Release of secret 1994 cabinet records reveals inner-government decisions
Secret and confidential NT cabinet decisions from 1994 have been released to the public for the first time. Find out what was going on — and what they didn’t want you to know — 30 years ago.
Northern Territory
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The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Each year a new stack of secret NT Cabinet records are released to the public after 30 years under lock and key.
This year, cabinet’s 1994 closed door decisions open to the public, revealing the inner mechanisms of government in that year.
However, some of the more saucy decisions will remain confidential until all of cabinet’s 1994 decisions are made public in 2040.
This list includes decisions around pokies, gas supply deals and planning for the East Arm Port, which was controversially leased to Chinese company Landbridge in 2015 under a 99-year deal.
The year 1994 was a busy one for then Chief Minister Marshall Peron’s nine man cabinet.
TOURISM
High on the agenda was the NT tourism masterplan, with the Territory recording an eye watering average annual growth in domestic visitors of 17.1 per cent when cabinet adopted the plan.
The tourism strategy coincided with the opening of the Cyclone Tracy exhibition at the Museum and Art Gallery NT (MAGNT), as well as the approval for works to begin on Alice Springs’ famous Desert Wildlife Park and Botanic Gardens.
This represents a far cry from the current situation, with NT Tourism reporting a 21 per cent drop from 2019 domestic visitor numbers.
The tourism masterplan was accompanied by a discussion on Aboriginal tourism and an NT aviation strategy.
AVIATION
The NT Aviation Strategy revealed the high hopes of the Peron Ministry “to grow Northern Territory Tourism through improvements in air access, services and capacity”.
Thirty years ago, seven airlines flew in and out of Darwin airport, with departure destinations including Brunei, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Denpasar and Kupang.
The report also detailed potential international markets in Japan, Hong Kong and Thailand, along with further interstate connections.
Nowadays Territorians have a choice of five airlines and can fly to only three international destinations – Bali, Dili and Singapore.
The lack of choice is a factor in the high fares Territorians are forced to pay if they wish to fly interstate or abroad.
GENDER EQUALITY
The all-male cabinet had women’s rights in mind with its NT Women’s Strategy which aimed to raise the status of women in society, increase women’s economic independence, improve women’s health outcomes and eliminate violence against women.
This strategy no doubt paved the way for future female Chief Ministers, including the CLP’s own Lia Finocchiaro who stormed to victory in this year’s election.
However, efforts to eliminate violence still remain a significant problem in Territory society.
In 2024, NT Coroner Elisabeth Armitage issued a landmark coroner’s report, labelling domestic violence in the Territory a “national shame”.
Ms Armitage made 35 recommendations to address what she called a “plague of domestic violence homicides”.
Many of these recommendations mirror the strategy of cabinet’s 1994 decision.
CONSERVATION
Cabinet endorsed a number of decisions relating to conservation including bushfire management, and a national and Territory conservation strategy.
The NT conservation strategy prioritised the conversation of biological diversity, natural and cultural heritage, sustainable use of natural resources and the maintenance of a clean and healthy environment, including the monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions.
The bushfire management strategy tackled the practice of controlled burning, concluding the public needed to be made more aware of the necessity of that fire management tool.
Conservation and protection of the natural environment continue to be a contentious 30 years later, with sustainable water use and fracking emerging as key issues in the Territory.
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