discover that it received a mixed response and a polarised one at that. I found that there were unconstructive things said about this, that there was lots of outright hostility and vitriol surrounding this issue as well.

Sure there were some people who made some cheeky remarks about the timing of announcements. Newsflash, people announce things when they are convenient to time and singing the national anthem after Australia Day was not a particularly bad choice when to do that but what were the concerns we received? These concerns were not about authoritarianism, personal liberty or violating freedom of expression; they were basically about polarised responses in relation to whether this would achieve anything useful at all.

I have zero interest as most of you know, in prosecuting idiotic culture wars in the Northern Territory or in conflating a specific policy with a wider discussion about nationalism, so I chose to speak today seriously in defence of the idea because I think it is a decent idea and I do not think it is getting a fair shake at the moment. That is not least because, I have to tell you in 18 months of starting this new job I am shocked at the number of people who are not very familiar with the national anthem. Forget the second verse, I barely see people mumbling out the first verse and that includes a whole lot of grown-ups.

Let us go back a step. First of all, our national anthem is not that old. It was written by a Scottish teacher in 1878. It was used in the federation, but it was only officially made our national anthem in 1984 and that was in spite of it winning a competition in 1974, ahead of Waltzing Matilda I might say, to be our national anthem. A lot of people now have recently looked at the 2021 lyric change where we went from talking about being young and free to being one and free to try to represent a more inclusive Australia.

The fact is it has been changing over a long period of time. In 1984, all four verses were looked at seriously and we went from Australian sons let us rejoice—to people being like, clearly not—to Australians all. The point I am making here is that it is not a static composition. It has never been a static composition; it is evolving and it is a live work. Where previously it referred to all sorts of things to do with British imperialism it does not anymore now.

Why is it that I think generally speaking, this is a good idea for us to be doing? Well, in a nutshell, civics, civics education. All of us should be mindful of the fact that there is a push in Australia to teach Australian students about civics and in 2025, last year, there was a parliamentary inquiry that recommended civics and citizenship become a compulsory part of our education now. That committee also recommended that we do it not just in Year 10, but we do civics mandatory citizenship courses in Years 11 and 12 to prepare young people to vote. This of course came about in relation to growing concern about misinformation on social media but also increasing antisemitism and declining social cohesion. We need more civics education widely recognised.

What is the situation at the moment? Well, the situation at the moment is that civics education is not mandatory. A lot of states do not even do it. Primary schools have very little engagement with civics education in a lot of places. What does civics mean? Basically, we are talking about covering how governments and democracy work, how laws work, the rights of individuals, diversity and national identity and how to critically evaluate sources of information.

ACARA which does all the accreditation work and assessing curriculum has done some work since 2004 sampling Year 6 and Year 10 students on their knowledge of civics and the most recent results are not encouraging. They say something like 53% of Year 6 students were only basically at the nationally proficiency standard and indeed since Year 10 results have been substantially declining over 20 years. What does this suggest? It suggests that many young people are leaving school without the knowledge, skills and values to sustain our democracy. That is not something we want. Both Australian and international studies have

repeatedly shown that civics and citizenship education make a positive difference in a young person’s political participation, including increasing the likelihood that they will vote and increasing their understanding of democracy and support for democratic values.

What does good civic education look like? It has to be a separate subject. People say that it needs to be for junior and senior school students; it has to be relevant; kids have to be able to discuss it; things like school elections are great; and teachers need to be trained to talk about law and governance. However, these are longer-term goals. What can we do now? Start small with the national anthem. It ain’t the worst idea in the world.

I did not speak in today’s condolence motion because of time constraints. I have a lot I would like to say. I thought it was heartening that everyone in this room talked a lot about social cohesion and wanting to improve it.

In that spirit, when the announcement was made I posted online as well, saying that with courage, let us all combine to advance Australia fair. I said that this is a constructive initiative to foster unity and promote social cohesion. I am seriously shocked at the response I got. I do not edit anything on my page; you are welcome to have a look. I would love to have been more provocative and say, ‘For those who come across the seas we have boundless plains to share’. I have plenty to say about that, as you all know.

