UPDATED: The planning and development of data centres across the Northern Territory should be immediately halted until Territorians “know exactly what they are signing up for”, an independent MLA says, while the Labor Opposition moved a motion in Parliament Wednesday calling for an independent inquiry into the controversial projects.
Federal Labor Member for Solomon Luke Gosling has stood down from his role in the Albanese Government as special envoy for Defence, Veterans’ Affairs and Northern Australia citing “ongoing media attention” that has become a distraction to the business of government, which follows a breach of bail charge laid against him related to ongoing allegations he assaulted the NT Administrator.
The Territory’s MLAs wrestled with their personal beliefs and their duty to their constituents with plenty of tears shed while debating the proposed Rights of the Terminally Ill Bill in Parliament on Tuesday, a bill that is expected to ultimately see the NT regain its voluntary assisted dying rights this week after losing them 30 years ago.
UPDATED: Federal Labor MP Luke Gosling has been charged with breach of bail in relation to the ongoing allegations he assaulted Administrator David Connolly, NT Police said, with Mr Gosling’s office saying he intends to defend the new charge.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has shot back at members of her own party, vowing not to support proposed reforms to the Rights of the Terminally Ill Bill that would see the doctor “gag clause” and the 12-month terminal prognosis conditions removed, while guaranteeing her legislation will pass this week in Parliament.
NT director of building control Mark Meldrum personally blocked the public release of government documents sought through a Freedom of Information application that likely would have exposed why his flawed investigation of structural defects at the Kube Apartments building was taking two-and-a-half years, documents obtained by the NT Independent reveal, which created a blatant conflict of interest that two government departments have refused to explain.
EXCLUSIVE: The Northern Territory’s director of building control Mark Meldrum failed in his duty to properly enforce the NT’s building laws, a new complaint obtained by the NT Independent has alleged, while never-before-seen documents appear to show Mr Meldrum ignored evidence of wrongdoing by the builder of a flawed Darwin CBD apartment complex and shut down an investigation he took two-and-a-half years to finalise before the facts could be reviewed by the regulatory body.
UPDATED: The Finocchiaro CLP Government will build a new 1,200-bed private prison at Holtze that is estimated to cost taxpayers more than $1 billion and will be operated by a private company for profit, with critics labelling the move “reckless” and “a failure of crime prevention and community safety”.
EXCLUSIVE: Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Pat Williams identified a “perceived conflict of interest” that has led him to refer the Administrator assault case against Federal Labor MP Luke Gosling to an outside jurisdiction for oversight, while questions remain over the NT Police appearing to be currently running both the investigation and prosecution against the Federal Member of Parliament with no independent direction.
Federal Labor MP Luke Gosling fronted court Friday afternoon to have his bail conditions for the alleged assault of Administrator David Connolly varied, which his lawyer used to call the prosecution’s case “incredibly weak”, stating there is no CCTV footage and no independent witnesses to the two alleged assaults that reportedly occurred 30 minutes apart at the Thai festival on July 18.
Chief Minister and Police Minister Lia Finocchiaro’s office said Thursday she was not briefed about the sensational arrest of Labor MP Luke Gosling over the alleged assault of Administrator David Connolly, but has refused to refer the police investigation to an independent agency to mitigate the perception of political interference.
UPDATED: NT Police have arrested and now charged Federal Member for Solomon Luke Gosling in relation to the alleged assault of NT Administrator David Connolly.
