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.
Corrections Minister Gerard Maley has assured Territorians the CLP’s plans for dealing with overcrowded prisons and watch houses is “working” amid an influx of prisoners, while an independent MLA has raised human rights concerns with the UN about the ongoing conditions in the Territory’s jails.
The Federal Labor Government has announced $24 million for essential infrastructure and community facilities across the NT in another pre-election goody for the Territory.
EXCLUSIVE: Investigations into the largest known fraud ever perpetrated in the Northern Territory have ended with only two small-time contractors convicted of defrauding the Indigenous Employment Provisional Sum scheme, that saw potentially tens of millions of taxpayer money rorted by dozens of NT construction companies.
Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said he supports “in principle” all seven points of action requested of the Federal Government by Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro to help fight crime in Alice Springs, and pledged support should the Coalition secure victory at the next federal election.
Treasurer Bill Yan is taking the crumbling Territory economy on the road through the NT next week – with special guest Under Treasurer Tim McManus – in an effort to explain to Territorians how the CLP Finocchiaro Government is planning “to fix the economic mess”.
Darwin Council’s proposed 21-storey civic centre building that will be co-owned by a private developer has been criticised as an “horrifically expensive” cost for the council per square metre, but the Lord Mayor has said it is good value for money, while a residents’ petition has been launched to stop the project.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has called for more “accountability” from major airlines after Virgin Australia indefinitely suspended its direct flights between Darwin and Adelaide during the upcoming tourism season.
Despite improving retail spending and rising equipment investment, CommSec’s State of the States report reveals that the Northern Territory remains firmly recognised as the country’s worst-performing economy, ranking eighth out of eight once again.
The most disturbing and depressing aspect of the performance by the Attorney-General and the DPP is not that it provides further evidence that our court “system” is in collapse but worse – writes barrister John Lawrence – it also shows the community that the leaders within our system choose not to admit the truth, face up to it and demand its rectification.
The Lock the Gate Alliance is challenging the NT Government’s approval of Empire Energy’s Larrimah fracking exploration project in the NT Civil and Administrative Tribunal, the environmental organisation has said.
Today’s national news includes Australia Day, celebrated across the country; Murdoch’s News Corp misleads Parliament; it could face legal action; temperatures are soaring across Australia; and consumers are tipping more amid escalating prices.