The fact is that is not what I was talking about. This is a lowest common denominator thing we are pushing. Why does this matter? Does this really matter? It does matter. I do not have the time today to go into detail, but I encourage you all to look at a book called Patriotism and Nationalism in Music Education, an edited work by Hebert and Kertz-Welzel, and specifically chapter 3 which talks about nationalism in school music in Australia by Jane Southcott. You can learn about this in relation to Germany, Taiwan, Singapore, South Africa, Canada or the US, if you like, from that book.

Here is a tip: nationalism is a pervasive and often understated force in shaping educational systems. Patriotic songs and national anthems have been a staple of Australian school music activity since the inception of our century. It matters and it has an effect. This is something small and modern school system from the late 19 simple that we can do that should not be polarising us. I honestly want to make clear that the Education minister’s announcement in that regard was not a polarising announcement; it was a gentle nudge to say, ‘We have to encourage everyone to sing the national anthem from now on, the whole thing so everyone knows it better’. It is not that controversial.

If you wanted to critique this policy or the national anthem on musical grounds, fair enough. It has a 17-semi-tone range that half the people cannot sing properly. A lot of people complain about the dirge-like quality. It was not composed by a Nobel Laureate like some national anthems around the world. There might be better alternatives. I like singing ‘I am, we are, we are all Australian’ as well. Maybe that will eventually get a guernsey. For now, we have a great national anthem, one we should be proud of and we can rally behind and, perhaps, collectively work on as a nation to improve over time.

At its core a national anthem is about facilitating unity and fostering a sense of pride, identity and shared belonging, so it is great that we are encouraging kids to sing the national anthem together. I wholly support kids being nudged to lead the nation in knowing the words to our national anthem and having a shared ethic and musical accompaniment to guide them in their civics education. We have to start somewhere and sometimes we have to start small.

We have tonnes of big-ticket problems to solve and a lot of them will be unable to be solved unless we can build bigger bridges and work with people within this building and across the country. For now, I hope we can all find a way to at least, with gusto, collectively singing Advance Australia Fair.

J DAVIS (Johnston): Mr Deputy Speaker, in case anyone missed it, a major independent report was issued late last year and what it contained should alarm all of us in this Chamber. The Independence of the Australasian Auditors General Report 2025, released in November, ranks the Northern Territory as the worst jurisdiction in all of Australasia for Auditor-General independence. Not only are we behind every other state and territory in Australia, we are ranked behind Papua New Guinea and Fiji. Once again, in case you missed it, we are coming last.

This report confirmed what many in the community and all the major integrity organisations in Australia— although no-one in the CLP government—have been warning of for some time: the systems designed to scrutinise government in the Northern Territory are being steadily weakened. That should shock every Territorian. This is not a technical or abstract issue; it goes to the heart of whether public money, including

the billions of dollars we receive from the Commonwealth every year, is being spent transparently, responsibly and in the public interest.

The report found that the NT Auditor-General lacks adequate protection from executive government influence and is denied fundamental powers that Auditor-Generals elsewhere take for granted. The NT Auditor-General does not have full access to performance audits and is restricted in access to Cabinet information.

These are not optional extras. Performance audits are basic accountability tools. They allow the public to know whether government programs are effective, whether risks are managed, and whether public money is delivering value for money, i.e. is our money being spent properly? Without these powers, Territorians are left once again in the dark.

The findings of this report echo the serious concerns raised at our community scrutiny forum on the Integrity Commissioner, where integrity experts from across Australia warned that recent reforms risk weakening oversight rather than strengthening it. Those experts were clear: independence must be real, not cosmetic, particularly in a small jurisdiction like we have here in the Northern Territory, where power is concentrated and relationships are close.

Instead, the new integrity model here consolidates oversight bodies while introducing new risks. For the Auditor-General, that position is now subject to discretionary oversight by the Integrity and Ethics Inspector, a change that further threatens independence rather than safeguarding it.

