The Finocchiaro CLP Government has taken credit for a 0.4 per cent increase in retail spending in the NT for the month of September, issuing a statement to suggest their August election victory “renewed confidence” in the economy and somehow led to Territorians spending more money for one month.
The Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal will next week hear an urgent application to force Tamboran Resources to pause its Beetaloo Basin fracking operations until a final decision is made on an application to overturn its Shenandoah South fracking approval, the Environment Centre NT has said.
Four teens aged between 13 and 15 who were on bail have been arrested, while other alleged offenders are still on the run, after an alleged attempted car-jacking, multiple burglaries, and the theft of scooters in Darwin overnight, NT Police said.
The Finocchiaro Government has awarded a $360,000 contract to create a Marrara sports precinct master plan aimed partly at infrastructure spending, in the same week Territory Treasurer Bill Yan warned that the previous Labor Government had wasted money on pet projects and throwing money at the “latest, greatest shiny thing”.
Despite a modest rise in economic activity, CommSec’s quarterly State of the States report reveals that the Northern Territory remains firmly established as the country’s worst-performing economy, ranking the NT’s economy eighth out of eight once again.
Corrections officers are a “high chance” to walk off the job this week due to fears for their safety from overcrowded prisons, their union warned, while Corrections Minister Gerard Maley said he supports Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley’s decision to enact “emergency measures” to move prisoners from Alice Springs to Darwin over the weekend despite the threat of industrial action.
A 29-year-old woman has been charged with child exploitation offences after three homes in the Greater Darwin region were raided by a joint police taskforce this month, including the woman’s home in a Palmerston suburb last week, making her the third alleged offender from the ring busted in the last two weeks.
A 38-year-old man needed medical treatment after being hit by a rock that was thrown from a car driven dangerously by a group of youths in Alice Springs on Saturday evening, NT Police said, calling on the public for information after the youths evaded capture.
The latest highlights include the CLP government still seeking solutions for NT’s $9 billion debt, NT businesses to benefit from significant payroll tax concessions, and NT Tourism aims for a record number of cruise ship arrivals. Also making resource news is APA Group being targeted in a bid to stop its fracking project, Oceana reports progress at its Napperby Project, and Core’s quarter shows positive progress.
Today’s national news includes the Liberal National Party announcing victory in the Queensland state election, the King and Queen welcomed with a dazzling light display during an Australia tour, the 3G network set to be turned off Monday, three dead after a plane collision in Sydney, and Perth thrives with free family activities this summer.
Housing flood evacuees at the Howard Springs accommodation village last year cost taxpayers $12.7 million for just two months, with the total costs for repairs and cleaning hitting $1.3 million, including nearly $500,000 to replace broken windows and $175,000 to fix plumbing – figures the previous Labor government refused to disclose and famously downplayed as regular “wear and tear”.
A 14-year-old male is facing charges after he allegedly indecently assaulted two female paramedics who were helping him in an ambulance, before spitting in the vehicle, NT Police said, and later damaging a medical vehicle and spitting at police.
