Northern Territory

The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia. The capital city is Darwin; the other two sizable settlements are Alice Springs (in the desert interior, 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) to the south) and Katherine (near the base of the Top End). Residents of the Northern Territory are often known simply as 'Territorians'.

1 History
2 Politics
3 Aboriginal Australians
- 3.1 Land Rights
4 Geography
- 4.1 National Parks
5 Tourism
6 Demographics
7 Economy
8 Transport
9 References
10 See also
11 External links

[edit] History

Main article: History of the Northern Territory

There were four early attempts to settle the harsh environment of the northern coast, of which three failed in starvation and despair. The Northern Territory was part of New South Wales from 1825 to 1863, and part of South Australia from 1863 to 1911. On 1 January 1911, a decade after federation, the Northern Territory was separated from South Australia and transferred to Commonwealth control.

For a brief time between 1926 and 1931 the Northern Territory was divided into North Australia and Central Australia at the 20th parallel of South latitude. See A Brief History of the Administration in the Northern Territory Soon after this time, parts of the Northern Territory were considered in the Kimberley Scheme as a possible site for the establishment of a Jewish Homeland, understandably considered the "Unpromised Land".

During World War II, most of the Top End was placed under military government. This is the only time since Federation that an Australian state or territory has been under military control. After the war, control for the entire area was handed back to the Commonwealth.

Indigenous Australians had struggled for rights to fair wages and land. An important event in this struggle was the strike and walk off by the Gurindji people at Wave Hill, cattle station in 1966. The Commonwealth Government of Gough Whitlam set up the Woodward Royal Commission in February 1973 set to inquire into how land rights might be achieved in the Northern Territory. Justice Woodward's first report in July 1973 recommended that a Central Land Council and a Northern Land Council be established in order to present to him the views of Aboriginal people. In response to the report of the Royal Commission a Land Rights Bill was drafted, but the Whitlam Government was dismissed before it was passed.

The Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 was eventually passed by the Fraser Government on 16 December 1976 and began operation on the following Australia Day (26 January 1977).

In 1978 the Territory was granted responsible government, with a Legislative Assembly headed by a Chief Minister.

During 1996 the Northern Territory was briefly one of the few places in the world with legal voluntary euthanasia, until the Federal Parliament overturned the legislation [1]. Before the overriding legislation was enacted, three people committed suicide through voluntary euthanasia, a practice orchestrated by Dr Philip Nitschke.

[edit] Politics

The territory has a legislative assembly. Whilst this assembly exercises roughly the same powers as the governments of the states of Australia, it does so by delegation of powers from the commonwealth government, rather than by any constitutional right.

For several years there has been agitation for full statehood. A referendum was held on the issue in 1998, which failed. This was a shock to both the Northern Territory and Commonwealth governments, for opinion polls showed most Territorians supported statehood. However, under the Australian Constitution, the Federal government may set the terms of entry to full statehood. The Northern Territory was offered three Senators, rather than the twelve guaranteed to original states. (Because of the difference in populations, equal numbers of Senate seats would mean a Territorian's vote for a Senator would have been worth more than 30 votes in New South Wales or Victoria.) Alongside what was cited as an arrogant approach adopted by then Chief Minister Shane Stone, it is believed that most Territorians were reluctant to adopt the offer which was made.

The current head of government is Chief Minister Clare Martin who led the Australian Labor Party to their first Northern Territory electoral victory in August 2001, and to a second victory in June 2005. The leader of the opposition was Denis Burke, head of the Country Liberal Party, until the Territory elections of June 2005, where Burke lost his seat. The party then chose Jodeen Carney as the new Opposition Leader.

The territory is represented in the Commonwealth parliament by two members in the House of Representatives, currently Warren Snowdon for the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and David Tollner for the Country Liberal Party (CLP), and two members in the Senate, currently Trish Crossin for the ALP and Nigel Scullion for the CLP.

At the local government level, there are 6 incorporated municipalities (3 town councils, 1 shire and 2 cities), 30 'community government councils' and 26 other bodies. See: Local Government Areas of the Northern Territory

[edit] Aboriginal Australians

Location of some Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory

More than one quarter of the population of the Northern Territory are Indigenous Australians, a far greater proportion than in any other state or territory in Australia. The life expectancy of Aboriginal Australians is well below that of white Australians in the Northern Territory. This statistic is mirrored elsewhere in Australia.

There are Aboriginal communities in many parts of the territory, the largest ones being the Pitjantjatjara near Uluru, the Arrernte near Alice Springs, the Luritja between those two, the Warlpiri further north, and the Yolngu in eastern Arnhem Land.