The Auditor-General must be able to scrutinise government freely and fearlessly. That includes the ability to properly examine major projects such as the Darwin Ship Lift, large infrastructure investments and programs involving significant public expenditure, without political direction, without interference and without restricted access to information.

We hear a lot in this Chamber about the debt we are carrying, and a lot of mudslinging about whose fault it is. Territorians have every right to expect strong, independent scrutiny of how we got here and whether decisions being made today are delivering value for money or compounding our long-term risk.

Standing here on behalf of all Territorians, I must ask, where is all our needs based funding going? Is it going to meet the needs it is intended for? Is the government using the funding it receives to deliver effective programs, efficient services and better outcomes for Territorians? Is public money being spent in a way that is responsible and aligned with need, or is it being absorbed by inefficient governance?

The uncomfortable truth is that we do not know, and one of the key reasons we do not know is because the Northern Territory has the weakest Auditor-General powers in Australasia.

I am here to be part of looking forward and creating the Northern Territory that everyone in the Territory deserves. One which is financially robust, one which has mechanisms in place to ensure that scrutiny is strong enough to hold power to account when it matters most.

This is not a party politics issue. The previous Auditor-General under Labor called for a rewrite of the Audit Act to restore genuine independence, strengthen powers and bring the Northern Territory into line with national and international best practice. Our current Auditor-General has done the same. And now, with clear information that we are in fact going backwards, not forwards, this is more urgent than ever.

I have a question for my colleagues in this Chamber. Do you think that Territorians deserve the same protections and integrity standards as every other Australian? Right now, we do not have them. Everywhere else in Australia, governments are more accountable to their constituents than the Northern Territory Government is to Territorians, and people’s lives are better off for it.

We do not have to accept this. Strengthening the independence of the Auditor-General is not radical, it is normal and achievable and only those who benefit from opaque government spending would argue otherwise.

If we are serious about transparency, fiscal responsibility and building public trust, then strengthening the independence of the Auditor-General is not optional; it is essential.

Mr CHARLS (Sanderson): Mr Deputy Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to acknowledge many of the events I have attended in the past couple of months. I spoke earlier today about the multiple vigils I have attended since the horrific attack at Bondi, and I again share my sincere condolences to all those affected by

this violent terrorist attack on Australian soil. I wish to affirm that this terrorist attack does not reflect the values or character of our beautiful multicultural community here in the Territory.

It was a pleasure to speak at the first Minister’s Advisory Council on Multicultural Affairs of the Finocchiaro Professor Ram Vemuri Our government proudly celebrates Government on 11 December 2025, led by Chair, the Territory’s multicultural strengths, and the invaluable contributions migrants make to our social and economic life. I deeply value MACMAs honest insights, thoughtful guidance and continued education, and I look forward to working with them this year and beyond.

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In late December, we farewelled Sister Alicia MC at the St Mary’s Cathedral. She lived a long and dedicated life devoted to caring for others, leaving a legacy of compassion, service and kindness that improved the lives of so many. I am deeply grateful for her tireless commitment to helping those most in need. Minister Boothby, the Member for Fannie Bay, and the Member for Casuarina were also in attendance.

I congratulate Dr Shu Li, President of Australian China Friendship Society NT Chapter and her dedicated team of volunteers for delivering the Multicultural Dancing and Food Festival event that celebrated many cultural identities, community spirit and the richness of our multicultural Territory. It was wonderful to see the talent, creativity and hospitality of the performers and stall holders bring the event to life. Our government supported this event through the multicultural grant program and sincerely thank the Australia China Friendship Society for a joyful celebration to end the year. I thank Minister Boothby and Member for Wanguri for their support of this community event.

I know Christmas already feels like a long time ago, however, I would like to speak about the multitude of Christmas functions I attended, within the multicultural community. In December, the Tamil Society of Darwin had their Christmas Celebration and Tamil Language School certificate presentation for students. Congratulations to all the students on their achievements and heartfelt thanks to the volunteers who make these important events possible though their dedication and hard work.

