Latest news with #Territorians
NZ Herald
4 days ago
- General
- NZ Herald
In the Territory, crocs are both an ever-lurking danger and a part of the region's identity
All three are proud, unapologetic owners of pet crocodiles in Australia's Northern Territory. Marrakai Sullivan, 23, Sullivan's daughter, grew up with pet crocodiles and got her first as an adult last year. She picked out Flint and Donk from the hatchlings born to her father's crocodiles. Only Flint survived past his first birthday. Living with and raising crocodiles requires an appreciation of their power and their place in the ecosystem, she said. 'It's a great part of being a Territorian,' she said. 'Where else are you gonna get that?' Flint, Marrakai Sullivan's pet crocodile, at her home in Darwin River, Northern Territory, Australia. Photo / Matthew Abbott, the New York Times Trevor Sullivan has 13 of the creatures on his sprawling property. Matthews has four freshwater crocodiles named Gloopy, Jazzy, Destin, and Cyclops, who is missing an eye from a fight. Horne cohabitates with Zeus, a saltwater native, who he says has tried to kill him twice. But when undisturbed, 'they are the most relaxed pet, they do what reptiles do – not too much', said Nigel Palmer, who has had Rocko, 21, since he was a hatchling. Hatchlings, which go for about US$300 to US$400 ($502 to $669) apiece, feed on pinky-fingernail-sized bits of meat. They require delicate care in the early stages, when they are sensitive to small temperature changes. As adults, crocodiles take little effort. They eat once every couple of weeks during the wet season and can go months without food in the dry. 'They're easy. You don't walk 'em, you don't wash 'em. They're just there,' said Gaynor King, Matthews' partner. Marrakai Sullivan grew up with pet crocodiles and got her first as an adult last year. Photo / Matthew Abbott, the New York Times Pet crocodiles are also allowed in Victoria state. In the Territory, they are an ever-lurking danger, a major tourist draw, and a part of the region's identity. They embody the mix of tolerance for risk, healthy scorn for authority, and propensity for solitude that residents relish. 'With Territorians, it's not that they want one, but they believe they should be able to have one,' said Emily Moyes, the general manager at Crocodylus Park, a popular zoo and research centre in Darwin, the regional capital. Tourists are greeted with ads for crocodile experiences of all kinds as soon as they arrive at the Darwin Airport. Visitors can dive among crocodiles, cruise down a river in their midst and watch them leap several feet out of the water. Or gaze into their eyes while having a pint – whether it's a real live one, or one made of concrete. 'Every pub here has a crocodile. It's bloody iconic,' Moyes said. Trevor Sullivan heads out to feed some of the 13 pet crocodiles on his sprawling property. Pet crocodiles are also allowed in Victoria state. But in the Territory, they are an ever-lurking danger. Photo / Matthew Abbott, the New York Times In April 2024, the Northern Territory Government announced that it would stop issuing licences for pet crocodiles, setting off an uproar. The opposition campaigned partly on overturning the ban – and won. 'Crocodiles are synonymous with the Territory,' the Liberal Party said in a statement in December, reinstating the provision. Since then, the local wildlife commission has received six applications for permits, which require that pet crocodiles be kept in enclosures that meet strict specifications. A total of 70 people currently hold licences. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Written by: Victoria Kim Photographs by: Matthew Abbott ©2025 THE NEW YORK TIMES
ABC News
01-07-2025
- ABC News
The Northern Territory's 2025 Cracker Night in pictures
It happens just once a year, for five loud, chaotic hours — and only in one rebellious corner of the country. On the evening of July 1, the Northern Territory once again lit up in a flurry of bangs, smoke and unregulated explosives as thousands of people celebrated Territory Day. Territorians and visitors that travelled from all over Australia to take part in the celebrations took to the streets and braved the mayhem to mark the 47th anniversary of self-government — and to revel in their right to legally buy and set off fireworks. While the rest of Australia banned personal fireworks decades ago, the territory has tightly held onto the controversial tradition. "It's the Wild West out here," said Casey O'Flynn, who drove from Queensland with her family to experience the chaos of Cracker Night. Celebrated throughout the NT every July 1, Territory Day is the only time Australians can legally buy and use fireworks without a permit, with Northern Territory stores allowed to sell fireworks to people aged 18 or older. Cracker Night almost didn't go ahead this year, after more than 100 tonnes of fireworks bound for the Northern Territory were seized by New South Wales authorities. But eventually hundreds of tonnes of explosives crossed the border. They then vanished in a flash on Tuesday, sold through pop-up, one-day-only shops selling ominously named favourites like Loose Cannon, Heavy Duty Missiles and Bullet Bees. The biggest kits retailed for more than $5,000. Here's how Cracker Night was celebrated across the Northern Territory.
