Renters vote.

It seems the Northern Territory Government has forgotten who votes them in, or out.

It's not the property developers. They simply grease the wheels for their development projects to go ahead so that they can make massive profits here.

It certainly isn't the property investors. They all live in other states. They simply use the Northern Territory to fund their comfortable lives elsewhere.

The voters are those of us who actually live here, and who are finding it increasingly difficult to do so.

Rent prices have doubled in the last three years in Darwin, despite the apparent massive increase in available housing, especially in the CBD.

This goes quite contrary to the basic supply and demand rule of economics.

This is because only a very small percentage of the units that have been built in Darwin over the last three years are being made available to meet the high demand. They are being drip fed onto the market at a rate that ensures demand remains above supply, thus creating a sellers market (I have even heard of "rent auctions" going on).

A great number of units are simply being held, under advice from the real estate agents, in the belief that Darwin is such a boom town that these properties will be worth double in just two years. So of course the owners don't want people living in them in the mean time and causing maintenance costs to increase.

The market is being manipulated by greedy folk to maximize their commissions and returns.

But a person of minimal means, who has dedicated twelve years to (and many I know who are born and bred, and way older than any of you, have dedicated their lives to) the upkeep and service of this great town/city, can always apply for housing through NT Housing, I hear you say.

And wait for two and a half years to be placed in a fringe camp. In the mean time you must remain a resident of the Northern Territory.

And live where?

The answer.

The Northern Territory Government must make a commitment to purchase a fixed percentage of the properties from all residential development projects, to be made available as subsidized public housing.

The Federal Government handsomely subsidizes it's people (the ADF , high level public servants and Government consultants), who make up a fair percentage of the demand for housing. And who, through those subsidies, are able to out-compete the locals.

It's time the Territory Government started looking after it's own too. After all we are the ones who get to vote, come the day.



Robert Fyffe

Prohibition issues again.

The Network Against Prohibition has long claimed that one of the least desirable aspects and outcomes of the prohibition of a variety of recreational drugs, is the ever present temptation and possibility for police corruption.

What more glaring example of this truth do we need than the recent bombshell from NSW.

The only way this Government can have any control over the recreational drug industry is to take control of it.

Simply making selected drugs illegal is a pathetic attempt at a simple solution to an issue that is out of their control.

It, quite simply, is not working.

The use of recreational drugs, including alcohol, should be a health and education issue, not a law and order issue.

The best our police can ever hope to achieve is to monitor the trade, and as we have seen, occasionally cash in on it.

Our kids deserve to be properly educated, not with hysterical propaganda, on the pros and cons of drug usage (including alcohol) and the consequences of over indulgence.

If we had access to a variety of Government approved, pharmaceutically clean forms of the preferred alternatives to alcohol, rather than having to seek out the current contaminated backyard options, we would likely see a great reduction in drug related crime and mental health problems.

The budget to deal with education for all, and the health issues of the few who misuse drugs, would be far less than the current budget for the persecution of responsible users.

The great benefits to our economy are immeasurable.

Robert Fyffe
Network Against Prohibition

Rent again

I saw a recent ad for a flat on a real estate agent's website.

Maintenance free, unfurnished two bedroom unit. Suit busy city worker or young student.

And the price? $340/wk.

By my reckoning, based on Aus-study/student allowance rates, you'd have to cram about 8 young students in there to raise that price.

And people over commit themselves financially to an investment property who's current, and more disturbingly, future value is assured by the same people who think students can afford $340/wk rent.

Just how out of touch with reality are the real estate agents?

A note to the investors. Your property isn't worth squat if no-one but a heavily subsidized Government employee can afford to pay the rates you need to charge to cover the highly over inflated price you paid for your properties.

Darwin's current "boom" is being heavily subsidized by the Northern Territory and federal Government's. That is, subsidized by ordinary local tax payers who are consequently being squeezed out of Darwin by the few property investors who have the means to cash in on the Govt spending spree.

Robert Fyffe.

Top NT cop clueless.

Re: "Top NT cop slams drinking culture" page 3 story, NT News, Sat May 31.

Little wonder the NT Police are in such a state of disarray.

Their leader is clueless.

Yes, people should take more responsibility for their own behavior. But unless this is impressed upon them, through responsible education, and effective police action, they wont.

The NT police's "turn a blind eye" response to the blatant breaches of the Liquor Licensing Act taking place in our pubs and clubs has resulted in free for all approach to the sale of alcohol by those pubs and clubs.

