A Labor backbencher has offered to take the Deputy Opposition Leader outside for a dose of capsicum spray to the face, during debate over changes to legislation that will allow transit security guards to carry and use the spray on people riding buses, while also telling Parliament he’s been sprayed himself.
The Fyles Government has released the findings of its secret review into the ICAC Act with proposed changes to how the anti-corruption watchdog operates, including a direction that the commissioner “conduct examinations and public inquiries in a non-adversarial manner” and not investigate certain misconduct allegations.
An ICAC report into allegations of political interference in the charging of Zach Rolfe has found no evidence of Labor ministers’ misconduct, but comes with a warning that other investigations are continuing into the matter and raised further questions about the integrity of the police investigation into Rolfe. FULL STORY.
The Fyles Government has gagged an Independent MLA during debate in Parliament about the ongoing crime crisis after she raised concerns about Labor’s acceptance of criminals, including a child rapist, in its highest ranks. READ WHAT HAPPENED HERE.
The CLP Leader’s budget reply speech was quickly criticised for providing a promotion to a key MLA amid leadership turmoil in the party. READ WHAT LIA FINOCCHIARO SAID HERE.
A shortage of police officers in Alice Springs is about to get worse with more than a dozen cops applying to Queensland amid the ongoing crime crisis, the NT Independent understands, which sources say will have catastrophic impacts on policing in the troubled town.
Despite bringing in more GST money than ever before, Treasurer Eva Lawler says a surplus for the Northern Territory is still not expected until 2026, while the Fyles Government continues to borrow with the net debt forecast to continue to increase for the next three years. SEE THE BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS HERE
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles’s mum and dad were the largest single contributors to the Territory Labor Party during the Arafura by-election that was won by controversial Labor candidate Manuel Brown, according to financial disclosures released by the NT Electoral Commission. FIND OUT HOW MUCH THEY KICKED IN HERE.
UPDATED: Jamie Chalker has officially “retired” as police commissioner after reaching a confidential settlement with the Fyles Government that has not been disclosed, which comes ahead of a deadline to file evidence against the government in his legal battle.
EXCLUSIVE: Powerful CLP branches have indicated they intend to bring a no confidence motion against leader Lia Finocchiaro, sources say, necessitating a damage control trip to Alice Springs this weekend. Find out why the party’s rank-and-file are angry at their leader.
EXCLUSIVE: Territory Labor Member for Arafura Manuel Brown appears to have misled the public in a statement released just before the by-election last month in which he claimed he “rendered first aid” to a woman he killed with his car in 2009, according to court records obtained by the NT Independent. READ THE FACTS HERE.
NT Police watch commanders in Alice Springs have been told by the brass not to post serious crimes on social media because it has negatively affected tourism in the region, which comes amid a critical shortage of officers in town, resulting in some crimes not being fully investigated, highly-placed sources have told the NT Independent.
