Records 1988

Introduction

This guide has Cabinet record information from 1988, including Cabinet decision highlights from that year, a background to the Northern Territory and Australia in 1988, and the Cabinet members.

Download the 1988 Northern Territory Cabinet Records PDF (3.1 MB) document.

For a full listing of Cabinet decisions and Executive Council records go to indexes of Cabinet records.

Not all Cabinet decisions are available to view, get the list of Cabinet documents exempted from 30 year release PDF (160.2 KB).


About 1988 records

An historical overview of the Territory at the time

22 January, Australia’s biggest earthquake occurs at Tennant Creek. Three consecutive earthquakes occurred, with the largest having a magnitude of 6.6.

2 February, Prince Charles and Princess Diana commence a two day visit to the Northern Territory.

11 March, the Spencer and Gillen Gallery (later renamed the Central Australian Museum) a regional branch of the Museum and Art Galleries Board of the NT, officially opens in Alice Springs.

27 March, Singapore Airlines becomes the fifth international airline to operate regular weekly services to Darwin.

6 April, the fifth Hatton Ministry is appointed.

23 April, the Atrium Hotel on the Esplanade, Darwin, is opened.

26 May, the Cullen Bay Marina Agreement was signed between the developer Darwin Marina Estates and NT Government, allowing work to commence on the marina and housing development.

12 June, Prime Minister Bob Hawke is presented with the Barunga Statement at the annual Barunga sporting and cultural festival. Written on bark, the Statement calls for Aboriginal self-management, a system of land rights, compensation for loss of lands, respect for Aboriginal identity, and end to discrimination, and the granting of full civil, economic, social and cultural rights. Prime Minister Hawke responds by saying that he wishes to conclude a treaty between Aboriginal and other Australians by 1990.

July, Headquarters Northern Command, responsible for coordinating Australian Defence Force access and support for combined maritime surveillance and security Operations, is created in Darwin.

1 July, from this date for inter-governmental financial purposes the Northern Territory is treated by the Commonwealth as a state.

1 July, the Northern Territory celebrates a decade of Self Government.

2 July, the first Greek Glenti, is held in Darwin.

14 July, Marshall Perron is elected Chief Minister, succeeding Steve Hatton. The First Perron Ministry is appointed. Mike Reed replaces Steve Hatton in the Ministry.

31 July, the second Perron Ministry is appointed following the resignation of Don Dale due to ill health.

31 October, Darwin Private Hospital, the Northern Territory’s first private hospital is officially opened on Rocklands Drive, Tiwi.

25 November, Alice Springs celebrates the centenary of its proclamation as a town.

Community Education Centres are established in major remote communities by the NT Department of Education.

[Swearing in of Chief Minister Perron, 14 July 1988] Image courtesy of Northern Territory Archives Service, Department of the Chief Minister, NTRS 3823 P1, BW 2735, Item 1[New Executive Council meeting, 14 July 1988] Image courtesy of Northern Territory Archives Service, Department of the Chief Minister, NTRS 3823 P1, BW 2735, Item 7[Kahlin Marine Estate (Cullen Bay) signing, 26 May 1988] Image courtesy of Northern Territory Archives Service, Department of the Chief Minister, NTRS 3823 P1, BW 2726, Item 22Image courtesy of Northern Territory Archives Service, Department of the Chief Minister, NTRS 3822 P1, Scenic Katherine Region, Slide 46 [Elsey Falls, 8 June 1984]Image courtesy of Northern Territory Archives Service, Department of the Chief Minister, NTRS 3822 P1, Scenic Darwin Region, Slide 155 [Florence Falls, 23 July 1985]Image courtesy of Northern Territory Archives Service, Department of the Chief Minister, NTRS 3822 P1 Box 12, Item NN Tourism/Scenic/Katherine, [no date] [Katherine Gorge/Nitmuluk National Park circa 1980’s]

National Scene

26 January, Sydney Harbour is the focal point for Bicentenary celebrations marking 200 years since the arrival of the First Fleet to Botany Bay.

26 January, more than 40,000 people, including Aboriginal people from across the country, staged the largest march in Sydney since the early 1970s Vietnam Moratorium demonstrations. The protesters marched through Sydney chanting for land rights.

30 April, the World Expo 88 opens in Brisbane, Queensland. The theme of the Expo is "Leisure in the Age of Technology", and the mascot for the Expo is an Australian platypus named Expo Oz. The exhibition runs for 6 months hosting pavilions from over 70 countries and thrusts Brisbane into the international spotlight.

