The Gunner Government needs to explain to Territorians why it lied to them in the lead up to the NT general election after providing misleading financial figures in a “horrifying” breach of public trust, a long-time political observer and academic has said.
The murder trial of police constable Zachary Rolfe will be heard in Darwin – not Alice Springs – after a Supreme Court judge approved a defence application to relocate the trial.
The reasons for NT Cattlemen’s Association chief executive Ashley Manicaros’s sudden departure from the organisation remain a mystery, with both sides refraining from offering an explanation.
An independent MLA says she has been forbidden from communicating with public servants after being issued a letter from the NT’s head public servant, which she says has escalated the Gunner Government’s ongoing attempt to stifle open communication.
Three Territorians, including an eight-year-old girl, have been treated after being bitten by snakes overnight, St John Ambulance said.
The NT’s director of Medical Entomology says while this is not the worst mozzie season on record, “it is very bad at the moment” and could possibly get worse in the coming days due to another big tide this week with cases of Ross River virus expected to rise.
Financial figures released by Chief Minister Michael Gunner before the election – as well as wild claims that close to 100,000 Territorians would be infected with COVID-19 at a cost of $200 million if it weren’t for him – have been found to be “misleading” by the Auditor General.
In case you missed it, here is a two-minute rundown of this week’s top stories: Controversial pet rental laws taking effect in a few weeks; revelations federal money intended for NT roads is being reallocated to hire more public servants; and secret Chinese documents signed by the NT Chief Minister that have never been publicly released might see the light of day.
The NT Government’s Buy Local advocate has said he is unable to conclude whether the Territory’s Buy Local plan actually increases local procurement, that there is still no agreement of what constitutes a “Territory enterprise”, and concerns remain over the government’s ability to accurately record where it has made purchases.
The Australian Senate has publicly rebuked Chief Minister Michael Gunner, unanimously passing a motion last night calling on the NT Government to rescind its ban on the NT Independent.
Long-serving federal Labor Member for Lingiari Warren Snowdon will retire from politics at the next election, he announced in Parliament Thursday afternoon.
Controversial changes to tenancy laws that give renters the presumed right to keep pets will come into effect from January 1, the Gunner Government has declared.
