The CLP Government will plunge the Territory into further debt rather than find necessary cost savings of $450 million a year, with Treasurer Bill Yan proclaiming the move “responsible action to repair the budget”.
NT Business News – February 5
Latest highlights include the Federal Government splashing $24 million for infrastructure projects across the Territory, the NT Government falling behind on meeting its housing build goals, and the Darwin rental market tightening as demand increases. Also making resource news is Tanami Gold reporting promising drilling findings at the Jims gold mine.
‘Who is responsible?’: Calls for public inquiry into $60M Indigenous Employment Provisional Sum fraud scandal
An independent MLA has called for a full parliamentary inquiry into how $60 million was stolen from Territory taxpayers through the Indigenous Employment Provisional Sum scheme, with only $900,000 recovered and two small-time contractors jailed for rorting $300,000, while larger companies suspected of obtaining millions were never charged.
Airnorth to operate flights between Cairns and Alice Springs with NTG subsidy
UPDATED: Airnorth is launching direct flights between Cairns and Alice Springs, with an undisclosed subsidy from taxpayers, while tickets started being sold on Monday for the first flight on April 14.
REVEALED: Total cost of government’s fraudulent Indigenous Employment Sum scheme finally disclosed
EXCLUSIVE: The staggering amount of money believed stolen by NT construction companies through the government’s flawed Indigenous Employment Provisional Sum scheme has finally been released, following the conclusion of multiple investigations into the troubled program that ended with only two small-time contractors going to jail, with the NT Government recovering less than 1.5 per cent of the total funds it suspected were rorted.
Largest fraud ever perpetrated in the NT dropped with no further charges, department hiding total amounts
EXCLUSIVE: Investigations into the largest known fraud ever perpetrated in the Northern Territory have ended with only two small-time contractors convicted of defrauding the Indigenous Employment Provisional Sum scheme, that saw potentially tens of millions of taxpayer money rorted by dozens of NT construction companies.
Treasurer to kick off travelling economy roadshow through NT, with opening act the Under Treasurer
Treasurer Bill Yan is taking the crumbling Territory economy on the road through the NT next week – with special guest Under Treasurer Tim McManus – in an effort to explain to Territorians how the CLP Finocchiaro Government is planning “to fix the economic mess”.
Cost of council’s proposed new civic centre, ‘sweetheart deal’ with developer questioned
Darwin Council’s proposed 21-storey civic centre building that will be co-owned by a private developer has been criticised as an “horrifically expensive” cost for the council per square metre, but the Lord Mayor has said it is good value for money, while a residents’ petition has been launched to stop the project.
Virgin scraps Darwin to Adelaide flights as Chief Minister calls for ‘accountability’
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has called for more “accountability” from major airlines after Virgin Australia indefinitely suspended its direct flights between Darwin and Adelaide during the upcoming tourism season.
NT Business News – January 29
Latest highlights include the government aiming to get more local businesses benefiting from increased military presence in the NT, and Santos projecting increased production amid its NT expansion plans; meanwhile making resource news is SQM investing in a new NT lithium project, New Frontier starting a geophysical survey at Harts Range, and Merlin Project revealing promising base metal targets.
NT remains the worst-performing economy despite slightly improved economic activity: CommSec
Despite improving retail spending and rising equipment investment, CommSec’s State of the States report reveals that the Northern Territory remains firmly recognised as the country’s worst-performing economy, ranking eighth out of eight once again.
Legal action against Empire Energy’s fracking proposal
The Lock the Gate Alliance is challenging the NT Government’s approval of Empire Energy’s Larrimah fracking exploration project in the NT Civil and Administrative Tribunal, the environmental organisation has said.