Jetstar will offer direct seasonal service between Darwin and the Gold Coast in late June, after receiving an undisclosed amount of taxpayer cash to operate the service.
CLP, Labor won’t rule out inquiry into $60M IEPS fraud scandal
The CLP Government and the Labor Opposition have not ruled out supporting independent MLA Justine Davis’s calls for a parliamentary inquiry into the rorting of a government Indigenous employment scheme that saw an estimated $60 million fraudulently obtained by up to 146 Territory contractors.
CLP open up $15 billion debt ceiling amid fiscal pressures
The CLP Government will plunge the Territory into further debt rather than find necessary cost savings of $450 million a year, with Treasurer Bill Yan proclaiming the move “responsible action to repair the budget”.
New police recruits to replace seasoned SA officers in Alice Springs
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said a permanent task force will continue its anti-crime efforts in Alice Springs following the return of 10 police officers to South Australia.
‘Who is responsible?’: Calls for public inquiry into $60M Indigenous Employment Provisional Sum fraud scandal
An independent MLA has called for a full parliamentary inquiry into how $60 million was stolen from Territory taxpayers through the Indigenous Employment Provisional Sum scheme, with only $900,000 recovered and two small-time contractors jailed for rorting $300,000, while larger companies suspected of obtaining millions were never charged.
ICAC did not investigate nepotism, conflicts of interests in Health; instead provided ‘guidance’ on ethical practices
Suspended ICAC Michael Riches did not investigate NT Health Department findings of nepotism in procurement and recruitment processes that it identified may warrant criminal prosecution, and instead conducted a “review” two years after the department raised its concerns, with the corruption watchdog finally making four “best practice” recommendations, while providing “guidance” to support ethical practices and thanking staff.
Airnorth to operate flights between Cairns and Alice Springs with NTG subsidy
UPDATED: Airnorth is launching direct flights between Cairns and Alice Springs, with an undisclosed subsidy from taxpayers, while tickets started being sold on Monday for the first flight on April 14.
NT Health issues measles alert for Greater Darwin region
NT Health has issued a measles alert after a confirmed case in Greater Darwin with the department warning anyone who was on a plane with the infected person either to or from Cairns, or who was at a Berrimah takeaway food joint while they were there, need to be alert for symptoms.
More than 2,000 illegal vapes seized by police in Palmerston raid
More than 2,300 illegal nicotine vapes worth $140,000 and an undisclosed amount of marijuana were seized by NT Police on Friday, following a raid of a Palmerston residence after a tip-off that illicit substances were at the house.
Man shot in northern suburbs, three arrested
UPDATE: A 23-year-old man was shot in Coconut Grove on Monday night and taken to hospital with injuries to his legs, NT Police said, in what they called a “targeted attack” by a group who fled the scene, but were later arrested.
REVEALED: Total cost of government’s fraudulent Indigenous Employment Sum scheme finally disclosed
EXCLUSIVE: The staggering amount of money believed stolen by NT construction companies through the government’s flawed Indigenous Employment Provisional Sum scheme has finally been released, following the conclusion of multiple investigations into the troubled program that ended with only two small-time contractors going to jail, with the NT Government recovering less than 1.5 per cent of the total funds it suspected were rorted.
Hyperbaric unit at RDH closed, Territory divers advised not to dive
The head of Royal Darwin Hospital advised Territory divers in mid-December to reconsider diving activities because the hospital could not offer emergency recompression treatments due to the hyperbaric chamber unit being shut, while the Health Department will not say when it closed, why, or when it may re-open.