Today’s national news includes the PM taking emergency steps to address the spiralling cost of living crisis, Foreign Minister Wong telling China to release an Australian journalist, and the IMF wants the Reserve Bank to hike rates further. Also in the news are youth prison reforms being called as allegations of abuse mount, and Queensland buses to use CCTV from a government-blacklisted Chinese company.
Alice Springs businesses including a childcare centre went into a snap lockdown Friday after violent fighting erupted on the streets with weapons, which led to one man reportedly hit in the head with an axe and police Tasering another man, in a scenario NT Police described only as a “large disturbance” suspected to have been caused by payback over an alleged killing last year.
Chief Minister Eva Lawler has postponed her trip to Japan amid concerns the Territory’s “infrastructure corridors are becoming inaccessible” due to flood waters, pledging to ensure “supplies” get to the Territory, as residents in one remote community have been evacuated to Darwin while several emergency flood warnings were issued Saturday night.
The NT Environment Minister has given gas giant Santos environmental approval for its Darwin gas pipeline duplication project, with the NT EPA’s environmental assessment highlighting potential significant impacts from the project, including dredging, but also cited the NT government’s economic strategy for the Middle Arm industrial precinct.
A section of the Stuart Highway has been closed due to flooding between the Roper Highway and Three Ways, the NT Emergency Service has said, with various other low-lying sections flooded with water levels still rising on Friday afternoon.
Chief Minister Eva Lawler has revealed her “vitally important” trip to Japan next week will cost taxpayers just over $19,000 for her and two staffers, while stating the trip is necessary to meet with Inpex because the NT Government’s relationship with the Japanese gas giant is “probably just as big as our relationship with the Federal Government”.
Today’s national news includes Australia rejecting a request from Ukraine for the troubled MRH-90 Taipan helicopter fleet, China wanting renewed defence ties with Australia, illegal tobacco turf war escalating, and Foreign Minister Wong telling Palestinians that aid should be used properly.
EXCLUSIVE: Deputy Chief Minister Chansey Paech and acting Speaker Dheran Young have refused to reimburse taxpayers for their personal interstate holidays, despite the independent body that determines politicians’ entitlements ruling that Government vehicles cannot be used by politicians for interstate personal travel.
Police are asking for public assistance to identify the people responsible for smashing the windows of up to 20 vehicles parked at an apartment complex on Gap Road overnight in another senseless crime that a local MLA says is taking a toll on young families in Alice Springs.
Five males of unknown ages have been arrested after allegedly stealing two vehicles from a Nightcliff residence they used for a crime spree throughout the Darwin CBD and northern suburbs overnight, including a ram raid at a Cavenagh Street bottle shop, NT Police said.
The Opposition CLP has accused the Lawler Labor Government of failing to address the dismal state of child health services in the Territory, where new figures show some children could be waiting up to two years for a consultation with a health specialist.
Qantas has announced it will be flying from Darwin to Singapore beginning in December this year.
