The Fair Work Commission has found the deduction of a portion of NT firefighters’ time-in-lieu hours accrued as part of compulsory overtime from their annual recreation leave, was contrary to the original agreement signed with the Northern Territory Government, suggesting the practice of wiping their banked hours if not used within a year bordered on wage theft.
CDU vice-chancellor Scott Bowman has refused to answer questions about his performance at last week’s Senate hearings into the proposed Middle Arm industrial precinct, including why he did not disclose that the university has recently been awarded the majority of a $2 million contract by the NT Government to monitor fracking operations in the Beetaloo Sub-basin and his apparent breaches of policy.
Police Minister Brent Potter has patted himself on the back for a job done, declaring the Alice Springs youth curfew and emergency situation a huge success, but conceded the government would look at changing legislation before enacting a curfew in other communities.
A Charles Darwin University researcher has said he and a colleague have come up with a “gel-like casing” for tablets that make them an alternative to injections for vaccinations and the treatment of many chronic diseases.
Police are searching for a hammer-wielding man who allegedly broke into a woman’s East Side Alice Springs home around midnight and threatened her in her bedroom, demanding keys before stealing cash and her phone.
NT Health has warned Greater Darwin residents not to attend emergency departments at the Royal Darwin and Palmerston hospitals due to a “substantial increase” in presentations of influenza A, issuing a statement on Monday night claiming that “actions are being undertaken” to deal with capacity issues amid long-standing staff pressures and bed shortages.
Today’s national news includes PM Albanese condemning extremism after a church attack, the Bureau of Meteorology saying El Nino will be over soon, Australia boosting integrated air and missile defence, Australia mulls first National Environmental Agency, and Protesters arrested after blocking roads across Melbourne.
UPDATED: The CLP has raised three times more money in political donations than Territory Labor by the end of March, with a crypto bro leading the party’s donations take, while Middle Arm proponents and developers backed in Territory Labor with big bucks ahead of August’s general election, new disclosures filed with the electoral commission show.
NT Health refuses to explain what led it to order an ‘external’ governance review of St John Ambulance NT, after the review terms of reference show it was brought about following investigations into clinical cases, instead issuing a statement to now claim the review is a “standard quality assurance activity”.
Today’s national news includes ACCC seeking out a substantial fine for Qantas violations, Australia being asked to show unequivocal support for Israel, Defence investment creating new job opportunities in South Australia, and R&B hitmaker Ne-Yo touring Australia in September and October this year.
An alcohol reduction trial introduced in Gove last October that set daily limits on the amount of grog purchased by permit holders will be extended for another 12 months, the Lawler Government has ordered, flagging possibly introducing the limits to other communities across the NT.
The Lawler Government has pledged an extra $6 million in next month’s Territory Budget to help the struggling tourism sector rebound, while overseas visitors remain down more than 50 per cent on pre-COVID figures, including $3 million to further partner with airlines to woo international tourists.
