Darwin’s property market has seen the highest quarterly growth in house prices among all capital cities, according to recent data, with property experts suggesting continued “fast-paced growth” after years of sluggish performance.
Wangi Falls reopens for the Dry with a new crocodile fence to be installed
The iconic Wangi Falls has reopened for the Dry season earlier than anticipated and will see a new “crocodile deterrent fence” installed to replace the previous structure, the government said, in an effort to keep visitors and rangers safe.
NT Business News – May 29
The latest highlights include another NT Major Project collapsing, the government promoting energy sector advancements at an energy conference and Northern Iron leaving behind $55 million in debt after shutdown, while administrators are called into Lucapa diamond mine.
Cost-of-living pressures hitting the Territory hard: NTCOSS report
Rental affordability is continuing to worsen across the Northern Territory, a new report by the NT Council of Social Service has found, with the body warning the rising cost of living in the NT is “concerning”.
Chinese ambassador criticises plan to revert Darwin Port ownership to Australia
China has criticised the Federal Government’s plan to return the Darwin Port to Australia ownership, stressing that Chinese company Landbridge, which is currently managing the strategically important northern port, should not suffer the consequences of this decision.
CLP scraps ‘underfunded’ new Darwin Art Gallery building
The CLP Government has scrapped the currently in-progress State Square Art Gallery project in the Darwin CBD, suggesting a massive cost blowout, and will now put the future use of the site and “state-of-the-art” building to a public expression of interest process in hopes someone might want to do something with it.
‘An unsigned briefing carries no weight’: Minister did not see legal advice to prosecute Empire Energy
Environment Minister Joshua Burgoyne said he has not been provided a legal briefing that recommended prosecution against Empire Energy and has not asked to see it, while his department has since decided the company did nothing wrong in relation to one of the alleged offences, but will not provide any details of what it is the company was involved in.
Darwin civic centre tower opponents warn council of potential class action over use of car park levies
The applicants of a Federal Court action seeking details of a secret deal Darwin Council signed with a developer to build a 21-storey civic centre-private office tower say they have dropped the original case because a court date would be too late to stop construction, but said they are still looking at a claim to stop millions of dollars in car park levies being spent on the building and instead returned to developers and property owners who have paid the fees.
Territory Coordinator’s hidden work history revealed amid lack of public recruitment for role
EXCLUSIVE: Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has defended hiring former low-level bureaucrat and one-time gas lobbyist Stuart Knowles as the Territory Coordinator, claiming on radio that he was hand-selected for the role without going through a public recruitment process because of his “vast experience” in the government and private industry and for his record of delivering “major projects”, but his work background suggests neither claim is accurate, the NT Independent can reveal.
Cullen Bay ferry channel to undergo urgent dredging this month
Delays and cancellations to low-tide ferry services at Cullen Bay due to seasonal weather and sedimentation build up has prompted an urgent maintenance dredging this month.
‘Not the time for austerity’: CLP’s first budget revealed as government continues Labor’s spending and record debt
UPDATED: Treasurer Bill Yan has handed down the Finocchiaro CLP Government’s first budget this morning that will see more big spending and increased debt, with next year’s deficit alone estimated to be $1.31 billion and the Territory’s net debt projected to blow out from its current $10.5 billion figure to $14 billion within three years.
Environment Department recommended charges against Empire Energy for Carpentaria fracking project, Govt document reveals
A Freedom of Information application seeking a departmental brief provided to former environment minister Kate Worden last year that recommended prosecution of Empire Energy was rejected on legal privilege grounds, a government letter shows, while the department appears to have attempted to cover up one of the three alleged offences referred to in the document.