NT Independent

CLP to take over Darwin Christmas Pageant as council accuses govt of ‘politicising’ event

The war on Christmas escalated quickly Thursday afternoon when Major Events Minister Marie-Clare Boothby decreed that the CLP Government will take over control of the Darwin Christmas Pageant next year, after Darwin Council moved to ban a Christian group from attending this year’s parade, which Ms Boothby described as “un-Australian”. The government’s decision had the Mayor accusing it of “politicising” the event.

Darwin teen charged with terrorism offences

A Darwin teenager has been charged with numerous offences after police executed a search warrant and allege he was “collecting documents likely to facilitate [a] terrorist act, as well as schematics for 3-D printed guns”.

Hospital staff punched, kicked and hit in head with baby scales in mass assault: Union

Six Katherine Hospital staff members were allegedly kicked, punched, bitten, spat on and chased around the Emergency Department on Sunday in a violent scene, while two staff members were allegedly hit over the head with a set of baby scales by a patient before they were “taken down by a team of nursing staff”, which follows repeated safety warnings the Health Department ignored, the union representing nurses has said.

Happy clappers not so happy after council Christmas pageant ban

Darwin Council has denied a request from the March for Jesus group to participate in the upcoming Darwin Christmas Pageant, saying the group’s behaviour last year was “overbearing, intimidating and confronting” but the Australian Christian Lobby said the group was simply Christians sharing the “glad tidings and good news of Jesus as they walk alongside other Darwinians, celebrating the birth of Jesus”.

Stolen ute crashes into police car and station fence in Wadeye

A stolen ute was allegedly driven through house fences, performed burnouts and forced pedestrians to flee its path in Wadeye before colliding with a police vehicle, causing minor injuries to the officers inside, and crashing into the police station compound fence, NT Police said.

‘Really racist and really bad’: Feds start to divert money from NT Government to Aboriginal organisations

The Federal Labor Government has made good on its threat to divert funding from the NT Government to community organisations over concerns the Finocchiaro CLP Government is failing to deliver for Indigenous Territorians, moving to divert $80 million through a Closing the Gap program to the NT’s Aboriginal peak body.

New Environment Centre NT boss announced

Bree Ahrens has been appointed the new executive director of the Environment Centre NT, the organisation has announced.

Man who allegedly left partner at hospital with stab wounds charged with murder

A 39-year-old man who allegedly dumped his partner at the Palmerston hospital last month with two stab wounds to her chest and fleeing after telling healthcare staff she was “unwell” has been charged with murder, the NT Police said.

Breach of bail charge against Luke Gosling dropped by prosecutors

A breach of bail charge against Federal Member for Solomon Luke Gosling involving the alleged assault of Administrator David Connolly has been withdrawn by the prosecution, with Mr Gosling’s lawyer stating the legal move is a “significant one”.

‘A betrayal’: Royal Darwin Hospital issues apology following patient data breach

Royal Darwin Hospital has formally apologised after private medical information about several pregnant patients was leaked on an Instagram account with over 28,000 followers, with the NT Health Minister calling the incident a “serious breach of trust and a betrayal that should never have happened”.