Congratulations to President Kavithasan Vivekananthan, Vice President Sambavi Dinesh and the new leadership team. My sincere thanks to Narayanan and his leadership team for their outstanding service to the Tamil Society over the past few years. I thank Minister Cahill, the Member for Wanguri and the Member for Casuarina for being there and supporting the event.

I joined Minister Cahill and the Member for Wanguri at the Committee of the Indonesian Community Christmas Celebration at Harmony Hall. It was a joyful family event with music and singing and I thank Winda for the kind invitation.

It was a pleasure to join in the NT Timorese Chinese Darwin Christmas celebration, alongside the Member for Wanguri, to see that community come together in such a warm and festive spirit. I thank the team, the President Tim, Stella, and the committee for coordinating another wonderful community event. I was also pleased to donate a lucky draw prize as the Member for Sanderson and to share in the joy it brought to the celebration.

I thank the Chung Wah Society Darwin for the warm invitation to attend the Children’s Christmas Party and share in such a joyful community celebration. It was lovely to watch the children join in and singing Christmas carols and enjoying the visit from Santa.

It was a pleasure to join the Chief Minister and my northern suburbs CLP colleagues, Member for Wanguri and Member for Casuarina, at the Darwin Malayalee Association Christmas celebration. Congratulations to Monsi Thomas and the entire team for hosting another wonderful celebration that truly brought the community together. It was heartening to see leaders from many different communities come together to share in the joy and spirit of Christmas.

Those were the Christmas mentions, now for the New Year’s celebrations. It was great to join the Deputy Chief Minister at the Portuguese and Timorese Social Club to celebrate New Year’s Eve with their community. Thank you to the Portuguese and Timorese Club Committee for organising a wonderful celebration and for bringing the people together in such a joyful way.

In addition, it was wonderful to be joined by the Deputy Chief Minister again, along with the Member for Wanguri, and Member for Casuarina, at the New Year’s Eve celebrations with the Cyprus community of the Northern Territory. I thank Alexandra Magriplis and her team for organising another fantastic celebration that brought people together in the spirit of friendship, culture and joy.

I thank the team at the Australian Red Cross Northern Territory, particularly Bill Daw and Sabeeha Nihad for hosting a wonderful end of year celebration for the Connected Women And Their Families program. It was a pleasure to attend and see firsthand the impact of this community-led program which brings women and families of diverse backgrounds together in a safe, welcoming and empowering environment.

I was pleased to note that the program had already supported more than 750 migrant and refugee women and their families from diverse backgrounds and nationalities. I thank Minister Cahill and the Member for Fannie Bay for being there and supporting this event.

It was great to meet with the Melaleuca Australia Chair, Ross Springolo, and CEO, Kwame Selormey. Thank you for sharing the important work that Melaleuca Australia does across our community, and for providing a copy of their annual report. I appreciate the conversation and ongoing support that Melaleuca offers to people and families across the Northern Territory.

I continue to celebrate Christmas in January with the Serbian Orthodox Community in Darwin. It was a joy to sit down for lunch with members of the St Sava Serbian Church and the wider Orthodox Christian community to celebrate Christmas on balmy wet season day in Malak.

Serbian Orthodox Christmas is celebrated on 7 January following the Julian calendar, and it was wonderful to be part of such a warm, festive and meaningful celebration.

It was also wonderful to join the Territory’s Greek Orthodox community to mark the Epiphany with the traditional blessing of the waters. This occurred at both Cullen Bay and the Darwin Waterfront. I joined the Member for Wanguri and Member for Casuarina at the Cullen Bay event held by the service of Kalymnos Greek Orthodox Parish Northern Territory.

It was a beautiful mix of a sacred and celebratory. Father Christos let prayers for the community before releasing the doves and casting the Cross into the water. The cross is retrieved in a joyful tradition, said to bring blessing and good fortune for the year ahead. There was a fantastic turnout, and it was a great way to begin the year.

