The NT Government awarded 10 contracts in the last week to a total of over $25.4 million with the largest being awarded to AKJ Services Pty Ltd for Part A Land Release Infrastructure in Holtze, Darwin Region.


The NT Government awarded 10 contracts in the last week to a total of over $25.4 million with the largest being awarded to AKJ Services Pty Ltd for Part A Land Release Infrastructure in Holtze, Darwin Region.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has criticised Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s decision to commission an independent review to assess the potential adverse impact on groundwater from gas fracking plans in the Beetaloo Basin, it has been reported.

The latest highlights include NT mineral expenditures exceeding Australia’s total by more than eightfold, and SC dismisses legal challenge against Tamboran’s fracking approvals. Also making resource news is that Beetaloo Basin is on the brink of initiating its first gas production, and Beetaloo Basin can supply gas to Australia for the next 400 years.

The CLP Government’s director of communications is being paid more money than the NT’s head of nursing and midwifery and more than every new CLP minister, the NT Independent can reveal, with former NT News editor Matt Williams given the plum gig by Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro that pays up to $300,000 a year, despite having no experience as a political adviser.

Darwin Salties basketball team’s general manager Matt Nason has quit the club roughly 10 months into the role, while Basketball Queensland would not comment on whether the team would remain in the NBL1 North league next season, with questions over the club’s solvency having been previously raised after it was given roughly $1.25 million combined from the NT Government and two NT basketball organisations in less than two-and-a-half years.

Wulagi Supermarket and its director Vinay Madasu have been ordered by the Federal Court to pay more than $100,000 in fines and repayments after it underpaid a worker for 18 months of work.

Jetstar is offering packages of return flights from Darwin to Bali with four-nights accommodation beginning at $423 per person, the company has said.

In the last week the NT Government has released eight tenders, including Installation of Lift and Associated Works in Nightcliff Primary School, Darwin Region.

Former chief minister and current gas lobbyist Paul Henderson will not seek a third three-year term as chancellor of Charles Darwin University, the university has announced.

Aboriginal Investments NT began advertising for a new chief executive a week after its five-year strategic investment plan was released, which rolled the majority of $180 million in Aboriginal Benefits Accounts money to be given out as small business and community initiative grants over three years, into a new fund which appears largely focused on investment opportunities.

Latest highlights include Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek requesting the Independent Scientific Expert Committee advise government regulators on the water impacts associated with gas projects in the Beetaloo, the availability of rental properties in Darwin further decreased in August, leading to a vacancy rate of less than 1 per cent, and Tourism NT focuses on attracting Chinese investment. Also, making resource news, Glencore to plead over alleged breach on Damangani barramundi sacred site.

The Darwin Airport has banned Australia Institute advertisements which point out gas companies Santos and Inpex get Australia’s gas for free, which the institute has claimed was done in part because those companies advertise with the airport.