The Finocchiaro CLP Government is looking to fill a new role called the “Territory Procurement Champion” who will replace the Buy Local Industry Advocate, ahead of undisclosed planned reforms to government procurement processes to be rolled out later this year.
The Northern Territory has the lowest renewable energy production of any Australian state or territory, according to a new national report, that follows the CLP Government’s decision to scrap its promised 2030 renewable energy target.
A senior government executive who told Parliament’s Budget Estimates Committee she was not involved in recommending the Environment Minister approve the controversial Mataranka water allocation plan due to a conflict of interest, was forced to change her story when an internal document signed by her was presented that showed she was involved, with other questionable conflicts of interest raised.
A mysterious warning that new direct flights between Darwin and Kuala Lumpur with AirAsia are subject to “gaining government approval” is not a result of NT Government regulations, the CLP Government has said.
Disgraced senior bureaucrat Andrew Kirkman is still on the government payroll nearly two months after departing his chief executive position, the CLP revealed at Budget Estimates hearings, but how and why remains a mystery.
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.
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.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
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.
