The former editor of the NT News, who left the job after his involvement in the Darwin Turf Club’s grandstand scandal was made public and who wrote an editorial backing the federal Labor Party in 2019, has been named director of communications for the Finocchiaro CLP Government.
The Finocchiaro CLP Government has announced a major shake-up of the public service that will see the number of departments expand from 12 to 18, with two departmental chief executives losing their jobs, and others being rotated around.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has announced her first Cabinet, that will be made up of all six of her former opposition team members, as well as newcomers Robyn Cahill and political unknown Jinson Charls.
Former NT CLP senator Sam McMahon charged taxpayers to travel around Queensland for two weeks in June 2021 because she and her staffer Ashley Manicaros did not want to face a 14-day COVID quarantine if they returned to the Northern Territory, according to documents filed by a federal parliamentary body that is seeking to recoup the funds through the NT Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Independent Member for Araluen Robyn Lambley has taken to social media to announce her husband Craig Lambley was arrested and charged last week with mid-range drink driving in Alice Springs and that he is currently “taking measures to address his drinking problem”.
Former chief minister Natasha Fyles is trailing the Greens’ Kat McNamara in Nightcliff following a redistribution of preference votes, with Labor now on the verge of losing every Darwin seat it had once viewed as its heartland.
Selena Uibo has been elected as the Labor Leader of the Opposition, making her the first Indigenous woman to lead a major political party in Australia, who will now pick up the pieces of what is left of Territory Labor.
The Albanese Government needs to take decisive action against the troubled North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency by cutting funding and sacking its entire board, Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price says, following a letter to the board citing a lack of confidence that has been ignored by the agency.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro’s new Cabinet will not be sworn in until next Tuesday, September 10, following the final count and declaration of all votes, with the NT Electoral Commission flagging recounts this week in three electorates where the margin of victory is less than 100.
CLP Leader Lia Finocchiaro was sworn in as the Territory’s 14th Chief Minister at a ceremony at Government House Wednesday morning, where she and her deputy Gerard Maley gave themselves every portfolio on an interim basis to “continue with the business of government” until the full Cabinet is sworn in next week, she said.
ANALYSIS: The election carnage was devastatingly brutal and somehow beautiful in its fury and righteousness. Most of the Labor bastards who thought they owned the Territory were put in their place by Territorians.
Chief Minister-elect Lia Finocchiaro has pledged not to move the Police Commissioner or the Territory’s head public servant in order to ensure her “journey of change” includes the men currently occupying the crucial roles.
