NT Independent

Old ombudsman named new Integrity and Ethics Commissioner, former police commissioner appointed CEO

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has named two controversial picks to lead the newly established Integrity and Ethics Commissioner agency, with former Ombudsman Peter Shoyer appointed commissioner and former police commissioner Reece Kershaw appointed chief executive of the new anti-corruption body that will replace the ICAC amid unresolved questions about the potential for political interference. Mr Kershaw is close friends with current NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole.

Review of NT’s child protection system called as legislative reforms introduced to Parliament

Former New South Wales police commissioner Karen Webb, who has connections with staff in the Chief Minister’s office, has been appointed by the CLP Government to lead an “independent review” into the Territory’s child protection system, along with former acting ICAC Greg Shanahan, which was called this morning in response to the abduction and alleged murder of five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby in Alice Springs.

CLP MLA sacked staffer for refusing to ‘falsify’ constituent details in secret party database: Fair Work submission

One of CLP backbencher Clinton Howe’s former electorate officers has filed an unfair dismissal application with the Fair Work Commission stating she was fired because she refused to “falsify electorate information” in a database that secretly stores personal information about constituents for the Country Liberal Party and was subjected to bullying and “unreasonable” micromanaging in the office.

Alice Springs council proposes rating model shake-up alongside rate rise

Alice Springs Town Council has released its draft 2026/27 Municipal Plan and a new four-year Strategic Plan, proposing a 4.7 per cent average rate increase alongside a $22.6 million capital works program which includes $8.9 million on Todd Street Mall upgrades and for the new library.

WWII munitions discovered after joint investigation into alleged $1.3m theft

A 52-year-old Livingstone man accused of stealing $1.33 million worth of plant, equipment and building materials, including World War II munitions, hand grenades, rocket components and warheads, has been arrested, NT Police said.

Another NTG department cited for failure to declare conflicts in hiring and promotion practices

An ICAC review into the hiring and promotion practices of an NT Government department that commenced the same month its chief executive was controversially appointed has revealed “several recurring gaps…that present improper conduct risks” with recruitment, including that conflicts of interest were not adequately managed, that applicants’ qualifications were inconsistently verified, and that advertised positions took on average 67 days to fill.

‘At no stage was I a threat to the police’: TV cameraman sprayed in face by cop during Alice riot

A television cameraman says he was doused in the face with capsicum spray by a police officer without warning while covering last week’s riot outside Alice Springs Hospital, where officers also threatened to arrest members of the media, but Police Commissioner Martin Dole has flip-flopped on his stance that it should not have happened, now saying the attack on the cameraman was “appropriate in the circumstances”.

Teen armed with sword charged for allegedly threatening to kill woman and child

A 15-year-old male armed with a Japanese sword was arrested and charged after he allegedly threatened to kill a woman and her child on an Alice Springs street Sunday evening, NT Police said.

NT Criminal Court list – with charges – May 13

The 221 names facing criminal courts in the Northern Territory for Monday May 13, 2026. This list includes all the charges.

Funding to Legal Aid NT shrunk this year despite Attorney-General’s claims of increased funding

The Finocchiaro CLP Government cut funding to Legal Aid NT by more than $3.2 million this financial year, the director of the organisation has finally revealed, which appears to directly refute repeated claims by Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby that funding increased, while more service cuts are expected.