Department of Infrastructure chief executive Andrew Kirkman knew about serious corruption issues at the department’s Katherine office, including tender manipulation, failure to disclose conflicts of interest and other improper procurement practices since at least 2019, but does not appear to have taken any action, according to a new ICAC “review” that confirmed misconduct in the department.
Latest highlights include the first Mini Woolies program opening in the Territory and a $2.5 million tender awarded to GHD to draft, design and document the upgrade to the Mereenie Loop in Central Australia. Also making resource news is graphite and gallium being added to NT’s list of critical minerals, Rio Tinto’s Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) applying for another 10-year lease at the controversial Jabiluka uranium project, and Kingsland Minerals confirmed to be sitting on a colossal graphite deposit at its Leliyn project.
Urban Rampage, which operates retail stores in Nhulunbuy, Tennant Creek, Katherine, and Alice Springs, said the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s decision to hold the company’s Centrepay facility indefinitely is having a disastrous effect on its First Nations customers.
Gas flow from the Northern Territory to Queensland stopped in early February and pipeline operator Jemena has told customers it did not expect it to resume until at least June because of reduced supply from the Blacktip gas field the ABC reported.
In the last week the NT Government has released 10 tenders, including Construction of an Impermeable Gravel Hardstand and Associated Works in Katherine Sewer Ponds.
Latest Business News highlights include a multi-rail corridor flagged that would include the NT, Santos awarding Darwin LNG project construction to UGL, and NT’s most awful suburbs for rental stress revealed. Also, making resource news is the Rinehart-backed Arafura mining company receiving $840 million in taxpayer aid for the NT project, and Core Lithium CEO quits amid downturn of battery metal prices.
Tourism NT has launched a campaign aimed at encouraging First Nations Territorians, young people and those living with a disability to work in local tourism.
The Federal Government has pledged up to $840 million in loans and grants for a combined rare earths mine and refinery facility north of Alice Springs to be run by mineral exploration company Arafura, which the Federal Resources Minister said was “not corporate welfare” but rather an investment to create local jobs and “compete on the world stage” in rare earths.
The Labor Government has blocked the ICAC from accessing Cabinet documents at least five times over the last two years despite concerns the ministers had been misled and that misconduct had transpired, a new report shows, which also highlighted that other matters involving criminal conduct had been referred to the NT Police six times this financial year.
Core Lithium, whose Northern Territory mine has gone into recess, has announced a $167.6 million half-year loss, along with the departure of its chief executive Gareth Manderson and director Andrea Hall.
A new $4 billion joint remote housing program between the federal and territory governments, which aims to build 270 new homes annually in remote NT communities over the next 10 years, will involve the Federal Labor Government getting “very much hands-on” to ensure the NT Government meets its targets, the Prime Minister has said.
Jetstar has said it will add an extra 54,000 Northern Territory seats from April to October, including on flights between Darwin and other capitals as well as Bali, but with 40 per cent of the seats being on flights between Sydney and Uluru, the company has announced.