Just as their "turn a blind eye" approach to the Road Traffic Act has resulted in high levels of carnage on our roads.

(The breaches of the second are often the consequence of the breaches of the first.)

Do you really expect those who have a vested interest in the sale of alcohol to voluntarily restrict their profits?

Perhaps I should remind the commissioner that it is against the law (that the police are supposed to uphold) to serve alcohol to an intoxicated person.

One does not need to be "obviously drunk" to be intoxicated. One becomes intoxicated to a blood alcohol level of .03 after one standard drink. It takes three hours (approx) to return to zero. So technically, it is illegal to serve drinks to an individual at a rate greater than one every three hours.

Do you honestly believe that all those drunks in Mitchell St on Sat and Sun mornings, got that drunk on their last drink?

Why are our police officers simply hanging around out the front of the clubs like glorified bouncers?

Are they frightened to step on a few influential toes?

Let's not beat around the bush. Publicans and licensees are "drug dealers", and their bar staff are their runners.

They are responsible for the destruction of the lives of too many of our young citizens, and the disruption and heartache to the lives of their families. All in the name of profit.

It's a pity you don't take the aforementioned Acts a seriously as the NT Misuse of Dugs Act. But of course that one is your pet, since you wrote it.

I guess it's really all about headlines and politics, power and influence, and who's making the profits, not "protecting and serving" the community.

Just who exactly are you "protecting and serving"?

Robert Fyffe

Rent Assistance

Perhaps it would be more equitable if Centalink were to actually link their rent assistance level to the mean level of rent in the region administered.

I'm sure the Real Estate industry could provide reliable figures. The same figures they use to encourage potential property investors to those regions.

Robert Fyffe

Environmental mismanagment

Ok. So who's the conservation mastermind at NT Parks who determined it is in the best interests of the environment to remove all the rubbish bins from Casuarina Coastal Reserve?

This blatant cost cutting exercise has been justified by the statement "people should take their rubbish away with them".

Agreed. People should. But people don't.

Perhaps we should disband the police force, on the justification that people SHOULD just do the right thing.

Some of us, who use the beach regularly, and like to keep it safe, and looking nice, have been voluntarily assisting NT Parks by collecting the rubbish that gathers along the beach itself, and depositing it in the bins previously provided, for NT Parks to collect.

As I ride a bike, I'm not at all keen to carry other peoples garbage 15km to put it all in my own garbage bin at home.

I encourage all that those who actually care about the environment to continue to collect the garbage along the beach, and continue to deposit it in neat piles where the bins used to be. Eventually blocking NT Parks access track to the beach.

Robert Fyffe

Daily pot smokers increase risk.

Re;- "Daily pot smokers increase risk", NT News, 22 May.

Having read Dr Martin Cohen's report, and listened to his Catalyst ( ABC) interview, I am even more convinced of the need to legalize and regulate the use of cannabis, just as we have done with the other drugs which are dangerous to one's health and wellbeing when abused. I refer of course to nicotine and alcohol.

One of the major concerns expressed was the over use of cannabis in adolescents.

The cannabis industry should be embraced by our Government and properly regulated, from growers to distributors, just as the nicotine and alcohol industries are. Accompanied by truthful and comprehensive education as to the responsible use of the drug.

We have had a concerted effort over the last couple of decades to better educate people on the perils of cigarette smoking, with far more positive results than could have been achieved by simply making tobacco illegal. The percentage of cigarette smokers in Australia has been on a steady decline since the education campaign began. People are choosing not to smoke, making informed decisions for themselves.

We are yet to achieve the same results with alcohol abuse.

Hardly surprising given the conflicting messages being sent to our kids.

Alcohol is still commercially promoted as the preferred party drug.

The police still stand silently outside our nightclubs while flagrant breaches of the Liquor Licensing Act are taking place within. Then complain about having to deal with the alcohol and amphetamine induced psychotics pouring out onto the streets at 4.00am.

Why are these drug dealers (the publicans) not seen in the same light as the illicit drug dealers. Destroying young lives by plying them with dangerous quantities of a mood altering drug, so that they can go away and fight each other over trivial misunderstandings, or drive their cars at breakneck speeds around the s-bend at the boundary of Stuart Park and Parap.

Never have I seen a breatho unit or speed trap set up on this most deadly 1/2 kilometer of road in Australia, during it's most deadly hours, 2.00am - 5.00am.