9 May, Queen Elizabeth II opens the new Parliament House in Canberra.

3 August, Federal Opposition Leader John Howard's draft One Australia policy taps into latent concerns over Asian immigration and sparks damaging debate on this issue within the Coalition.

17 August, Foreign Minister Bill Hayden is announced as the next Governor-General. In the subsequent ministerial reshuffle, Gareth Evans receives the Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolio, Ralph Willis receives Industrial Relations, and Robert Ray receives Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs.

19 August, the Gazettal is signed by the Governor General, Sir Ninian Stephen, declaring Australia's floral emblem officially to be the Golden Wattle, Acacia pycnantha.

1 September, a ceremony is held at the Australian National Botanic Gardens to mark the declaration of the floral emblem, where the Prime Minister's wife, Mrs Hazel Hawke, plants a Golden Wattle.

3 September, the 1988 Australian Referendum asking questions on four issues including 4 year maximum terms for members of both Houses of the Commonwealth Parliament, to provide for fair and democratic parliamentary elections throughout Australia, to recognise local government, and to extend the right to trial by jury, to extend freedom of religion, and to ensure fair terms for persons whose property is acquired by any government. None were passed with the failure generally attributed to the open ended and nondescriptive wording of the proposed amendments to the Constitution.

5 November, Olympic Dam, the world's largest uranium deposit and the largest underground mine in Australian opens, 560 kilometres north of Adelaide, South Australia.

29 November, the four acts granting the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) self-government are given Royal Assent.

International Scene

15 May, after more than 8 years of fighting, a truce is called and the Soviet Army begins withdrawing from Afghanistan.

3 July, Iran Air Flight 655 is accidentally shot down by a missile launched from the USS Vincennes, killing a total of 290 people on board.

11 August, Al-Qaeda is formed by Osama bin Laden

20 August, The Iran–Iraq War ends, with an estimated one million lives lost.

29 September, NASA resumes Space Shuttle flights, grounded after the Challenger disaster, with Space Shuttle Discovery.

17 September to the 2 October, The Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, was opened in Seoul, South Korea.

8 November, George HW Bush is elected in the United States presidential election.

1 December, The first World AIDS Day is held.

2 December, A cyclone in Bangladesh leaves 5 million homeless and thousands dead.

21 December, Pan Am Flight 103 is blown up over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing a total of 270 people. Those responsible are believed to be Libyans.

Popular Culture

2 January, Imparja Television starts broadcasting to remote Central Australia via satellite, having an official launch on 15 January.

17 January, The first episode of Australian soap drama Home and Away goes to air.

17 January, A Current Affair debuts on Channel Nine, hosted by Jana Wendt.

Among the highest grossing Hollywood films of 1988, included are Rain Man starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise, Who framed Roger Rabbit starring Bob Hoskins and the voice of Charles Fleischer as animated character Roger Rabbit, Coming to America starring Eddie Murphy, Crocodile Dundee II starring Australian Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski. Comedy Twins starring Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rambo III starring Sylvester Stallone, Big starring Tom Hanks, and Die Hard starring Bruce Willis.

Australian movie releases included Young Einstein, starring Yahoo Serious, The Man from Snowy River II starring Tom Burlinson and Sigrid Thornton, John Hillcoat directed Ghosts of the Civil dead starring David Field, and Nick Cave, and Fred Schepisi directed, Evil Angels, starring Meryl Streep and Sam Neill.

Top 10 Selling music singles in Australia included (I’ve had) The time of my life, Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes (featured in the film Dirty Dancing); Simply Irresistible by Robert Palmer; The Flame by Cheap Trick; Get outta my dream, get into my car by Billy Ocean; I should be so lucky by Kylie Minogue; Perfect by Fairground Attraction; What a wonderful world by Louie Armstrong; Never gonna give you up by Rick Astley; Age of reason by John Farnham; and Better be home soon by Crowded House.

References:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-12/northern-territory-1988-quake-now-rated-australias-biggest/7406988

https://ntepa.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/286647/cullen_bay_marina.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1988_in_Australia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Bicentenary

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Expo_88

https://www.barungafestival.com.au/1988-statement/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_referendum,_1988

http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-50-singles-1988.htm

NT News publication, various editions from 1988

Office of the Administrator 1999, Northern Territory Chronicle 1974-1998


Members of the 1988 Cabinet

Fourth Hatton Ministry (21 December 1987 to 5 April 1988)

MinisterPosition
Hon S P Hatton MLAChief Minister
Hon R A Hanrahan MLA *

Minister for Education

Minister for Tourism

Hon B F Coulter MLATreasurer
Minister for Mines and Energy
Hon M B Perron MLA

Minister for Industries and Development

Hon D W Manzie MLAAttorney-General
Minister for Lands and Housing
Minister for Conservation
Hon D F Dale MLA

Minister for Health and Community Services

Hon T R McCarthy MLA **Minister for Labour and Administrative Services
Hon F A Finch MLAMinister for Transport and Works

* Resigned from Ministry on 5 April 1988.