Last weekend was all about the Year of the Horse. I attended two Lunar New Year events; the first one was with Minister Boothby and the Vietnamese Community NT Chapter. I thank President Thien Le and Fong Le for your kind invitation. Lunar New Year is the most important celebration of Vietnamese culture, which marks a time of renewal, family, unity and hope for the year ahead. It was a joyful occasion that brings people together.

It was a wonderful occasion to share the beauty of our traditions and the richness of our Vietnamese heritage with the broader community at the Vietnamese Community Centre in Marrara. I was pleased to be able to learn how to say, ‘Happy New Year’ in Vietnamese—which still needs practice—it is chúc mừng năm mới.

I also attended the NT Timor Chinese Association Chinese New Year celebration in Berrimah with my colleagues, Minister Edgington, Minister Hersey, Member for Wanguri and Member for Casuarina. It was great to see so many dignitaries present. Thank you to the committee, Tim, Kivi, Stella, Fiona and all the volunteers for their hard work and dedication in organising the event.

It was a fun evening starting with the blessing of Chung Wah Society Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe, a great band, delicious food and finishing with a dance of the floor, which I was dragged into. For the first time I was dancing on the floor, it was fun, but I will try to avoid that in future.

I thank Feliz Matarazzo and Max Di Toro of the Italian Sports and Social Club for inviting me to the launch of the Italian Language Workshops for children and teens aged three to 17 years. This was a historic moment for the Italian community, as it was the first in 25 years that the Italian language programs were delivered at the Italian Club. These workshops aim to nurture cultural pride, strengthen language skills and inspire a lifelong love of learning across the age groups.

Mr PATEL (Casuarina): Mr Deputy Speaker, I acknowledge and give thanks to the Casuarina community.

Over the Christmas period while many Territorians were able to enjoy their time with family and friends, our Emergency Services continue working tirelessly to keep our community safe, supported and cared for. Emergencies and crises do not pause for the holidays, and it is during this time that the dedication of our

frontline workers is most evident. Their service often comes at the cost of time with their own loved ones, and that sacrifice deserves recognition.

I joined my colleagues, Jinson Anto Charls MLA, Oly Carlson MLA and Brian O’Gallagher MLA to deliver Christmas goodies and our thanks to the teams at the Northern Territory Police force in Casuarina, St John NT Casuarina, the NT Fire and Rescue Service at Marrara and the Mental Health Access Team. Each of these services plays a vital role in our community, responding to emergencies, supporting people in crisis and ensuring public safety with professionalism and compassion. It was a privilege to thank them in person for the work they do every day.

I extend thanks to all doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and every staff member at Royal Darwin Hospital who provided care throughout the Christmas and New Year period. Hospitals do not slow down over the holidays, and many staff spend Christmas Day caring for others rather than celebrating at home.

On Christmas Day, I visited the paediatric ward at Royal Darwin Hospital to deliver gifts to children spending Christmas in hospital. While no family wishes to be in that position, it was heart-warming to see many smiles, the positivity of the children, and the extraordinary care shown by hospital staff. Moments like these highlight the strength and resilience of our community.

To all our essential workers, police, ambos, firefighters, health workers and support staff, thank you for your unwavering dedication and for keeping our community safe throughout the year.

I acknowledge the services of the Administrator of the Northern Territory, His Honour Professor the Honourable Hugh Heggie AO PSM. His Honour has made a significant contribution to the Northern Territory during his term, and I extend my appreciation and best wishes to His Honour and Ms Ruth Jones for the future.

In December, our office was proud to organise a Christmas event at Casuarina Village, which turned into a wonderful morning for local families. I thank Casuarina Village Coles for providing fresh fruit and water bottles, Queenys Cafe for the panda treats, Casuarina Village Hair Studio for donating a generous gift voucher and treatment pack, and Toko Jo’s for contributing a beautiful sarong to our raffle prizes. I thank The Village Shopping Centre Casuarina for assisting with setup and support throughout the event.

Last week, I met with General Manager Katy Chin, from Amber NT to pass on raffle funds in the form of gift cards. Amber NT does incredible work supporting Territory families grieving the loss of a child and we are proud to contribute to such an important cause. I thank everyone who attended and supported the event.

