THERE is a lot of ill-informed chatter going around about Statehood this afternoon.

It has not been helped by the Prime Minister apparently thinking a new state would mean adding a seventh point to the Federation Star on the Australian Flag, should the Northern Territory became a State.

(In fact there have been seven points on that star since 1908, the six states, a point each and one for the Territories combined. In theory a change would require going to 8 points, but one could argue the points are for the Federating States of 1901.)

But if the Northern Territory were to become a State the ACT would be alone as a Territory some cry. Well not quite. The Australia.gov.au website lists the other Territories of Australia as:

• Ashmore and Cartier Islands
• Australian Antarctic Territory
• Christmas Island
• Cocos (Keeling) Islands
• Coral Sea Islands
• Jervis Bay Territory
• Norfolk Island
• Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Nothing to panic about, particularly as the ACT’s status is enshrined in the notoriously difficult to change Constitution.

[Photo: “Flag of the Australian Capital Territory” by user:Dbenbenn – Own work, Originally uploaded to en:Image:Australian Capital Territory flag.png. Licensed under CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.]