NT Parliament descended into farce again Wednesday afternoon, with the Gunner Government using parliamentary technicalities to block the Opposition from asking the Chief Minister about his role in the Zach Rolfe ICAC investigation and the Speaker kicking the Opposition Leader out of Parliament, later admitting she was “confused”.
Senior NT Police figures told police media manager Rob Cross to craft a media strategy around the call to arrest Constable Zach Rolfe just minutes after his boss Commissioner Jamie Chalker left an executive meeting in November 2019, with “one consistent message” for the public: that then-assistant commissioner Nick Anticich was the man who confirmed the directive to arrest and charge, investigator notes reveal.
The chief health officer has revoked the vaccine passport requirement for people going to sporting events as long as people are not drinking, which allows un-vaccinted people to go the Parramatta Eels versus North Queensland Cowboys game next month.
The Opposition has used Parliament to move a censure motion against Chief Minister Michael Gunner for rejecting a public inquiry into allegations of political interference in the Constable Zach Rolfe affair and called on him to stand aside while the ICAC investigates.
The head of Hospitality NT has called on the Gunner Government to stop making hospitality staff the frontline ‘COVID-19 cops’, as the chief health officer continues to require checking of vaccine status certificates to get into pubs, bars, and cafes.
The Territory’s anti-corruption body will investigate allegations of political interference in the charging of Constable Zach Rolfe, commissioner Michael Riches has announced.
NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker met with senior police executives 13 minutes before detectives investigating the death of Kumanjayi Walker were ordered to arrest and charge Constable Zach Rolfe with murder, notes from senior police show, despite the top cop saying last week he had never been in a meeting where the charge was discussed, and was not involved in the process to charge.
The proposed Tiger Brennan Dr – Berrimah Rd overpass project has nearly doubled in cost, ballooning from $60 million to $110 million, Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler said on Monday, suggesting increased costs of fuel and steel are to blame and that future cost blow-outs on the project are “absolutely possible”.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner has said the Territory could be in a COVID-19 “emergency” for a further four years in a confusing explanation for the need for his government’s controversial legislation giving the chief health officer special powers for two years after the end of the health emergency declaration.
Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker personally referred the Constable Zach Rolfe matter to the Territory’s anti-corruption body in 2019 for what he described as “suspected improper conduct” less than 48 hours after the incident and before any charges were filed, which appears to contradict his statement last week that he was “shocked” when the criminal charges were laid.
The Federal Government will spend $61.6 million to gear up and protect the Northern Territory against biosecurity hazards such as lumpy skin disease, African swine fever, and other priority pests and diseases.
Health officials are warning Territorians about the increased risk of transmission of animal borne diseases this Wet season that can spread from infected animals to humans.
