Released cabinet decisions from 1984 reveal what made Territorians hopping mad way back in 1984

IN 1984, cane toads were wreaking havoc, Medicare came into effect and no political scandals were happening in the NT.

The 1984 Northern Territory Cabinet records were released today. Cane Toad.

CANE toads were wreaking havoc on the Northern Territory in 1984, Prince’s Purple Rain was tearing up the charts, the $1 coin was jingling around pockets for the first time, Medicare came into effect and no political scandals were happening in the NT, Business Minister Peter Styles says.

Recently released cabinet decisions from 1984 show that while many things in the Territory have changed over the years, a lot has remained the same.

“There are no scandals that I’ve seen from 1984,” Mr Styles said at the release of the papers.

“There are no scandals in there. What you will see is government getting on with business and generating the future for the Northern Territory.

“As a result of those decisions, we today are benefiting.”

At the time, the CLP was in power, led by chief minister Paul Everingham, who was succeeded in October by chief minister Ian Tuxworth after Mr Everingham resigned to seek a federal seat.

In September 1984, cabinet considered research into the “biological control” of cane toads, which had first appeared in the NT during the wet season of 1982-83.

Cabinet was looking at the best way of controlling the “problem of national significance” and partnered with the governments of Queensland, WA and NSW to formulate a joint proposal to the Commonwealth Government for funding the research into biological control.

Crocs, too, weighed heavy on the minds of politicians as cabinet was asked to consider downgrading salties from endangered species to create a viable crocodile farming industry in the NT.

Other initiatives of the Government that year included the introduction of the Junior Police Ranger program to help teach life skills to youth, and the development of a private hospital within Royal Darwin Hospital that would need additional carparking facilities.

Cabinet also considered a report into the feasibility of a major convention centre in Alice Springs, which the report suggested should be built before a convention centre in Darwin because of its “superior tourist infrastructure and services”.

The released documents can be viewed at the Northern Territory Archive Services.