A woman who yesterday allegedly stabbed a woman in back of the head at an Alice Springs licensed premises, and then stabbed a man in the arm and upper body, is still on the run, NT Police said.
Govt cuts money to environment groups after challenging decisions
The Finocchiaro Government will cut a total of $200,000 in funding per year to the Environment Centre NT and the Arid Lands Environment Centre over the group’s legal challenges to government decisions on fracking and water allocations, with the Top End group calling the government a “puppet for big business” that is “running scared from scrutiny and accountability”.
Review process for govt decisions to be removed from petroleum, planning and water legislation
Third party merit reviews will be removed from legislation covering petroleum, planning and water by the Finocchiaro Government, which has been praised by NT Farmers but criticised by the Environment Centre NT as government bowing to big business, adding the reviews are a key part of establishing transparency and accountability in government decision-making.
Teen charged with seven counts of trespass of same house, two counts of indecent exposure
A 17-year-old boy has been charged after allegedly trespassing at a Lyons home seven times over four days, stealing alcohol, and twice indecently exposing himself, NT Police said.
NTFES Commissioner announces ‘once in a lifetime experience’ trip to Antarctica during NT fire season
NT Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Andrew Warton has been given an unspecified amount of time over the fire season to take a ‘sabbatical’ to run Australia’s Casey Research Station in Antarctica, after only seven months in the top job, while the firefighter’s union has said the three most senior NT Fire roles have not been permanently filled 10 months after the new agency was started.
Gov’t needs to pay cops more and immediately increase numbers: Police union
The police force is at “crisis point” and is “haemorrhaging” officers, the NT Police Association has said, calling on Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro to pay officers more, improve their working conditions, and immediately address chronic understaffing in a public pitch before a new enterprise agreement is negotiated.
ICAC did not investigate nepotism, conflicts of interests in Health; instead provided ‘guidance’ on ethical practices
Suspended ICAC Michael Riches did not investigate NT Health Department findings of nepotism in procurement and recruitment processes that it identified may warrant criminal prosecution, and instead conducted a “review” two years after the department raised its concerns, with the corruption watchdog finally making four “best practice” recommendations, while providing “guidance” to support ethical practices and thanking staff.
Hyperbaric unit at RDH closed, Territory divers advised not to dive
The head of Royal Darwin Hospital advised Territory divers in mid-December to reconsider diving activities because the hospital could not offer emergency recompression treatments due to the hyperbaric chamber unit being shut, while the Health Department will not say when it closed, why, or when it may re-open.
Cost of council’s proposed new civic centre, ‘sweetheart deal’ with developer questioned
Darwin Council’s proposed 21-storey civic centre building that will be co-owned by a private developer has been criticised as an “horrifically expensive” cost for the council per square metre, but the Lord Mayor has said it is good value for money, while a residents’ petition has been launched to stop the project.
CSIRO reports flag importing carbon from Japan to Middle Arm as part of $8b carbon capture facility
A series of CSIRO reports into the development of a multi-user carbon capture, use and storage facility at the proposed Middle Arm industrial precinct estimates the capital cost could be between $7.3 and $7.9 billion, but warned of ‘major uncertainty’ in understanding what additional costs could arise, while an energy peak body said using CCUS to deal with emissions was a “complete fantasy”.
Lord Mayor seeks court injunction against book about Cyclone Tracy memorial sculpture
Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis’s lawyer has told Cyclone Tracy survivor Antony Bullock they will use ratepayer funds to seek an injunction to prevent the publication of a mini-book he has written called The Ultimate Betrayal, which examines the process to select the controversial Cyclone Tracy 50th anniversary memorial sculpture, which follows a previous legal letter that initiated defamation action against him.
Minister says he was advised there was ‘no reasonable prospects of a conviction’ of former Barkly CEO
Former Barkly Regional Council chief executive Emma Bradbury will not be prosecuted as recommended by a lawyer who investigated the council, the Local Government Minister Steve Edgington has said, adding he will also not order an investigation into other actions at the council that were covered up despite his expressed concern about unresolved allegations of bullying, sexual harassment and mismanagement.