How many more of our young adults have to die before the NT Police start to act like police who care about the wellbeing and safety of the community. Not gangster thugs, kicking people awake on the esplanade who are sleeping peacefully, not presenting a danger to themselves, or others, chasing gay men through the bushes at the beat, or arresting people at general aviation for supposedly trafficking in a substance that may cause some harm to some users (bit of a double standard there)?

There is simply no logical reason for the continued discrimination against those of us who choose to smoke pot in preference to the legally available, yet far more damaging, alcohol.

There is no logical reason for the inclusion of cannabis on the dangerous substances list if alcohol and nicotine are not also included.

Robert Fyffe
Network Against Prohibition

Environmental mismanagement

Ok. So who's the conservation mastermind at NT Parks who determined it is in the best interests of the environment to remove all the rubbish bins from Casuarina Coastal Reserve?

This blatant cost cutting exercise has been justified by the statement "people should take their rubbish away with them".

Agreed. People should. But people don't.

Perhaps we should disband the police force, on the justification that people SHOULD just do the right thing.

Some of us, who use the beach regularly, and like to keep it safe, and looking nice, have been voluntarily assisting NT Parks by collecting the rubbish that gathers along the beach itself, and depositing it in the bins previously provided, for NT Parks to collect.

As I ride a bike, I'm not at all keen to carry other peoples garbage 15km to put it all in my own garbage bin at home.

I encourage all that those who actually care about the environment to continue to collect the garbage along the beach, and continue to deposit it in neat piles where the bins used to be. Eventually blocking NT Parks access track to the beach.

Robert Fyffe

Accommodation in Darwin

Having spent the last three months searching for single accommodation in Darwin, one is led to the inevitable questions.

Just how many "executives" does one city need, and until they all start to arrive, where are those who actually work, to support those executives, supposed to live?

I noted a recent article presenting the view from the real estate industry, that the bubble will not burst, and that rent will continue to increase, by up to 50% over the next couple of years.

Was this article put forward by those who profit from the industry in some vain attempt to reassure the property investors from the East Coast, who have never actually been to Darwin, that continued investment in Darwin will continue to reap the rewards they seek to fund their comfortable lives on the East Coast?

Sad really, but I suppose inevitable, that Darwin would become another victim of the real estate investment (greed) boom that has taken hold across Australia.

Still, one can only hope that the industry is wrong, and that the bubble bursts soon. Sure a few greedy folk will get burned, but then at least real estate valuations might become real once again, and no longer based on some estimated future value.

Robert Fyffe

Drugs and economy

I would like to call your attention to a statement made in the "Economics Monitor" Oct. 1997, a report prepared by Access Economics (one of Australia's leading economic consultancy firms. Advisor's to business, government departments and industry).

Quote;- "Prohibition has not prevented widespread drug use, but has created a criminal run industry which corrupts law enforcement agencies".

So I repeat an earlier question.

What is the actual agenda of the Northern Territory Police, or certain individuals therein, in putting so much time, effort and public money into targeting the cannabis market in Darwin, (which has traditionally been a local economy market)? Thence forcing the market to look elsewhere for other alternatives to alcohol.

I have pointed out in previous letters where the market drifts to and the social consequences of that drift.

Ironic really that it's the police who usually have the most trouble in dealing with the situation they create.

Robert Fyffe
The Network Against Prohibition
The Narrows.
2 Dec 2007

Soft On Crime?

Soft on crime?

Now where have I heard that line before. Oh, that's right, only at every single Territory election ever held.

The Martin-led Labor Government has been quite diligent in using the Northern Territory "Misuse Of Drugs Act" against the Aboriginal population of the Northern Territory in order to produce incarceration rate figures to prove how tough they are.

At a time when there's great concern over the stability of the remote communities, our Government has been systematically removing the most stable demographic from those communities, (the 25 - 45 year old women) who are simply trying to take home enough pot to get them through the next six months of utter boredom (but of course that amounts to a "trafficable quantity").

As a result, the Labor Government has been incarcerating Aboriginal people at a rate not seen since the days when Aboriginal people were rounded up en mass to be place into the protective custody of the ever-loving Christians.

Does our Government have some hidden agenda for the further destabilisation of the remote communities?

Is this being done to further justify the Federal Government's 'Intervention" strategy?


Robert Fyffe
The Narrows

It's Time For A Change

Dear editor,

I would like to call your attention to a letter I wrote (and you published) on 30th March 2007. A letter you entitled "Darwin heading for POT drought".