In January, I had hosted a Seniors Morning Tea alongside Oly Carlson MLA, Member for Wanguri. It was a wonderful morning that reinforced the importance of connection, particularly for our seniors. It was great to see people mingling, meeting new friends and enjoying each other’s company. I thank everyone who attended, Paul and Lindsey from Neighbourhood Watch NT, Paul and Peter Chandler for the entertainment, and the team at Tracy Village Social and Sports Club for their excellent service. A special thank you to Jade and Christine for the morning tea, the best scones in Darwin.

I congratulate all City of Darwin 2026 Australia Day Award recipients honoured at the Darwin Cenotaph. These awards celebrate volunteers, leaders and quiet achievers who give so much to our community. I offer special congratulations to Jack Francis from Dripstone Secondary College, the recipient of the Student Citizen of the Year Award 2026. Jack’s leadership and contribution are inspiring and he should be proud.

I congratulate Sunsil Hair and Brow Studio on celebrating 15 years of service at Nakara. Small businesses like this are the backbone of our suburbs, and I thank the team for their longstanding contribution to the Nakara community.

I thank Father Christos and the parish community at St Savvas of Kalymnos Greek Orthodox Parish NT for preserving important cultural and faith traditions. The Blessing of Waters, held in January, was a powerful reminder of faith and unity. I congratulate Manoli Loukataris on retrieving the cross again this year and wish the community peace and blessing.

I extend my condolences on the passing of former Administrator of the Northern Territory Ted Egan AO. Ted Egan was a deeply respected Territorian whose contribution to our culture and public life will be long remembered.

Finally, in December the annual NO MORE march was held at Casuarina Square Shopping Centre, standing firmly against domestic and family violence. We honoured women who have lost their lives and recognised actions being progressed through The Stand. I thank CatholicCare NT’s counselling team for providing support on the day and for their ongoing commitment.

These moments, from thanking essential workers to celebrating community achievements and standing together against violence reflect the compassion, resilience and strength of our Territory community, and I am proud to represent it in this place.

Ms UIBO (Arnhem): Madam Speaker, I thank the community of Mataranka for a fantastic event for the annual Australia Day breakfast on 26 January. It is something I have become quite excited to attend and also one of my children looks forward to it every year now.

The Mataranka community is inclusive and tight knit. Community members celebrate the strength of the Never Never region and acknowledge that sometimes when things are tough, they band together and look after each other. A big thanks to the Roper Gulf Regional Council, which invited me to present the awards. It is always an honour to do that, as the local member; we heard some stories today in the Chamber. I particularly thank Councillor Des Barrett. I am sure many people who have not met Des have probably heard or Councillor Des Barrett who is at the Little Roper Stock Camp. Often you will h ear him calling in and chatting and offering insights to the ABC radio. He is active.

While I am thinking of Des whose family is running their boat across the Little Roper at the moment, which is quite flooded. That is the section in the springs area of that beautiful country in Elsey and the Little Roper. Des is ferrying people back and forth. At the end of that road is the Mataranka Homestead. People live past the Little Roper towards the homestead. Des and his family have a few tinnies ferrying people across the Little Roper at the moment so they can get into town safely. Thank you, Des and his family for that.

I also place on the record thanks to Councillor Sue Edwards. When she arrived she was in the back cooking up bacon, eggs, sausages, baked beans, toast and all of the delicious things you want for a hot brekkie. There was a huge volume of volunteers for a small town. They have a lot of heart in Mataranka.

Excitingly, the Citizen of the Year was Ms Telka Zotz-Wilson, who is also the principal of Mataranka School. Anyone knows Telka knows she is community-minded and an asset to the Mataranka community, particularly at the school supporting the leadership there and growing those young people in Mataranka and Mulgan Town Camp. Those children who attend from the Never Never region are always looked after well with guidance and leadership of Telka and her team.

Congratulations to the Event of the Year for 2025, which is awarded at the Australia Day event. That went to Mikey’s Cup. It was great. I have never done it before but it was a live feed video. One of the coordinators of the cup was online on the phone and saw it . Helen from the school was able to collect that award in person. Congratulations to a small town with a big heart for the work they do.

