NT Independent

Another murky recruitment process raises more questions about Attorney-General’s Department

The Attorney-General and head public servant were provided a shortlist of candidates for the top executive position in the Attorney-General’s Department back in April, but took no action to interview any of the candidates before quietly appointing the acting executive to the permanent role last week while failing to explain why the proper recruitment process was initiated but not followed for the key position.

DPP hands Gosling case to interstate prosecutor after Commonwealth DPP rejection

A Sydney-based lawyer who was involved in the Eddie Obeid corruption case has been engaged by the NT DPP to prosecute Federal MP Luke Gosling’s criminal assault matter after Commonwealth prosecutors rejected the case last month, amid the acting NT DPP’s move to avoid a “perceived conflict of interest” in the matter.

Woman, teen charged as worker faces OC spray probe

A woman faces an assault charge for allegedly spitting in a shop worker’s face on Friday and a 17-year-old girl has been charged with physically assaulting the same worker, while the employee in turn is being investigated over her use of OC spray, including spraying it into a vehicle carrying the alleged offenders while two young children were sitting inside, with police not disclosing the children’s ages.

Police vehicles damaged in Wadeye riot as violence continues

Two police vehicles were damaged during a riot involving up to 150 people in Wadeye and officers had to rescue a man who was hiding from the crowd, NT Police said, as violence in the remote community continues.

Limmen Bight Marine Park expanded to protect marine habitats

The Limmen Bight Marine Park has been extended by 185sq kms, an increase of 20 per cent, which the government says will help support the world’s largest dugong population while protecting marine habitats and promoting sustainable tourism.

Domestic violence victim dies in hospital 10 days after stabbing

A 47-year-old woman who was left at the hospital by her partner after he allegedly stabbed her twice in the chest and told healthcare workers she was feeling “unwell” has died as a result of her wounds 10 days after the incident, with her 39-year-old partner now facing charges, NT Police said.

REVEALED: Here’s what Territory Labor is hiding in its 2024 election campaign review

ANALYSIS: Fifteen months ago, Territory Labor Leader Selena Uibo was handed a review of the party’s crushing 2024 election defeat prepared by the national executive, which she promptly hid and refused to make public. Today, the NT Independent can reveal the contents of that report show the party has yet to fully come to terms with why Territorians booted it from office and failed to learn any lessons from one of the worst political defeats in Territory history.

Confusion over Local Court judge appointments amid allegations of politicisation

The NT’s acting Chief Judge was forced to issue an extraordinary “correction” earlier this week after an email from the courts’ deputy registrar stated there would be no new Local Court judges appointed “in the foreseeable future” necessitating cancelled court lists in an already over-stretched system, which kicked off allegations in legal circles that the CLP Government had rejected the appointment of new judges on the grounds that their alleged politics did not align with the ruling party’s.

NT Police officers shared AI-generated sexually ‘explicit’ image of senior cop

Former NT Police assistant commissioner Janelle Tonkin has taken aim at the NT Police Force’s toxic culture, after her official police picture was altered with AI to make it sexually suggestive and shared amongst an unknown number of officers, saying the police force has “real work to do” to make it safe and respectful for women and minorities.

Ghost bats found at Bullo River Station

Ghost bats have been discovered at Bullo River Station in the Victoria River District of the Northern Territory, the Australian Wildlife Conservancy has said.