In this letter I pointed out that everywhere in Australia where the police have picked the easy target cannabis to provide them with photo opportunities, for the propaganda/misinformation campaign, which are supposed to have us all believe they are winning the "war on drugs", we have seen an increase in the consumption of alcohol and amphetamines, which then leads to a breakdown of social order, and an increase in violent crime.

Given the reports that have surfaced recently regarding the crime rate in Darwin,

What can I say? Told you so?

It is time for this Government to deal with the issue of recreational drug use in our society in a socially responsible way. Or it is time for this Government to step aside for someone who can.

Stop blindly following the USA into yet another "war". This one on our own citizens.

Robert Fyffe
Network Against Prohibition

(Published, NT News, 8th Oct.)


Well surprise, surprise.

The Channel Nine News tonight reports that public displays of violence and violent crime have increased 72% in the last twelve months.

Is it simply a coincidence that this sharp rise has coincided with the police efforts to remove cannabis from the the market here in Darwin?

Now the party goers in Darwin are traveling on a mix of alcohol and amphetamine, a far more dangerous combination than cannabis and alcohol.

This is a situation entirely of the Government's making , as they have continued their assault on the relatively peaceful cannabis users and their supply lines, and as a result have inadvertently promoted the use of speed, while all the time ignoring the situation that has been growing in Mitchell Street on Friday and Saturday nights.

I challenge any, or all, of our Government ministers to walk, yes WALK, up Mitchell street at 4:30am on a Saturday or Sunday morning.

Clare Martin and co, you must deal with this situation responsibly and with maturity before the next generation of civic leaders are rendered incapable by your ignorance.


Robert Fyffe
The Network Against Prohibition

Save the Kiddies

(Published, NT News, Wed 7th Aug.)


Well the stage has been set.

Little Johnnie's off on a crusade with Mal as his first Lieutenant to save the Aboriginal kids from being thrown overboard by their people.

A situation they have been orchestrating for about eleven years now.

Claire, you could jump on the band wagon here and go on a campaign to save our children from death by ignorance.

As long as drugs are illegal our children have far greater access to the market than they would if all drugs were legal, not just alcohol and nicotine (two of the most damaging and addictive drugs known to man), and the industry properly regulated, just like the alcohol industry.

Think carefully on this issue, the future of Territory children is at stake here Claire.

End the immoral, expensive and failing "Tough on drugs" stance.

To control the industry, you must be the one running the industry.
(I often suspect that some among you are, most likely those who most vocally oppose legalisation).

Given the evidence, growing by the truck load around the world, to support legalisation of drugs as being the best way to deal with the issue of drug use in society.

One would be quite right in suspecting that someone vehemently opposed to the legalisation has a vested interest in the matter.

Stop confusing and deliberately blurring any distinction between drug use and drug addiction.

That is irresponsible education.

We should be treating drug addiction as a health issue.

Why do we still punish people for having a medical condition?

What year is this?

It's time for some of that "Forward thinking and progressive style of Government" you promised us.

Smelly Justice

Perhaps my years of drug use have made me paranoid.

And perhaps the chain of events were purely co-incidental.

A person known to me, who stayed for a short time at the same residence as I, was involved in a traffic accident.

At the time he was unlicensed, driving an unregistered and unroadworthy vehicle (the brakes were shot), drove through a red light (speed undetermined), t-boned another car traveling through a green light, killed the passenger of that car, then took off and went into hiding for a week before handing himself in.

Shortly after hearing from his lawyer that he would only face an array of minimal charges (basically get off with a slap on the wrist), my residence was raided by the drug squad, who expected to find a fully operating speed kitchen.
They had a warrant, signed by a legitimate JP, raised based on "information received".
They left with my half a gram of personal pot and a lot of egg on their faces.

We can not blame the Court for this travesty, they can only proceed on the charges being presented.

One has to question what processes took place behind the doors at the DPP.

Definition of Dangerous

I wonder if any of our well informed and intelligent politicians can explain to all why cannabis is classified as a schedule 2 dangerous drug.

What information by way of scientific studies and social studies were conducted to justify coming to the conclusion that cannabis is so dangerous.

When considered in the light of comparative studies between the physical, psychological and social effects of alcohol and cannabis, I personally cannot find any reason why one should be considered dangerous and the other not.

In fact, our government discriminates in favour of the more harmful substance. This doesn't make sense and does not constitute good governance.

Prohibition is therefore unconstitutional.

