The ICAC has called on all public bodies in the NT to audit the personnel records of senior employees after finding a “public officer” engaged in corrupt conduct by lying about their credentials. READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
Labor secretly altered entitlements to charge taxpayers for personal interstate travel
EXCLUSIVE: The Labor Government’s Speaker secretly approved “clarifications” to MLAs’ taxpayer-funded entitlements to permit politicians to use government fuel cards for personal travel, with Attorney General Chansey Paech the first to take advantage, charging taxpayers for a personal holiday to Adelaide from Alice Springs earlier this year while the crime crisis was at its peak, the NT Independent can reveal.
Trip around the Nation: Free to Read National News for May 18
Today’s national news includes Australia telling ASEAN to negotiate a COC on the South China Sea that would also benefit outside parties, opposition saying that the Albanese government is ‘demonising’ the gas industry, Chevron and Exxon seeking state backing for carbon capture and hydrogen projects in Australia, and Australia committing $160 million to build more Bushmasters.
Red Cross NT volunteers recognised during National Volunteer Week
Northern Territory Red Cross volunteers have been recognised with excellence medals for their unwavering commitment to others during emergencies as part of the week-long celebration of National Volunteer Week.
Darwin Festival announces Blanc De Blanc Encore and Maho Magic bar
The Spiegeltent will return to the Darwin Festival after four years, while the Maho Magic bar, combining magic with cocktails, will be making its debut, the festival director has said in the first announcement about the 2023 lineup.
New NT Health CEO to push through with controversial restructure
Dr Marco Briceno has been appointed the new chief executive officer of the Department of Health following a national recruitment process, with plans to push through a restructure of the NT’s medical system.
Motorsport Australia has not issued permit for cars to compete in Finke Desert Race
Motorsport Australia has not issued a permit for cars to compete in the Finke Desert Race following the end of the coronial inquest into the death of Nigel Harris at the 2021 race, an inquest which heard the organisation and the organisers had not acted on any of a scathing safety report’s recommendations.
‘I’ll do it’: Labor MLA offers face-full of capsicum spray to Deputy CLP Leader during debate
A Labor backbencher has offered to take the Deputy Opposition Leader outside for a dose of capsicum spray to the face, during debate over changes to legislation that will allow transit security guards to carry and use the spray on people riding buses, while also telling Parliament he’s been sprayed himself.
Trip around the Nation: Free to Read National News for May 16
Today’s national news includes the Federal government to pay $132.7m after settling a lawsuit over PFAS contamination, Anthony Albanese’s approval ratings increasing “quite significantly” following Labor’s second budget, and Australian gold miner Newcrest Mining Ltd to backing Newmont Corp’s $26.2 billion takeover offer. Also in the news are InvoCare getting a $1.3 billion bid from TPG, and a National Anti-Scam Centre being established to counter online fraud.
Darwin airport upgrades to cause delays, disruptions to local economy
The Defence Department’s upgrading of the Darwin International Airport’s runways and linked taxiways starting next month could cause headaches for Territorians and disrupt the local economy with delays, re-routing, and unscheduled tarmac closures expected, while uncertainty remains over how the works will be rolled out.
A kinder, gentler ICAC: Govt releases proposed reforms to anti-corruption Act
The Fyles Government has released the findings of its secret review into the ICAC Act with proposed changes to how the anti-corruption watchdog operates, including a direction that the commissioner “conduct examinations and public inquiries in a non-adversarial manner” and not investigate certain misconduct allegations.
NT Veterans ‘strategy’ released after years of neglect
The Fyles Government has released the NT Defence Veterans strategy, seemingly being shamed into it after facing heavy criticism by advocates for ignoring veterans’ welfare in the 2023 NT Budget.