Health, mine negotiations, home ownership and Tina Turner: Cabinet documents show what life was like in the NT in 1993

Australia is beginning a new year, and as part of this event, cabinet documents from the Northern Territory government have been put on public display for the first time. These documents are from 1993, giving a unique opportunity to see what life and policies were like in the territory over three decades ago.

Every January 1st, hidden files from the cabinet that are 30 years old are made public by the Library & Archives NT in accordance with the NT Information Act.

Back in 1993, Meatloaf reigned supreme on the Australian music charts with the hit song "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)", while the cinematic masterpiece "Jurassic Park" dominated the box office domestically.

The Australian Northern Territory had the Country Liberal Party (CLP) as its ruling party, and the chief minister at that time was Marshall Perron who led a cabinet consisting only of males.

According to the present NT Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Chansey Paech, there was a lot of activity and progress going on within the Northern Territory government in the year 1993.

Specific topics that caught our attention were related to healthcare, vaccinations, and the flu.

Superstars Visit: Health, Housing & Mining Discussed

As per the information provided by the Australia Bureau of Statistics, in the year 1993, there were one hundred seventy thousand individuals residing in the NT region. This was approximately sixty-six percent of the current populace. The overall count comprised of almost sixty-eight thousand folks inhabiting Darwin, ten thousand people in the satellite city of Palmerston and approximately twenty-five thousand residing in Alice Springs.

Major occurrences this year were the stranding of a whale in Darwin, which has since had its skeletal structure showcased at the Museum and Art Gallery NT. Additionally, the debut of the Darwin Export Stockyard in Berrimah was also a noteworthy event.

In May 1993, the Darwin Export Stockyards was launched and was attended by NT ministers - Barry Coulter, Daryl Manzie, and Marshall Perron. The photo of the event was provided by the Library & Archives NT.

The student union of Northern Territory University received negative feedback during May regarding the expenses incurred for a performance by popular Irish singer-songwriter Bob Geldof. However, during November, renowned singer Tina Turner enthralled audiences at the Darwin Amphitheatre during her What's Love Got To Do With It tour.

Even though there have been significant changes in the music industry over the past 30 years, certain choices made by the cabinet of the Perron administration may appear similar to those made in 2023.

According to Mr. Paech, three decades ago the government provided $1 million specifically for the restoration of distant clinics.

A sum of $1 million isn't enough anymore for constructing infrastructure. However, it serves as an important lesson for future cabinets to review past strategies.

Seven distant communities that were previously relying on inferior facilities such as trailers or rundown buildings for their healthcare services were recognized as in need of urgent upgrades.

Mr. Paech stated that one of the examples is the Nyirripi clinic located in his own constituency. He emphasized the significance of analyzing the progress of the clinic as a healthcare provider and its services.

The health center in Nyirripi was picked along with six other clinics in remote areas of the Northern Territory to be upgraded using a $1 million budget in 1993. (Provided by the Library & Archives of the Northern Territory)

Furthermore, a resolution was made to provide vaccinations for children between the ages of one and five that safeguard them from illnesses like pneumonia and meningitis by shielding them against Haemophilus Influenza Type B. This was also considered as a significant aspect of maintaining good health.

During that period, the cabinet made a significant decision regarding an agreement that was signed with the Jawoyn Association in order to progress the improvement of the Mount Todd Gold Mine, located in close proximity to the town of Katherine.

Around three decades ago, discussions were underway between us and the Aboriginal individuals and communities concerning the possession of land and excavation undertakings. These are topics that we must keep scrutinizing as time progresses, according to Mr. Paech.

The agreement document for the Mount Todd Gold Mine has been signed by the Jawoyn Association, NT government, and Zapopan NL mining company, as revealed by the supplied Library & Archives NT picture.

In 1993, the cabinet sanctioned a program for joint ownership of homes to promote equity. Additionally, they invited opinions from the public regarding a policy manual for settlement communities.

Mr. Paech stated that the problem we are currently dealing with in our location is the same as what we faced three decades ago: how to keep retirees in our community. He suggested exploring alternatives such as concession plans and ways to enhance the overall quality of life in our area.

30 Years On, Domestic Violence Persists

The topic of domestic violence in the region was widely discussed in 2023. NT Coroner Elisabeth Armitage investigated the deaths of four Indigenous women who were killed by their partners. This issue was a major concern and received media attention for several months.

She pointed out that the domestic violence sector has been neglected and underfunded for many generations, which has resulted in the current dire situation.

The papers from 1993's cabinet display that the government of NT tackled an identical issue three decades ago. They took into account propositions from a task force on domestic violence. These recommendations ranged from changing laws to managing firearms, hospitals and housing.

Elisabeth Armitage conducted research into the deaths of four Indigenous women in the Northern Territory in 2023, which were a result of domestic violence. (Source: ABC News - Michael Franchi)

However, there are several documents regarding its decision that haven't been made available to the public because of the government's ongoing obligation to keep them confidential.

According to Mr. Paech, even though the documents are not being disclosed, there are still valuable insights that can be gleaned.

"He stated that it's important for us to have a clear comprehension of what was being put into action and utilized at that moment to tackle and resist domestic and family violence. Moreover, we should scrutinize the latest plans and programs to alleviate such violence in the future," he remarked.