The Sun
29-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
AirAsia Malaysia arrives in Northern Territory with KL-Darwin service
PETALING JAYA: AirAsia Malaysia's new Kuala Lumpur–Darwin service took off in a robust debut on Friday, achieving close to 90% passenger load and underscoring the airline's dedication to driving tourism growth in Australia's Northern Territory and reaffirming Malaysia's appeal as a top destination in the lead-up to Visit Malaysia 2026. The launch of this new route, along with the latest service between Bali and Adelaide (commemorated on June 26, and operated by AirAsia Indonesia), marks a significant milestone for AirAsia and its strong ties with Australia. These new services underscore the group's ongoing commitment to expanding its network, enhancing regional connectivity, and offering more travel options for leisure, tourism, and trade. Australian Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations Robyn Cahill OAM said the Territory's aviation sector continues to go from strength to strength with this new route providing a boost to tourism, growing business and trade and connecting Territorians with a new international flight option. 'We are thrilled to partner with AirAsia and the Airport Development Group to expand AirAsia Group's network into the Northern Territory and provide greater choice, connectivity and competition for travellers. 'More flights will make it easier for people to visit and do business in the Territory. Having just returned from Kuala Lumpur, I can attest to the beauty of the destination. I encourage Territorians who are heading to Malaysia to take advantage of this fantastic service with direct and affordable flights into Kuala Lumpur four days a week,' said Cahill, who joined AirAsia on its maiden flight to Darwin. AirAsia Malaysia CEO Datuk Captain Fareh Mazputra said Darwin now becomes part of AirAsia Malaysia's expanding network in Australia, further boosting the airline's strong and growing presence in the region. 'Australia remains one of the group's key growth markets, and we are thrilled to touch down today (Friday) for the first time in the Northern Territory. 'We are confident this new service will be well received, not only offering the only direct and affordable connectivity between Darwin and Kuala Lumpur, but also as a gateway to our vast network of over 130 destinations across Asia and beyond at great value,' he said. AirAsia Malaysia will operate four weekly flights on the Kuala Lumpur-Darwin route, offering more than 1,488 seats weekly.
Daily Express
28-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
New Kuala Lumpur - Darwin route to boost tourism
Published on: Saturday, June 28, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jun 28, 2025 Text Size: DARWIN: AirAsia Malaysia officially launched its inaugural Kuala Lumpur–Darwin route with a strong load factor of nearly 90 per cent, reinforcing the airline's commitment to boosting tourism in the Northern Territory. AirAsia Malaysia officially commenced operations on June 27, marked by the landing of flight AK612 at Darwin International Airport. Air Asia flight AK612 will operate four times a week. The launch of this new route marks a significant milestone for AirAsia and its strong ties with Australia. Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations, Robyn Cahill OAM joined AirAsia on its maiden flight to Darwin said, the Territory's aviation sector continues to go from strength to strength with this new route providing a boost to tourism, growing business and trade and connecting Territorians with a new international flight option (pic). 'We look forward to welcoming more Australian travellers to experience our unique cultural diversity and commitment to sustainable tourism. In 2024, Malaysia recorded 447,785 visitor arrivals from Australia, an 11.7 per cent increase from 2023 and 6.3 per cent above pre-pandemic 2019 levels,' said Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, Director-General of Tourism Malaysia. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
ABC News
12-06-2025
- ABC News
Pepper spray could soon be legal in the NT, but lawyers warn misuse could lead to trouble
In less than three months, thousands of Territorians may be able to buy, carry and use pepper spray in self-defence under a yearlong government trial. The trial, set to begin on September 1, will see the Northern Territory become the second jurisdiction in Australia to legalise the sale and use of pepper spray, joining Western Australia. Pepper spray, or oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray, is a non-lethal device used to incapacitate people by causing a painful burning sensation and temporary vision impairment. The details of how the trial will work, who can purchase the spray and how it will be regulated are yet to be decided, but the NT government has said it will look to WA as a model. So, how does it work in the west? Under WA legislation, pepper spray is defined as a controlled weapon, as opposed to a prohibited weapon, meaning people can carry and use it — but only under strict conditions. Even to carry pepper spray requires "reasonable grounds" and, as specialist criminal lawyer Tabitha Raphael explained, that's where things get murky. The legislation does not specify what constitutes "reasonable grounds", leaving the task of determining what falls into that category up to the courts. In a landmark case, the WA Supreme Court decided self-defence was a "reasonable ground" for possessing pepper spray — but that doesn't mean it's legal to carry it everywhere you go. "It's really dealt with on a case-by-case basis," Ms Raphael said. Ms Raphael said, while OC spray was readily available in WA, there was still widespread misunderstanding of when it was legal to carry it. "There are a lot of people out there with OC spray thinking it is lawful to have in their possession at all times without knowing the laws," she said. "The approach is quite strict and you would need to fit a certain criterion before it would [be deemed] self-defence." Ms Raphael gave the example of a young woman working as a bartender in an entertainment precinct who had experienced harassment or intimidation, walking to her car at the end of a shift. "She has learned from her past experience that walking to her car after a shift can be dangerous … and [the court] has excused someone like that to possess OC spray in those circumstances or if that were to occur again," she said. But Ms Raphael said if that woman chose to carry OC spray in the middle of the day while buying groceries, the outcome might be very different. "Police would need to use their discretion and the court would then decide whether it's lawful or unlawful," she said. Ms Raphael said the use of OC spray during an altercation could also result in criminal charges. "If someone is in an altercation when it wasn't necessary, for example, if the other person has ceased attacking or is walking away," she said. The NT's peak organisation for Aboriginal medical services has condemned the government announcement, describing the policy as "misguided" and "misleading". Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory chief executive John Paterson said making pepper spray available to members of the public was likely to impact vulnerable people. "Weaponising people and allowing wider access to a harmful substance like OC spray won't fix violence, it will fuel it," he said. Dr Paterson said the move would inflame social and health challenges for Aboriginal people who are over-represented in homelessness, domestic violence and incarceration rates. Dr Paterson urged the government to redirect policies and funding toward solutions that improved safety. "If we want to stop violence before it starts, we need to invest in what works — safe housing, early childhood services, culturally safe healthcare and wraparound supports that strengthen families and communities," he said.
