www.KeepNTLimitFree.org officially launched our petition against the law of imposing a speed limit on Northern Territory open roads in Darwin Mall on the 12/2/07. We invited Jodeen Carney the then CLP Leader of the Opposition to confirm her commitment to repeal this no evidenced based law if elected Chief Minister of the Northern Territory.
On the 13/2/07 at 10.00am we held a peaceful protest on the steps of parliament where approximately 100 people attended. We were grateful for the attendence given the short notice and the time of day, despite what was reported. click here newspaper articles
Jodeen Carney the then CLP Leader of the Opposition then reaffirmed her commitment to us. Gerry Wood Independent member for Nelson also gave a speech and gave us his full support.
However we were portrayed as racists and a mob of hoons which are outright lies!! We have done our research and numbers don't lie.
The truth is and what we stated on the day is that the majority of the deaths are occurring on unsealed roads and these statistics are being used as a smoke screen to introduce these new limits.
Statistical fraud: "One person is killed and nine seriously injured on territory roads every week"
FACT: "NT road crash death rate over the past four years is 39 deaths per 100,000 Indigenous persons and 12 deaths per 100,000 non-Indigenous".
The Indigenous are killed from single vehicle roll overs in the middle of the scrub, sleeping on roadways & overloading with passengers. It doesnt matter how somebody dies on the road, in a vehicle or not, it still counts towards the road toll.
--Between 1999 and 2002 indigenous Australians made up 43 per cent of all road fatalities in the Northern Territory, yet they constitute just 29 per cent of the population.
-- 74 per cent of occupants and pedestrians were legally drunk (over 0.05)
-- 70 per cent were either non-licensed drivers, or in a vehicle being driven by a non-licensed driver.
-- Failure to wear a seatbelt was a factor in 60 per cent of vehicle occupant deaths
-- Almost half of all fatalities were pedestrians
-- Two-thirds of the fatal crashes were in urban areas.
Now the rural default is 80kmph, where as previously it was "unrestricted", so deaths on those tracks wont be counted towards the toll, making the open road speed limit look more effective.
Bottomline imposing a speed limit on the open road does nothing to help the indigenous community from being killed!
Address the real issues in the bush and not use these frightening statistics to scare the public in thinking that the problem is on the open road when its NOT!
Then they have the audacity to call us racists!
Many of our members are Aboriginal and are deeply concerned about these issues and are disgusted with Mr Paul Henderson Leader of Government Business comments.
Safety or Tax? Get the Facts!
Please spread the word about the truth as this governement must be brought to account for their despicable actions.
Even if the open road speed limit law does not affect you directly, can you let them impose laws based upon no evidence and then cover it up and use every means possible to suppress the real truth!
Honestly we really need your help. Please inform people to check out www.KeepNTLimitFree.org and so make an informed decision.
At risk our Territorian Unique Lifestyle