Lands and Planning Minister Joshua Burgoyne has appointed a new Land Development Corporation chief executive after the position sat vacant since February last year, but would not say what happened to the organisation’s former advisory board, a silence that follows recent structural changes to give the Minister sole responsibility for all decision-making in the corporation.
Environment Minister Josh Burgoyne will not say if the government has settled with Claravale Farm’s owners to drop a Federal Court challenge over a property-sale caveat, which follows revelations the minister falsely claimed 15 months ago that a revegetation deal to avoid illegal clearing prosecution was already signed by the company, when it was only finalised last month.
The Finocchiaro Government has announced the former Power and Water Corporation managing director Andrew Macrides as the organisation’s new chair, effective immediately, giving the CLP life member and former party treasurer a salary of more than $200,000.
Electricity prices will increase by 5.3 per cent on Wednesday, which the Labor Opposition criticised as being higher than the Northern Territory’s current inflation rate.
A powerful and passionate Territorian who many political observers thought would enter NT Parliament at some point has resigned as executive director of the Environment Centre NT, to take up a national role after six years holding successive governments and industry to account for their environmental failings. Kirsty Howey’s last day will be August 14.
The week’s business highlights include Tivan partnering with Aboriginal Investment NT for the Molyhil Tungsten Project, AT-PAC expanding its network with a new branch in Darwin, and the NT Government’s eConveyancing platform streamlining land transactions, plus more.
Timor-Leste’s national carrier, Aero Dili, has launched its first-ever direct service to Australia, with the first flight touching down in Darwin on Sunday morning.
Approximately 5,000 Jacana Energy customers across the Territory are experiencing significant billing delays attributed to a major issue with the rollout of smart meters, the company revealed at Estimates hearings, while it is owed tens of millions in unpaid bills.
An in-principle deal between gas giant Inpex and the union representing striking workers has been struck that will see operations at the company’s sites return to normal, with a formal vote to accept the deal scheduled soon.
The Finnochiaro Government has released a “climate resilience plan” aiming to position the Territory as a major global player in carbon capture and storage, with Environment Minister Josh Burgoyne stating the plan builds on efforts to promote the NT’s role in the power transition and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, despite the government scrapping its renewable energy target and emissions reduction pledge.
Inpex’s legal move to stop strike action at its Darwin facility after unions rejected the company’s latest pay hike proposal, arguing any work stoppage would damage the nation’s economy, has been rejected by the Fair Work Commission, with the union stating protected industrial action will continue until the dispute is resolved.
Male construction workers in the Northern Territory have a suicide rate close to double that of other employed men, national coronial data shows, with a support platform founder warning the industry can no longer treat bullying, isolation and psychological pressure as secondary workplace issues.