** Became Ministerial Office of Labour, Administrative Services and Local Government on 15 February 1988.

Fifth Hatton Ministry (6 April 1988 to 13 July 1988)

MinisterPosition
Hon S P Hatton MLA *Chief Minister
Hon B F Coulter MLA Treasurer
Minister for Mines and Energy
Hon M B Perron MLA

Minister for Industries and Development

Hon D W Manzie MLA

Attorney-General

Minister for Lands and Housing

Minister for Conservation

Hon D F Dale MLAMinister for Health and Community Services
Hon T R McCarthy MLA

Minister for Labour and Administrative Services and Local Government

Hon F A Finch MLAMinister for Transport and Works
Hon T Harris MLA

Minister for Education

Minister assisting the Chief Minister on Constitutional Development

Hon E H Poole MLA

Minister for Tourism

Minister assisting the Chief Minister on Central Australian Affairs

*  Resigned as Chief Minister on 13 July 1988.

First Perron Ministry (14 July 1988 to 30 July 1989)

MinisterPosition
Hon M B Perron MLA

Chief Minister

Treasurer

Hon B F Coulter MLA

Minister for Mines and Energy

Minister for Industries and Development

Hon D W Manzie MLA

Attorney-General

Minister for Lands and Housing

Minister for Conservation

Hon D F Dale MLA*Minister for Health and Community Services
Hon T Harris MLA

Minister for Education

Minister assisting the Chief Minister on Constitutional Development

Hon F A Finch MLAMinister for Transport and Works
Hon T R McCarthy MLA

Minister for Labour and Administrative Services and Local Government

Hon E H Poole MLA

Minister for Tourism

Minister assisting the Chief Minister on Central Australian Affairs

Hon M A Reed MLAMinister for Primary Industry and Fisheries

* Resigned from Ministry on 27 July 1989.

First Perron Ministry (14 July 1988 to 31 July 1989)
Rear: EH [Eric] Poole, TR [Terry] McCarthy, T [Tom] Harris, FA [Fred] Finch, MA [Mike] Reed
Front: DF [Don] Dale, BF [Barry] Coulter, MB [Marshall] Perron, DW [Daryl] Manzie

Image courtesy of Northern Territory Archives Service, Department of the Chief Minister, NTRS 3813 P1, Item 11


1988 Cabinet decisions

Under the Northern Territory Information Act, public sector organisations are required to transfer their records to the Northern Territory Archives Service not later than 30 years after the record was created.

Most archived records enter an “open access period”, whereby they are available for public perusal 30 years after the record was created. This includes the Cabinet records.

The original copies of all Northern Territory Cabinet submissions and decisions are filed by meeting date, and bound into books. These books are then transferred to the Northern Territory Archives Service for safekeeping and preservation.

Please see below a list of highlights for 1988 Cabinet records.

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Formation of a Two-Man NT Police Force Gold Squad

Between 1986 and 1987 the Northern Territory experienced a marked increase in the number of gold mines operating (from 11 to 16), which led to a subsequent increase in gold production. However as mines and production increased, so did criminal activity. The Chamber of Mines estimated a loss of $1 million in gold royalties over the previous five years due to theft.

With a 277% increase in gold production projected between 1986 and 1988, the Government agreed to the formation of a two-man gold squad to specialise in the investigation of all criminal activity associated with the gold mining industry. Members of the two-man police gold squad would receive specialised training and knowledge of gold production. Close liaison with the Chamber of Mines and Department of Mines and Energy would greatly enhance investigations involving the gold mining industry.

Establishment of the Gold Squad was conditional on a levy on Territory gold producers of 20 cents per ounce of gold produced in the NT, and a review of the effectiveness of the Gold Squad after three years.

Read the Cabinet Decision:

Development of Kenaf-Based Pulp and/or Paper Industry

In 1987, Government was briefed by the then Department of Industries and Development on the possible development of a kenaf based pulp and/or paper industry. Kenaf is a tropical hibiscus plant of the mallow family, yielding a fibre resembling jute used to make ropes and coarse cloth. Other products under investigation for development in the NT included peanuts and soybeans.

