An independent MLA has called for a full parliamentary inquiry into how $60 million was stolen from Territory taxpayers through the Indigenous Employment Provisional Sum scheme, with only $900,000 recovered and two small-time contractors jailed for rorting $300,000, while larger companies suspected of obtaining millions were never charged.
EXCLUSIVE: The staggering amount of money believed stolen by NT construction companies through the government’s flawed Indigenous Employment Provisional Sum scheme has finally been released, following the conclusion of multiple investigations into the troubled program that ended with only two small-time contractors going to jail, with the NT Government recovering less than 1.5 per cent of the total funds it suspected were rorted.
EXCLUSIVE: Investigations into the largest known fraud ever perpetrated in the Northern Territory have ended with only two small-time contractors convicted of defrauding the Indigenous Employment Provisional Sum scheme, that saw potentially tens of millions of taxpayer money rorted by dozens of NT construction companies.
WATCH THE VIDEO: A video of prominent Darwin silk Jon Tippett recorded in the police watch house shortly after he was arrested for drunkenly crashing into a police car last November, shows him repeatedly laughing at the situation while asking officers to “make it a whole lot easier” on him, the NT Independent can reveal.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has named former Palmerston CEO Luccio Cercarelli as the new head of the NT public service, an appointment that has left some scratching their heads, given Mr Cercarelli’s lack of experience in the NT Government and his contentious history with Territory developers.
The Finocchiaro Government has ordered a review into the Territory’s horse racing industry, while the Minister responsible has raised the prospect of increasing funding to the industry that is already receiving tens of millions of taxpayers’ dollars annually, while suffering decreased attendance at events and substantial financial losses.
High-profile Darwin silk Jon Tippett is facing multiple charges after he allegedly crashed into the back of a police car while driving over the legal blood alcohol limit late last year, the NT Independent can reveal.
Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby has announced the appointment of three acting local court judges, including the lead prosecutor for the upcoming Matt Wright trial, but would not say if the appointments, that also include one of Mr Wright’s previous defence lawyers, would delay the high-profile case, while also refusing to comment on one of the surprise new judges’ connections to the Chief Minister and her husband.
Long-time NT public servant Greg Shanahan, who conducted a secret review of the ICAC Act for Labor two years ago, has been appointed the new acting anti-corruption commissioner, with Michael Riches remaining on indefinite leave with full pay, while the long-running investigation into his conduct continues with no end in sight.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has refused to condemn the domestic violence crimes of an Alice Springs traditional owner and director of two community groups she met with last week, after it was revealed by The Australian on Tuesday that Benedict Stevens pleaded guilty in June to aggravated assault for striking his partner in the face with a tool during an alcohol-fuelled domestic violence incident.
A government-ordered investigation into senior executive Andrew Kirkman’s inappropriate conduct against a female staffer, in which he was found in court to have verbally abused and threatened her costing taxpayers more than $1 million to defend, has been concluded with no action being taken, the Chief Minister said.
Patrick Bellot, a local real estate agent and husband of Mix 104.9 radio personality Katie Woolf, has been appointed chair of the Darwin Waterfront Corporation through a mysterious hiring process that does not appear to have been publicly advertised.
