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Don’t panic, if the NT becomes a State the ACT will not be alone

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:DbenbennOwn work, Originally uploaded to en:Image:Australian Capital Territory flag.png. Licensed under CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.]

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3 Responses to Don’t panic, if the NT becomes a State the ACT will not be alone

Shane Ryan says: 23 July 2015 at 4:03 pm

Australia has 10 territories. Your article has left Norfolk Island off the list. Although Norfolk Island is no longer one of Australia’s self-governing territories (along with the ACT and the NT), it is now one of Australia’s eight non-self-governing territories.

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John Moulis says: 24 July 2015 at 8:51 am

NT being forced to become a state despite the people of the NT voting NO in the 1998 statehood referendum. Sound familiar? (Hint: 1978 referendum rejecting ACT self government followed by self government in 1989).

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