Government noted the estimated costs for 1988/89 to continue investigations into the agronomy of kenaf (and testing of other annual fibre crops) and development of a cropping system, with kenaf as the principal crop.

Following consideration of the Submission, Government endorsed the following:

  • the objective to develop a proposal for commercial investment in a pulp/paper industry based on locally grown kenaf and other non-woody fibre crops;
  • the principle of substantial private enterprise involvement in the development of a kenaf industry as soon as possible; and
  • progress to date, and the plans for 1988/89 for work on crop agronomy, computerised crop modelling, pulping and paper making tests, market analyses, locational analysis and a study of possible commercial structures.

Read the Cabinet Decision:

Priorities For Park Development in the Northern Territory: 1988 To 1993

This submission provided a set of priorities for the development between 1988 and 1993 of parks that fall under the care, control and management of the then Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory.

Proposals were based on a tourism study and a road development strategy which would form the basis for wealth generation in the tourist industry, have positive employment implications, and facilitate other resource development in the Northern Territory.

Park development was approved on the following priorities:

  • Priority 1 parks requiring enhanced access and facilities - including the ‘Wetland’ parks east of Darwin, Berry Springs Wildlife Park, Litchfield Park, Katherine Gorge National Park, Upper Roper Park at Mataranka, Yulara, Kings Canyon, the West Macdonnell Ranges area, and Alice Springs.
  • Priority 2 parks were associated with major tourist routes (Stuart, Barkly and Victoria Highways) to cater for the needs of the travelling public, and
  • Priority 3 parks were associated with tourist outback adventure where 4WD access and basic facilities would be provided.

Parks categorised under the priorities are listed in the submission.

Read the Cabinet Decision:

Natural Death Bill

The purpose of this submission was to approve introduction into the Legislative Assembly of the Natural Death Bill to give legal effect to directions against artificial prolongation of the dying process. The Natural Death Bill 1988 (serial 113) – papers tabled 249, 256, 307 would only apply to terminally ill adults of sound mind and with no reasonable prospect of any temporary or permanent recovery.

The aim of the Bill was to ensure a terminally ill patient would be able to issue a direction that extraordinary measures are not to be taken when death is inevitable and imminent. The Bill would allow people who are about to die to have a say in their dying process, thus lending them a final dignity.

The Bill was closely modelled on the South Australian Natural Death Act passed in 1983 and was similar to Victorian legislation.

The Bill was passed in the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory on 4 October 1988 and the Act was repealed by the Andrews Bill in the Commonwealth Parliament, which was assented to on 27 March 1997.

Read the Cabinet Decision:

Education Act - Truancy

The purpose of this Submission was to seek approval to draft an amendment to empower authorised persons to escort truant children from public places to the schools at which they are enrolled.

The submission outlines the advantages and disadvantages to the option of amending the Act; to only police officers currently based at schools to be authorised as truant officers; and to making truancy a criminal offence.

Following consideration of the above issues, Government approved the drafting of legislation to amend the Education Act to empower authorised persons who observe children apparently of compulsory school age in public places where there is reasonable ground for believing that such children should be at school, to request of the children their ages and name of their school, and to escort the children from those places to the custody of the Principal of their school.

Read the Cabinet Decision:

Northern Territory Law Reform Committee Report on De Facto Relationships

The submission contains a report by the Northern Territory Law Reform Committee who examined the law of de facto relationships, excluding the issues of custody and maintenance of children. At the time, the percentage of de facto relationships in the Northern Territory was 14.5% of all couples – more than twice the national average.

Submissions were considered from community and church groups, along with statistical and social information on de facto relationships, and legal reforms and studies in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

The Committee concluded that the existing law contained a number of anomalies in the way it treated de facto couples and recommended the law be changed. Its principal recommendations were:

  • De facto couples should be able to make contracts regulating their financial relationships and the division of property upon separation,
  • Courts be empowered to settle property disputes in a fair and just way, instead of being determined by a set of technical legal rules,
  • Courts be empowered to order maintenance of de facto partners in limited circumstances.

Government agreed to the Report of the NT Law Reform Committee on De Facto Relationships to be tabled in the Legislative Assembly to allow public discussion of its recommendations.

Tabled paper no. 684 is available at https://parliament.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/479370/5th-Assembly-Tabled-Papers.pdf

Read the Cabinet Decision: