The Fyles Government will give security guards and other employees the power to issue trespass orders, and remove the ‘second chance’ warning for people who breach a trespass order, in a week the government shut down an Opposition motion to censure Police Minister Kate Worden over what they said are her ongoing failures to manage out-of-control crime in the Territory and the ongoing “police crisis”.
Spit hoods will be banned for minors in police custody, the Police Minister Kate Worden announced in a statement on Friday morning.
EXCLUSIVE: An executive with St John Ambulance NT was allegedly under the influence of alcohol while on call as an intensive care paramedic and had also allegedly provided treatment after drinking, according to complaints filed by ambulance workers to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency – a complaint which the NT Independent understands has also sparked an internal St John Ambulance investigation.
Twelve burn victims who were sprayed with burning fuel and rubber from a car doing burnouts at the 2019 Red Centre Nats have settled with the organisers of the event, after they were forced to take Federal Court action.
Dr Frank Daly is the new chief executive officer of the Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet, Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has said, with his appointment following on from the sudden resignation of former CEO Jodie Ryan in May, as part of the fallout from former chief minister Michael Gunner’s shock resignation the week before.
Barkly Regional Council Mayor Jeff McLaughlin was driving a council car when he was allegedly caught under the influence of drugs last week, sources have told the NT Independent, raising questions about his proposed “personal leave” that would see him continue to collect his taxpayer-funded allowance and drive the car.
An NT Police media adviser will face court next week charged with disclosing confidential information and unlawfully accessing data to gain benefit, with police failing to disclose her employment when they announced the charges last month.
A new mental health and alcohol and drug addiction program that is delivered by peers is being trialled in the Top End, with those who have personal experience also called on to help design the program.
The alleged perpetrators involved in the death of a man killed by a crossbow in Peppimenarti last week did not have existing restraining orders served on them, according to correspondence with the Police Minister from a lawyer acting on behalf of the family of the dead man.
UPDATED: A man NT Police charged for alleged drug driving and possession of cannabis plants at his home is a Northern Territory mayor, sources have confirmed to the NT Independent.
A former police officer suffering PTSD had his comments about the force’s lack of concern for mental health inexplicably deleted from an NT Police Facebook post promoting R U OK? Day – along with the Police Minister’s comments she would investigate ongoing mental health concerns – while the Commissioner said yesterday he was being ‘cyber bullied’ in unrelated social media comments, which he brought up when asked how he was addressing low morale.
St John Ambulance is sending ambulance drivers instead of paramedics to life-threatening emergencies every day, several staff turned whistleblowers have told the NT Independent, while staff fatigue levels reach critical levels, operational and safety related concerns raised by front-line staff are being ignored, and paramedic attrition rates hit the highest levels in the country.
