6 — Centralian Advocate, Friday, July 26, 2013
Ban legal highs now
Lettersto the Editor
PO BOX 2254, 2 GAP ROAD, ALICE SPRINGSFAX: 8950 9740
I’d like to address the issue of synthetic
drugs, which have generated a lot of
media coverage over the past few
months.
Coverage reached a peak in June when
Henry Kwan, just 17 years of age, jumped
to his death.
Synthetic drugs not only cause the
death of young people, but can result in
many other terrible side-effects that
trouble the staff at Youth Off The
Streets on a daily basis.
The harmful side-effects can lead to
aggressive, violent behaviour and regular
users become addicted and develop
substance abuse issues.
Our youth workers rarely encounter
violent behaviour, until recently, when a
young person was visibly distressed after
taking synthetic cannabinoids.
A young person recently smoked a
synthetic drug, right in front of a youth
worker, because they don’t have a
distinctive smell: they just smell like
cheap tobacco.
Soon after that, our youth worker
approached the young person, who was
becoming visibly distressed and lashed
out in a violent way toward the worker.
This was not like the young person at
all, and they were very remorseful the
next day. Many consistent users of
synthetic drugs often end up homeless
and those, who are young, will often seek
help from our organisation or
organisations like Youth Off The
Streets.
Mainstream use of synthetic drugs is a
relatively new development and we are
not sure of the long term effects from
exposure to this toxicity.
The Australian law is out of date. We
need to make this lethal type of drug
illegal.
We hear, all too often, young people use
the excuse ‘‘it’s legal, so it’s OK’’, when
asked to stop taking synthetic drugs.
The law is sending the wrong message
to our young people.
Father Chris Riley
Chief executive officer
Youth Off The Streets Ltd
10amThe time youngsters have to be at AlicePlaza, dressed as a circus performerand with the three tokens, to win beinga ringmaster at Circus Royale for a day.-0.9C
The official minimum
temperature recorded at
the Alice Springs weather
station on Wednesday.29
The percentage
of NT roads
rated as ‘‘bad’’
by the RAA.
We welcome your letters to the Centralian Advocate.
Letters To The Editor should be 200 words or less and sent to PO Box2254, 2 Gap Road, Alice Springs 0871, or via email [email protected] and include your name andaddress.
Electoral editorial comment published in the Centralian Advocate isauthorised by Bryan Littlely of 2 Gap Road, Alice Springs
87
87
Target
Todd
St
Gregory Tce
Skinner St
legr
aph
Tce
Olive PinkFlora
Aurora Alice Springs
t
Anzac
Anzac Park
Leic
hhar
dt T
ce
Todd
Mal
l
Stott Tce
Stur
Wills Tce
Stuart wnCeme ry
Todd
Riv
er
Stur
Wilkinson St
Stokes St
Whitta
Whi
ttak
er S
t
Bojangles
Alice SpringsHospital
Parsons St
ay
ley
St
Post Offi ce
Todd
Mal
l
ToTa
Monte
Blo
om
Tuncks Rd
The Fairway
St A
ndre
ws
All Seasons
Traeger Park
Bagot St
Sout
h Tc
e
Gap
Roa
d
Miln
er R
d
Kidman St
ss Park
Olive Pink Botanic Garden
Road
KFC
Barre
tt Dr
ive
McGees
Cinema
Ara
lue
n A
rt C
en
treS
tua
rtC
ara
van
Pa
rk
Toddy’s Backpackers
Heavitree Gap Lodge
Wintersun Caravan Park
Town Council& Library
Memo Club
24 Hour Store
RSL Club
Gille
Clu
b
The Residency
15km
Telegraph Station
Gap View Hotel
ck Bar
jail
Town &
Tennant CreekDarwin
UluruAdelaide
YHA
Rocky’s Pizza
Westpac
ANZ
NAB
Courts
Alice Plaza
Bank SA
Chemist
CentralCar
fty
Northsideshops
Lasseters Casino &Convention Centre
Golf Course
Crowne Plaza
Alice in the Territory Hotel
Har
tley
St
St
Pioneer Park Racecourse
Alice
Sp
ring
sD
ese
rt Pa
rk
TrTrTraegeaege
Ce
ntr
Ce
ntr
Ce
ntreee
Ca
rav
Ca
rav
Ca
rava
n P
aa
n P
aa
n P
arkrkrk
Clu
bC
lub
Clu
b
15k15k15km
AQUA FITNESSLasseters Casino poolSAT: 8am
CHILD PLAY GROUPGap Youth CentreFRI: 9.30am
NETBALLUndoolya Rd Netball courtsFRI: Net-Set-Go 5.30pm.SAT: Under 9s 9am.
SOCCERRoss ParkSAT: MPH Vikings v Verdi 6pm.SUN: Scorpions v Celtics 1.30pm.
CREATURE CHRISTMASAlice Springs RSPCASAT: 10am.
TREE DAY FAMILY FUN DAYAlice Springs Desert ParkSAT: Noon.
PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPCharles Darwin UniversitySAT: 9am.
MARKETS/CARBOOT SALEHeavitree Gap TavernSUN: 9am.
AFL PREMIER LEAGUEAubrecht OvalSAT: Federal v Ltyentye Apurte 3pm.SUN: Pioneer v Anmatjere 2pm.