Living in Fear

Hi,

Just passing on some interesting observations that tie in well with the drug prohibition theme.

Winston Churchill once said: ‘what good is freedom when your people live in fear!?’

When a government institutionalizes intimidation and repression to impose its own norms and values upon and over the identity of a sub-culture then it is time for that sub-culture to speak up if they are not to lose their soul.

Hidden agenda?

The question has to be asked.

Just what is the current agenda of the NT police?


Ther lastest campaign to remove cannabis from the market has been remarkably effective.

Darwin is facing its first drought in the twelve years I've been here.

Fortunately for me, I'm just a pot smoker (of thirty years) and not an addict. So I don't feel the need to turn to an alternative. I'm not happy about the situation, but I will ride it out.

There are many others in Darwin who smoke pot to reduce their need for more harmful alternatives. Alternatives that are now more readily available than ever before. The demand for and supply of speed (more sensationally named ICE in the media) has increased dramatically over the last month.

Others are consuming far greater quantities of alcohol than they did previously. Some are doing both, a dangerous combination, and a recipe for increased social disorder.

In the last month the NT police have set harm reduction strategies back 20 years. They are the cause of the "ICE EPIDEMIC".

House breaking and associated crime is set to go through the roof. Just as has happened in all the other cities when the same strategy has been employed. Public disorder and alcohol fueled violence will become much more prevalent.

To reiterate the question.

What is your agenda?

It's obviously not in the best interests of the community.

Who's interests are you acting in?

Are you trying to increase the demand for your own prouduct by taking out the competition?

Showing blatant disregard for the wellbeing of the community is something we have come to expect from our "FINEST", so this sounds quite plausable to me.

Busted update no.2

Well I attended Darwin Magistrates Court this morning (21st Mar) for mention of the matter of "possess cannabis".
Surprisingly there were very few people in court, so my mention came up by 9:15.
I entered a plea of "not guilty".
When asked if I would like time to get legal advice I stated that I would probably be representing myself in this matter.
The court set a date for the contest hearing at 10:00am on 2nd May.

The contest hearing is something the NT court system has introduced in the last couple of years.
It's like, before the Magistrate, each party presents a statement (you show me yours and I'll show you mine), then the Magistrate gets out the ruler.... and determines if the prosecution has enough to justify an actual hearing.
Basically it's the last chance for either the prosecution to drop the charges, or for me to change my plea (no chance of the latter I'm afraid). All a complete waste of the courts time as far as I can see, just part of their intimidation tactics to squeeze out as many guilty pleas as possible to avoid taking up valuable court time.
However for one who has no plan to plead guilty, it's just a waste of the court's and my time.

So then the Magistrate sets a date for the hearing.

The last time I went through this process was for an alleged traffic infringment about a year ago. In that case we got through the mention, the contest hearing and then two weeks before the actual hearing I got a letter from DPP (Department Of Public Prosecutions), to the effect that, upon reflection, the DPP had decided not to proceed with the matter.
So, at least, that time around I called their bluff. It may not be so easy this time.
With all the "tough on drugs" rhetoric being thrown around, they may be looking for a "whipping boy" or two.
This is all about politics, not justice.
The police have already implied this by their statement in the precis presented at the mention that at the time of the offence "THE DEFENDANT WAS A CORE-GROUP MEMBER OF THE NETWORK AGAINST PROHIBITION (NAP)".

Interestingly, as I left the court room, I was approached by a lawyer asking if I required representation, or had I been in touch with Legal Aid. I told him I was reluctant to go to Legal Aid since, in my experience, they were only interested in assisting guilty pleas and plea bargaining, whereas I had no intention to do any "bargaining", and I could not afford a high priced lawyer to conduct my defence.

I don't know if he's actually seen the brief and has an interest in the case or he's just trying to drum up business. What is interesting is that he's a lawyer known to have very tight connections with the CLP (Country Liberal Party), the encumbant Government's main opposition party and arch nemesis. I thought this strange as the CLP is not a big fan of NAP either.
Perhaps he's unaware of the connection of this case with NAP just yet, or maybe he is aware, and his motives are political too.
Anyway, he has offered to listen to my story for free and determine from there whether to take up the case (billing his services to legal aid), or not. We'll see.

Prohibition

According to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey approximately 46% of Australians have used illicit drugs at some time.
This figure is unlikely to be reliably accurate given the climate of fear caused by the Governments propaganda war on drugs and criminalisation of drug users.
Many drug users will not admit to their use even in anonymous and confidential surveys. I suspect the true figure to be well over 50%.

