Bogan slogan has council confused
WHEN Kon Vatskalis claimed victory as the new Lord Mayor at the 2017 council election he thanked the former council for making “stupid decisions” and “pissing off the voters”.
After all, it’d had some shockers.
There was the shortlived bike lanes on the esplanade, the Daly St roundabout that survived by the skin of its teeth and my personal favourite — the scramble crossings.
I’m amazed that nobody has perished in a pool of their own sweat at the corner of Knuckey and Cavenagh streets waiting to cross the road, which in our city should be a pretty straightforward af- fair. But I guess two years is a long time in politics — even council politics.
Because for someone that was talking about council getting back to its core business and not needlessly pissing people off Kon did the exact opposite this week.
On Tuesday morning he told Katie Woolf it wasn’t the council’s job to be the morality police, which was why he ON RED CENTRE NATS FIRE VICTIMS WANTING PUBLIC INQUIRY
Every motorsport event has the same sign. Enter at own risk. Motorsport is dangerous. Pretty straight forward really. David Grimwade Motor racing is dangerous the ticket says. Mick Lyne Enter at your own risk. Joel Bagz
Motorsport events are dangerous. We are told this over and over again. Take would not support a proposal to see “CU in the NT” merchandise banned from being sold at the Nightcliff and Mindil Beach markets.
Council shouldn’t be involved in deciding what people should and shouldn’t be offended by, he said.
But at Tuesday night’s council meeting, less than 24 hours later, he used his casting vote to support the ban. some responsibility. James Martin ON QANTAS SAYING RED CENTRE GALLERY WILL BE GOOD FOR FLIGHTS
Why? Qantas, why would flights be cheaper if there is a national indigenous art gallery in Alice Springs. Please explain? Di Swart
And just how many will be flying in and out of the Red Centre to see this art gallery? More fairy tales, not as if it will ever be the Louvre. James Neill Is it April’s Fools already? Jock Mactavish Your joking right? They just cut
Kon said his change of heart came about after a phone call from a “prominent” Territorian who had also allegedly made a complaint to the police commissioner.
But when the NT News followed it up with police we were told no complaint had been made. Go figure.
In putting forward the motion Alderman Robyn Knox said she believed the slogan was degrading to women and that some parents had complained about having to have an awkward conversation with their kids.
During the debate the motion was backed by Alderman Justine Glover because the half the flights to Alice about a month ago. Kyle Letheby
So at the moment according to these idiots there is no reason to fly to Alice Springs … well that's a slap in the face for the people who live there. Terry Murphy ON CALLING THE TERRITORY HOME
I had the pleasure of living there for 3 months once a single parent on Centrelink ...has no choice but to go south … now the kids have grown up I’ve remarried but feel trapped in Perth. Sally Pegg Hey this is going to be a hard pill to swallow, but how do you council should be “lifting our moral compass and saying … there have been complaints, we should respond and we should remove this offensive material”.
I don’t doubt that the aldermen who voted to ban the merchandise believe that the slogan is offensive or that the people who have complained about it find it offensive.
And we could continue to talk about whether the slogan is or isn’t offensive for another two years but we won’t get anywhere because it’s a debate best had at a barbecue — not in council chambers.
It’s hardly hate speech — like it or not, it’s already proven itself to be a wildly successful guerrilla marketing campaign.
Some of the aldermen might think that anyone who has a “CU in the NT” bumper sticker or T-shirt is the world’s biggest bogan.
They might think that seeing that hashtag all over Instagram doesn’t paint the Territory in the best light.
But if they think that anyone that visits here is only going to remember a slogan they’re wrong.
And if they think they only have to represent the constituents who think exactly like them, they’re not doing their job.
Why is a mum who is annoyed about having to see the
“For someone that was talking about council getting back to its core business and not pissing people off Kon did the exact opposite this week”
feel about writing an article about “why I love Darwin but it won’t be my forever home”. I’ve got a few mates that confidently say that they are not in a hurry to leave, but have a number of reasons they won’t stay. Liam Tibballs
I’d probably leave, but trapped by my mortgage and falling house prices. Dave Lovegrove
Perth is a hole. Morgan Morawski Well I am going … had enough of Darwin. Helen Craig
Very true! I gave up the hustle, bustle, crime, cost and 90min commute each way to work in merchandise any more important than a mum who buys a T-shirt for her relative interstate?
There is always a danger, especially for politicians, who only spend time with or listen to people who share the same ideologies and opinions as them.
If our council has this much time and money to get involved in things that aren’t in its remit you’ve gotta wonder whether they should be there at all. The Sunday Territorian’s usual columnist, Hayley Sorensen, is on leave and will return next week Perth 9 years ago...yep, I’m home!! Chelsea Mulcahy Darwin is my home. Janice Ashurst
I lived in Darwin for over 20 years now back in WA and wish I was back in Darwin. LOVE the NT. Kristina Barry
Darwin born and bred, moved down to Melbourne last year and wish everyday to go back home! Kaylene Ann
Would have loved to stay in Darwin but after 36 years had to move back to Perth couldn’t afford Darwin on a pension. Viv Smits Green