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Movement at the station

THE words of Banjo Paterson sang out this week but not because the colt of old regret had escaped. The movement at the station had to do with the changes at the top of the NT Cattlemen’s hierarchy with the sudden departure of Paul Burke. Word is another member of the executive team, Tom Ryan, has also gone however Bushie is assured privately that the events are not linked. In the meantime Tracey Hayes is tipped to fill the role in the interim. But there is also talk she is up for a key Gunner Government position. Rest assured when we know, so you will you.

Do your homework

THE NT News’ controversial but important front on Thursday addressed PM Malcolm

Turnbull’s apparent lack of care about the alleged rape of a toddler in Tennant Creek earlier this year. Jumping to his defence, attorney-general Christian Porter said: “I haven’t read the article but it could not be more wrong”. Bushie does not think such an admission helps dampen Territorians’ impression over a lack of care.

New for old

OUR brilliant local institution, Charles Dar

win University, has been heralded again on a top ten list. This time it was named as 9th on the list of “new” universities which have been established since 2000. This confused many long-term locals who can remember a Top End university going back much further than that. The Northern Territory University, which had been around since 1989, became Charles Darwin University in 2003 when it merged with two colleges in Alice Springs and Katherine. So while CDU is definitely worth the praise maybe its roots aren’t really that new.

Cutting words

A SPIN doctor for Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham was very annoyed the term “cut” was used to describe a cap in funding to Darwin’s CDU. Some would say it is quite ironic when politicians and their media staffers get annoyed when they feel words have been spun to present a non-intended meaning.

Baby-faced journo

YOUNG NT NEWS journo Will Zwar got quite a surprise this week while out on a reporting job at a primary school. After doing his duties the teacher walked into the room while young Will was facing the other way. To his surprise, the teacher mistook him for one of the students and directed him back to his desk. No word on how long our fresh- faced Will waited at his desk before slipping out to get back to work.

How contrary

IT appears one NT News reader, Mary Gaz

zola, is not too happy with the sometimes colourful language adopted by the paper. Her letter to the editor yesterday reads as

such: “A possible scenario at an NT News reporters ‘think- tank’ meeting. ‘So, what’s up, mate?’ ‘Yeah, just gotta do a few articles.’ ‘What’s your word-bank look like?’ ‘Ah, too easy. I’ve got bog, flog, grog; crap, sap, flap and balls, falls, talls and I reckon I could use some from last week: sh.t, ti.s and pits.’ ‘Oh, mate – you’re home and dry!’ The Australian dictionary and thesaurus could also supply and broaden this word-bank if your reporters were ever really in a sticky situation requiring formal, conventional language. Regards.” Bushie would come to the defence of the journos at the NT News, however, we have witnessed a morning news conference and Mary has pretty much nailed it.

Missing Amos

TERRITORIANS who read The Australian have been missing their local reporter Amos

Aikman for the past month. The wellknown scribe is understood to be on leave but many are keen for him to get back and give the Oz back a bit more NT focus.