Disgraced former NT Police detective Wayne Newell has been sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of using a carriage service to harass as part of a strange case that the NT Police top brass attempted to keep out of the public spotlight.
Police Commissioner’s mate’s wife also promoted rapidly into management role
Sonia Kennon, the wife of Police Commissioner Michael Murphy’s good mate Peter Kennon, whose promotion led to the downfall of the top cop, was herself promoted twice over a short period of time under the Murphy regime, taking her into the lower reaches of management after allegedly failing the Senior Sergeant’s exam multiple times before that requirement for promotion was removed, sources have told the NT Independent.
Police Commissioner’s mateship with Assistant Commissioner part of two ICAC investigations
Assistant Police Commissioner Peter Kennon, whose promotion was at the centre of the recent ICAC investigation, went from a Superintendent to Acting Deputy Commissioner in roughly 18-months after his close friend Michael Murphy, who had been his best man, became Police Commissioner, sources have told the NT Independent.
G4S contract: ‘Only in extreme circumstances’ should cost of government contracts be hidden, privacy law expert says
An NT prisons contract awarded to a private security company the Corrections Minister’s adviser previously worked for was handled independently of his office, the Minister has said, but he has refused to say how much it will cost taxpayers, while a privacy law expert said it was only in “extreme circumstances” that governments should hide the cost of contracts, with this contract not meeting the threshold.
‘Wish you continued success’: Volunteer group Planning Action Network defunded by Minister
Planning Minister Joshua Burgoyne has defunded volunteer community group the Planning Action Network, declaring the provisions of the planning legislation, which he recently weakened by removing third party reviews from, were robust and that there was already sufficient public consultation.
Govt signs deal with private prison security company for undisclosed sum
The Finocchiaro Government has signed a secret deal with private security company G4S to provide prison officers, with the cost of the contract and the process used to award it not made public.
Dunny delay cause of constipated cyclone memorial opening, Lord Mayor says
The redeveloped land around the controversial Cyclone Tracy memorial at Bundilla Beach cannot be opened to the public because the council is waiting for a toilet to arrive from Sydney, which could take another two months, Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said, while warning the public to use the toilet properly when it arrives.
New Darwin council office tower development approval deferred
A decision on whether to approve the 21-storey Darwin Council civic and commercial office tower hybrid development has been deferred by the Development Consent Authority, with the agency asking the proponents to explain how the building fits in to the historic precinct in which it would sit and how expanses of blank walls and reflective glare would be minimised.
Vice-chancellor’s pay rise in year CDU profit flopped revealed
Charles Darwin University vice-chancellor Scott Bowman was given a pay rise in the same year the university reduced its profitability by close to $40 million despite increasing revenue, CDU financial documents show.
Darwin Private Hospital to close maternity ward
Darwin Private Hospital will close its maternity and birthing services in two months with the Health Minister Steve Edgington saying he had hoped Healthscope, the company which owns the hospital, would give expectant families at least nine months notice to allow them to properly plan their births.
Govt pitches 3 per cent public service wage rise, unions say workers will leave the NT
A proposed three per cent pay rise for all public servants by the Finocchiaro Government was described by the police union as an insult, while the Community and Public Sector Union said skilled workers were leaving the public service and the Northern Territory altogether for better pay and conditions elsewhere.
‘Special’ Corrections officers now allowed in prison system, union says they will be unqualified
“Special” corrections officers whose training requirements have not been publicly defined will be able to work in Northern Territory prisons following the Finocchiaro Government passing “urgent” legislative changes through Parliament this week, but the United Workers Union has warned the move has opened up the prison system to private labour hire, with a petition being circulated calling for a vote of no confidence in the Corrections Commissioner.