FORMER Northern Territory Attorney-General John Elferink has called for South Australia and the Northern Territory to be merged into one “mega-state” and an all too familiar name has been floated for it.
Former deputy prime minister and Nationals leader Tim Fischer is also on board with the concept with Coonawarra suggested as the new state’s name.
“I think a name like Coonawarra, an indigenous name which relates to honey, would be appropriate for the combined state – it has a ring about it,” Mr Fischer recently told ABC Darwin.
The call for a mega state has been debated by many across the two states, but Penola and District Business and Tourism Association president Dru Reschke said the name made famous by the South East wine region was not under threat.
Mr Reschke said while he thought it was great Mr Fischer mentioned Coonawarra when discussing great Australian regions, the name Coonawarra was a protected geographical indication (GI) trademark.
“A GI trademark states a good as originating in a specific territory, region or locality where a particular quality, reputation or other characteristic is essentially attributable to that geographical origin,” he said.
“It’s why the world had to stop putting champagne on every bubbly bottle of wine.
“Coonawarra is a protected wine GI, which would prevent that whole new state from putting Coonawarra on anything – not a great starting marketing campaign.”
Another name suggested was Centralia, which Mr Reschke believes would be a more fitting moniker.
“We welcome any free press that Mr Fischer wants to give Coonawarra but maybe Mr Elferink’s idea of the name Centralia might be a better option,” he said.
“The native Aboriginal language in Central Australia is Alyawarr and the word “Ahern” means “region, or nation”.
“Maybe this might be more appropriate – better yet, ask the people of that area.”
Mr Reschke said although the suggestion of Coonawarra was not possible, he welcomed a chance to bring Mr Fischer to the region to show him what makes it so unique that it is globally protected.