OZ LOTTO: 1014 WEDNESDAY LOTTO: 3263OPINION
REAL ESTATE
ALICE LIVE
—
—
—
TV
COMICS
CLASSIES
— 33
— 26
— 36
— 42SPORT
6
19
31
SUNDAYALICE TODAY
min 1° max 22°Frost then sunny
SEND US YOUR UPCOMING EVENTS, NEWS & PICTURES
Got something newsworthy? Send it to us at: [email protected](All inclusions at Editor's discretion)
SATURDAY
min 5° max 26°Sunny
min 7° max 27°Mostly sunny
ULURU: Today min 3 max 22 Sat min 6 max 25 Sun min 6 max 24. TENNANT CREEK: Today min 11 max 25 Sat min 12 max 28 Sun min 15 max 30..
AROUND ALICEF o r l o c a l s a n d v i s i t o r s
SUNDAY
Traeger Ave
Crackers
WHO TO CALLPolice, Fire, Ambulance:Emergencies only dial
000Alice Springs Police:131 444Ambulance: 8959 6600Fire & Rescue Service: 8951 6688Alice Springs Hospital: 8951 7777Power and Water (emergency number): 1800 245 090
RSPCA: 8953 4430Alice Springs Town Council: 8950 0500Wildcare: 0419 221 128
33, 19, 7, 42, 30, 34Supps: 8, 9
34, 41, 8, 40, 28, 31, 37Supps: 39, 42
HospitalHospital
Bagot St
Bagot St
BagotBagotBagotBagot StTraeger Ave
AFL PREMIER LEAGUETIO Traeger ParkSAT: Wests v Western Aranda 4pm.
rkrk
ss Park
ss Park
INTUNE MUSIC FESTIVALTodd TavernFRI: Launch 6pm, Showcase 6.30pm.SAT: Workshops 10am - 6.45pm, Showcase 6.45pm.SUN: Showcase brunch 10am, Workshops 12pm - 4.45pm. DESERT MUSIC CLUBMON: Katie Harder & Band 7pm.
Olive PinkOlive PinkFlora Flora
dd R
iver
dd R
iver
NAIDOC WEEK FESTIVITIESAlice Springs Town Council lawnsFRI: 10am.
HEART FOUNDATION WALKSAT: 7am
LENS FLAIR FILM FESTSAT: Launch 7.30pm.
SturSturStur
LIVE MUSICBojanglesSAT: The Tongue & SkankMC 10pm.
McGee
CrackerCrackerCracker
NAIDOC MARCHAnzac Oval carparkFRI: 9.30am.
legr
legr
legr
aph
legr
legr
aph
LIVE MUSICMontesSAT: Warren H Williams & Nokturnal 8pm.
WinteWinteWinteWinteWinterrrrrsun sun sun sun sun CaraCaraCaraCaraCaraCaravan Pvan Pvan Pvan Parkarkarkark
Telegraph Station
Darwin
RUGBY LEAGUEAnzac OvalSAT: Memo v Vikings 2pm, United v Wests 3.30pm.
LENS FLAIR FILM FESTAlice Springs CinemaSUN: Screening 6pm.
87
wnwnwnryryryryry JUNIOR RINGMASTER
COMPETITIONAlice PlazaSAT: 10am.
EditorialDecember 7, 2012
Visa changes notgood for businessCHANGES to the 457 visas program have thepotential to impact significantly on the developmentand business opportunities in our region.
Skilled and valuable overseas workers fillingcritical roles in Alice Springs operations has not onlycreated success stories but ensured manybusinesses survived.
The government’s justification for the change, thatthere is widespread rorting of the system at theexpense of Australian jobs would certainly be validin many areas.
It is unlikely, however, that it applies to our regionand remote regions like ours.
It is tough attracting workers to Central Australia.It is even tougher retaining them in an isolatedcommunity, even with our wealth of servicesand facilities.
The high rate of take up of employment andretention of workers employed under the 457 visaprogram here — coupled with the anecdotal andwidely accepted train of thought that if you don’thave a job in Alice, you don’t want one — is evidencethe system works well for Alice Springs.
Under the changes employers have to conductlabour market testing, by taking out employmentadvertisements, to prove they searched forAustralian workers before hiring temporary workersfrom overseas on 457 visas.
It is a cost burden on our businesses and we canexpect a delay on service delivery.
It is not only the business sector which reliesheavily on skilled migrants, our support services,including our pressured health services, could notoperate without these workers. Families of 457 visaworkers also make a significant contribution to ourcommunity, not only on the work front but byengaging with service groups and sporting clubs.
Unfortunately, the new plan has the potential torob our region of some of the multicultural wealththat we appreciate.
ALICEBY NUMBERS
Treat towncamp sameI refer to Mr Warren H.Williams’ comment in theCentralian Advocate July2 3 , 2 0 1 3 ‘ ‘ A x e g r o grestrictions’’.
Town camps are part ofAlice Springs: it’s a town, allthis is a town.
Does this mean that War-ren H. Williams is also say-ing the people who reside inthe houses within thesetown camps, if they are tobe treated as equal to theremaining parts of AliceSprings (which I support),must now pay full councilrates and taxes like theremaining parts of AliceSprings?
Name suppliedAlice Springs
Fireworksneed banI too am over the illegalfireworks especially in theMallam Crescent and Rieff
Court areas in Sadadeen.
Ban private fireworks soresponsible pet owners canenjoy Territory Day at agenuine town event.
Over itSadadeen
Ruby GaeaessentialI was extremely disap-pointed to hear of the NTGovernment’s decision tode-fund three positions(around $100K annually) atthe Ruby Gaea Centre inDarwin. This service hasbeen supplying essentialsupport services to womenand girls for at least the 20years I’ve lived in the NT.
As a psychologist andhaving worked within a var-iety of counselling settingsover many years, I knowthat the value of these pos-itions and the outcomesthey achieve cannot beunderestimated.
Phil WalcottIndependeNT Senate
candidateAlice Springs
OPINION
