Education and Training Minister Jo Hersey has called on the Australian Skills Quality Authority to explain how the national regulator re-registered Charles Darwin University’s TAFE program last September without picking up on the massive accreditation failures that has now led to hundreds of students needing to resit their qualifications, amid continued calls for Scott Bowman’s resignation.
A federal inquiry into Charles Darwin University’s governance practices and general “competency” should be ordered immediately and vice-chancellor Scott Bowman’s “head must roll”, an independent MLA has said, in the wake of revelations nearly 400 CDU TAFE students and others were graduated without proper qualifications.
CLP backbencher Tanzil Rahman needs to publicly explain the bullying allegations that were levelled against him by two female parliamentary staffers, independent MLAs and the Opposition have said, which follows the Chief Minister’s attempts to keep the “sensitive HR matter” secret, which she claimed was “out of respect for all parties”, despite the matter already being resolved.
There is “no evidence to substantiate” Darwin Mayor Peter Styles’ claims that he returned his mayoral campaign donation list in person before the deadline for disclosures lapsed, the NT Electoral Commission has said, following an internal review.
A growing scandal at Charles Darwin University that saw it graduate an estimated 130 carpentry apprenticeship students without the proper qualifications is now estimated to affect “an additional 250 students” who may have to resit their qualifications in other areas, with the number expected to rise to potentially thousands of students, the NT Independent understands.
Bullying allegations against CLP MLA Tanzil Rahman made by two female parliamentary staffers have “been resolved” as part of a “sensitive HR matter”, Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has claimed, but questions remain over how the situation was handled and what the Chief Minister knew about the allegations.
UPDATED: The Independent Commissioner Against Corruption has disclosed the findings of its investigation into allegations NT WorkSafe’s electrical inspectors unit misused statutory powers, failed to manage conflicts of interest and failed to disclose secondary employment with commercial electrical companies the workplace regulator may have investigated.
The Opposition and independent MLAs spectacularly walked out of Parliament Thursday in protest after a series of fiery exchanges about the appointment of Administrator David Connolly, which started when respected Yolngu leader and MLA for Mulka Yingiya Guyula was gagged from attempting to ask the Chief Minister about the appointment, which he said was for his constituents who want to know why a man with a history of making racially vilifying comments about Aboriginal people was given the highly respected role.
The public’s confidence in the role of NT Administrator has been badly shaken by the appointment of David Connolly, a senior Darwin barrister has said, while the NT Bar Association also raised concerns about his suitability for the “crucial constitutional position”, as the Chief Minister claimed Wednesday that while she was not aware of Mr Connolly’s offensive posts before recommending him, she would do it again because he is the “best possible person” in the Territory for the role.
CLP Government ministers were unable to provide simple answers in Parliament about basic NT public service code of conduct conditions while the Labor Opposition bombarded ministers with veiled questions about the appointment of David Connolly as Administrator after being shut down by the Speaker, who forbade any mention of Mr Connolly’s name, while attempting to move a motion calling for his revocation.
A police investigation into Darwin Mayor Peter Styles’ alleged involvement in the production and distribution of fraudulent how-to-vote cards that is now entering its sixth month remains ongoing, NT Police say, despite recent claims by one of the subjects of the investigation that everyone has been cleared of wrongdoing.
Confusion reigned Monday over who the current King’s representative in the Territory is after the Chief Minister said David Connolly was the Administrator with “limited powers” while the Administrator’s office said last week Chief Justice Michael Grant would be acting Administrator until February 27, with the situation further convoluted by Speaker Robyn Lambley issuing an internal email warning MLAs not to be “disrespectful” to Mr Connolly when Parliament resumes this week.