The family fun games started then—a lot of great games organised and run by families and community members with lots of cool prizes for the kids. When they started doing the donut eating on a string where they put their hand behind their back—something my daughter looks forward to—my kids were not interested; they much rather sat in the water bobbing pallets that were there after all the kids had done the apple bobbing. My kids were having a little bogey sitting there while everyone was eating the donuts.

Then there was the famous ice cream eating competition—again no hands, no utensils, eating just with their mouth. I have done it in the past but I have slowly been able to get out of it in the last couple of years. My kids were there and my son was quite distressed when we took the melted ice cream bowl away from him. Then we had to give it back so he did not crack it. It has become a favourite of the kids.

For the arrangements, a big thanks to people like Loretta, Big Mac who is one of the great characters in Mataranka, Tony Pushky and the family, Judy and all the prizes that their family donates from the Mataranka grocery store. Thanks again for allowing me to be part of that each and every year, and particularly for welcoming me and my family to those great local events.

There were interesting contributions this evening. Obviously, we all love celebrating what happens in and around our communities locally. However, sometimes there is not necessarily open, forward thinking about some of the impact when there are announcements made.

I thought a little about the contribution from the Member for Fong Lim talking about the announcement the CLP made for schools to have mandated, compulsory National Anthem sung in the schools. A lot of my teacher friends said, ‘Our schools all do it. We do it already. What are they trying to do?’ The sceptic in me, now in opposition, thought it was a red herring to try to divert from other matters that were consuming a lot of interest in the Territory last week. I know one particular media outlet did its job and diverted all their attention away from what was probably a tricky thing for the CLP to try to manage because they were desperately trying to get out of any kind of explanation.

One of the things I would like to place on the record, particularly for a lot of schools in the Arnhem electorate who already sing the national anthem and do it proudly—it was one of my teacher friends who alerted it to me on the weekend—was the sneakiness of the CLP’s announcement in mandating that it had to be English, because a lot of my schools have students who do not speak English as first language. What they have done over many years, and proudly, is sung the national anthem in both English and in their language of their community, and sometimes several languages that are based in their community to honour the family and the culture.

I said to my teacher friends, ‘Your school already does that, and you sing verses in English and in language’. They said, ‘No, the announcement says that kids can only sing the anthem in English’, and I thought that was a bit sneaky. I do not appreciate that. People have gone out of the way, over many years, to honour the national anthem in both English and their first language of their community, their ancestors, their family to proudly do that and live two ways in both cultures. In some of our bilingual schools—I have a revitalisation language school also in my electorate—the schools are bringing back multiple languages in their region, honouring that through their language programs. There is a lot of work and consideration going into those programs.

I just think if the idea behind this was to unify Territorians, the CLP have done it again. They have divided and isolated and have not talked to people who could offer a way to enhance that type of announcement. If the seed of that idea was to truly grow national pride around the national anthem the CLP has completely

missed the mark on this one. They should have gone out and spoken to schools across the Northern Territory about the integration and preservation of language. We have many multicultural communities in the Territory as well who often sing the national anthem in English and their own national anthem from their country at events throughout the Territory. Over the last couple of weeks I have had the honour of attending many of the events that have been spoken about today. It is a beautiful way of seeing both sides marrying and the respect of cultures, more than one culture together.

I think that the CLP has missed the mark on this. I think they have been disingenuous with the announcement by hiding the part that said it is mandated in English, and if there is an opportunity this week for the Member for Katherine, the Education minister, to address that, it would be important because I will be writing about it. I thought it was important to flag today—no pun intended—the importance of the recognition in the Northern Territory about our many beautiful cultures and languages. It was reflected on in different ways this morning in the condolence motion and how special the Northern Territory is.

I think this has missed the mark and is division that did not need to happen because there are some schools and communities that are hurt that they were not spoken to regarding how to enhance this particular concept. The CLP have missed the mark and is not listening to our communities.