Myth Busters - NT 2011 Towards State 7

#1

Will the Northern Territory lose federal government funding by becoming a State?

No. The Territory receives funding under the same formula as the States and has done so since 1988. All the States rely on federal funding because the Commonwealth Government collects GST and Income Tax and distributes some of that money back to the States.

#2

Won’t I just be giving Territory politicians more power if we become a State?

You will be giving Territorians more power because Territorians get to vote for the 25 Members of the Territory Legislative Assembly but only for 4 out of the 226 Members and Senators in the Federal Parliament. Most of the power in the Federal Parliament comes from NSW and Victoria.

#3

Isn’t the Northern Territory population too small for Statehood?

The Northern Territory’s population is over 220 000. When Tasmania and Western Australia became States in 1901 they had smaller populations than the Territory has now. There are member countries of the European Union with small populations (Malta and Luxembourg have just over 400 000 each while Germany has over 82 million people) and they are partner countries in a single union, like the Territory should be a partner State in a single country.

#4

Doesn’t Statehood just mean more layers of government and more politicians?

There will be no new layers of government with Statehood. The Northern Territory does not need an upper house if people don’t want one. The Northern Territory will only get more senators if the States agree, we need to talk to each other about whether we want to ask for more Senators.

#5

Won’t we lose our unique identity and what makes us different if we become a State?

Statehood means we can continue to promote our unique identity and lifestyle without interference from outside. Ask a Queenslander or a Western Australian if they feel their identity is compromised because they are a State.

#6

We have already lost our open roads and won’t fireworks be banned next if we become a State?

The changes to speed limits were made by the Territory Government. The ACT Government has banned the sale of individual fireworks from 2010. It’s up to the Territory Government and has nothing to do with Statehood about whether we have fireworks or not.

#7

We were asked about Statehood before and we said no, why do you keep asking?

The last time people were asked about Statehood was in 1998 when 51.3% of voters said no. Research conducted after the vote said many people voted no because they did not agree with the process to develop a draft constitution. We are asking people to get involved to draft a constitution before we ask again.

#8

It won’t make any difference if I get involved its all about politicians anyway

The State 7 campaign is an opportunity for ordinary Territorians to shape the way the political system works into the future for us and our children. A constitution tells the parliament, the government and the court system how it must work. This might be your only chance to influence how this system works.

#9

Constitutions are dangerous because they have things in them like the right to bear arms.

A constitution must set up how the parliament, government and the court system works and it might have other things in it that bind a government like citizen’s rights. Whether our constitution includes any citizen’s rights is up to you to decide as you come to the State 7 Roadshow meetings in 2010 and influence who goes to the constitutional convention in 2011.