Given that drug usage has been a part of human culture for many thousands of years, this makes the Governments "war on drugs" akin to the cultural cleansing carried out by Saddam Hussein against the Kurds, or Adolf Hitler's cultural cleansing carried out against the Jews.

When a Government declares war on a sector of their own population it is called CIVIL WAR. It is only the climate of fear that keeps the Government in control.
The minority is oppressing the majority. We only need to look to South Africa in recent history to see the (inevitable) end result of such action. When the oppressed lose their fear, the Government will fall.

It is therefore in the best interests of our Government, and for the sake of stability in this nation, for our Government to cease this insane and immoral war immediately. Before it's too late.

Have we learnt nothing from the days of alcohol prohibition in the United States?
It seems that the US has learnt nothing from their past experience. Must Australia continue to blindly follow the US down this socially destructive path?

Prohibition has had absolutely no effect on the supply and demand for various drugs. If anything it has worsened the situation. The police have, for too long, taken the soft option and gone after the easy target drug marijuana simply to produce headline stories. In reducing the supply of pot they have increased the demand for other substances.. The current "ice epidemic" is of the Governments making. People will continue to exercise their right to relaxation and enjoyment of life, but not everyone wants to, or can safely, consume only alcohol.

Prohibition is a very expensive failed policy. One which our Government continues to throw money at to no avail. Taxpayers money that would be better spent into the education and health systems. The cost, to the health system, of dealing with the small minority of drug users that suffer health problems as a result of their drug use would be far less than the amount of money being currently wasted on policing and incarcerating ordinary taxpaying citizens who choose to use a drug other than alcohol for their relaxation and enjoyment.

The drug industry should be legitimised and regulated to become a contributor to the economy through employment and associated taxes, rather than a criminal run industry that corrupts police, politicians and the judiciary, and is a drain on the economy. People should be educated properly with accurate information and encouraged to moderation, not fed a load of sensationalistic propaganda (lies).

If the alternatives to alcohol were as readily available as alcohol in quality controlled, known dosage forms, legitimately produced at reasonable cost, the result would be a huge reduction in crime rates. We would, with one single change of policy, free up our police, courts and jails and could afford more teachers and doctors.

Think about it people, PROHIBITION IS NOT WORKING.

Neo-Nazi policies

For those of you hankering for a return to the "good old days", fear not, we are there.
Right back to early 1940's Germany when Jew hunting was all the rage.
Or is it the late 1600's and witch hunting?

In October of 2006 my house was raided by eight storm troopers (or was it the puritan army) and a dog, on the suspicion (no actual evidence) that I was harbouring Jews (or witches)

Unfortunately the troopers/puritans found nothing but an old skull cap/straw broom, for which I have been charged with possession of a dangerous object.

Now the fun begins, as I expect to spend the next couple of years fighting human rights abuses through our politically motivated "justice" system. Tieing up our courts in a wholely justifiable use of taxpayer donations.

Busted update no.1

Well finally.

On Wednesday 12th March, only 4 1/2 months after the offence, I received my

"SUMMONS TO A PERSON CHARGED WITH AN INDICTABLE OFFENCE"

I am charged with: "unlawfully possessed cannabis plant material, a dangerous drug specified in Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act:

Contrary to Section 9(1) and (2)f (ii) of the Misuse of Drugs Act."

I am therefore commanded to appear on Wednesday, the 21st March 2007.

at 9:00 AM at the Court of Summary Jurisdiction, Nichols Place at CAVENAGH STREET, DARWIN.

And so the fun begins.

Drug price questionable

REGARDING the front page story of Northern Territory News March 1: “Police seize $3 million cannabis haul”.
(published)

sent to NT News.

Where do you get your pricing from? Is this a figure you just plucked out of thin air for the sensational value?

Or was this the figure provided by the NT Police?

Either way, it is so far exaggerated as to be pure propaganda.

Three million dollars for 30kg breaks down to $100 per gram, about four times the actual street value of the stuff.

If this is the price the police are expecting to get for it, then I’m glad I switched dealers.

Rob Fyffe, The Narrows

(NT News Editor) WHERE do we get the figure from? Well, Rob, if you read the story properly, you’d see it right there in the report. Drug Squad Superintendent Peter Gordon is quoted as saying “we believe (the drugs were) destined for Darwin and possibly remote communities where it could fetch … up to $100 a gram”.