[edit] Land Rights

The Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 established the basis upon which Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory could, for the first time, claim rights to land based on traditional occupation. In effect it allowed title to be transferred for most of the Aboriginal reserve lands and the opportunity to claim other land not owned, leased or being used by someone else.

The Land Councils are representative bodies with statutory authority under the Act. They also have responsibilities under the Native Title Act 1993 and the Pastoral Land Act 1992. There are four Land Councils in the Northern Territory, they are:

the Anindilyakawa Land Council covering Groote Eylandt in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
the Central Land Council is in the southern half of the Northern Territory. The region covers 771,747 square kilometres (297,973&nbps;sq mi) of remote, rugged and often inaccessible areas. There are 18,000 Aboriginal people from 15 different Aboriginal language groups in Central Australia.
the Northern Land Council covering the Top End
the Tiwi Land Council covering Bathurst and Melville Islands north of Darwin

[edit] Geography

Northern Territory towns, settlement and road network

There are many very small settlements scattered across the Territory but the larger population centres are located on the single sealed road that links Darwin to southern Australia, the Stuart Highway, known to locals simply as "the track".

The Northern Territory is also home to two spectacular natural rock formations, Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), which are sacred to the local Aborigines and which have become major tourist attractions.

In the northern part of the territory lies Kakadu National Park, which features breathtaking wetlands and native wildlife. To the north of that lies the Arafura Sea, and to the east lies Arnhem Land, whose regional centre is Maningrida on the Liverpool River delta.

Highest maximum temperature: 48.3 °C (118.9 °F), Finke, 2 January 1960

Lowest minimum temperature: -7.5 °C (18.5 °F), Alice Springs, 12 July 1976 [2]

Rivers include:

Alligator River
Daly River
Finke River
McArthur River
Roper River
Todd River
Victoria River, which flows for 560 kilometres (348 mi) until it enters Joseph Bonaparte Gulf in the Timor Sea

[edit] National Parks

Arnhem Land (Restricted Area)
Arltunga Historical Reserve
Barranyi Nth. Island National Park
Berry Springs Nature Park
Butterfly Gorge Nature Park
Cape Hotham Conservation Reserve
Casuarina Coastal Reserve
Connells Lagoon Conservation Park
Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park
Daly River Nature Park
Devil's Marbles Conservation Reserve
Djukbinj National Park
Douglas Hot Springs Nature Park
East Point Reserve
Elsey National Park

Finke Gorge National Park
Fish River Forestry Reserve
Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve
Gregory National Park
Gurig National Park
Howard Springs Conservation Reserve
Kakadu National Park
Keep River National Park
Watarrka National Park (including Kings Canyon)
Leaning Tree Lagoon Nature Park
Litchfield National Park
Manton Dam Park
Marrakai Conservation Reserve
Mary River Crossing Conservation Reserve and proposed National Park
Mataranka Thermal Springs

Nitmiluk National Park
- Katherine Gorge
Palm Valley
Robin Falls
Ruby Gap Nature Park
Simpsons Gap National Park
Tanami Desert
Trephina Gorge Nature Park
- The Olgas
Umbrawarra Gorge Nature Park
Uluru National Park

Watarrka National Park
West MacDonnell National Park

See protected areas of the Northern Territory (Australia) for a full list.

[edit] Tourism

Tourism is one of the major industries on the Northern Territory. Iconic destinations such as Uluru and Kakadu make the Northern Territory a must see destinations for domestic and international travellers. Diverse landscapes, spectacular waterfalls, wide open spaces, aboriginal culture, wild and untamed wildlife, all create a unique opportunity for the visitor to immerse themselves in the natural wonder that the Northern Territory offers. Images of Uluru (Ayers Rock) are recognised around the world ensuring that Tourism in the Northern Territory will remain a vital component of its future.

[edit] Demographics

The population of the Northern Territory is only about 1% of the total population of Australia. Population centres include the capital, Darwin, nearby Palmerston and Alice Springs.

Indigenous Australian people make up 29 per cent of the Northern Territory's population and own some 49% of the land.

The Northern Territory's alcohol consumption is one of the highest in the world, and certainly the highest in Australia. In 2001 the alcohol consumption rate was estimated at 1120 standard drinks per person per year.

[edit] Economy

The Northern Territory's economy comprises mostly primary extractive industries, together with a significant amount of tourism.

The principal mining operations are:

Proposed mines include:

Manganese at Bootu Creek
Iron ore at Frances Creek

[edit] Transport

A new standard gauge railway connects Adelaide via Alice Springs with Darwin, replacing earlier narrow gauge railways which were never connected through.

The Northern Territory is currently one of the few places in the world that has no road speed limits, but there are plans to put limits of 130km/hour on all currently unlimited roads during 2007 [3].