Opposition Labor Leader Selena Uibo has blamed a “highly-charged political environment” for allegations of bullying and racism made by staff in her office against a senior figure, while refusing to respond to questions about who investigated the allegations and what action was taken.

UPDATED: Deputy Opposition Leader Dheran Young was suddenly sacked as deputy Thursday night and replaced with recently elected Member for Nightcliff Ed Smelt, in a move Labor Leader Selena Uibo said would give Mr Young more time out bush to “support his constituents post-flood”.

A Labor adviser charged taxpayers $4,400 for a one-night trip to Nhulunbuy for vague “various stakeholder meetings”, including a mysterious $2,900 charge listed under “other” expenses, according to newly released internal travel records, while the CLP has inexplicably not disclosed its staffers’ travel costs.

The recently appointed Integrity and Ethics Commissioner says he sees nothing that would preclude newly appointed chief executive and former NT Police commissioner Reece Kershaw from being involved in sensitive investigations into NT Police and other corruption probes, while suggesting any potential conflicts of interest raised would be kept secret.

A federal department held concerns about the Finocchiaro CLP Government’s proposed appointment of David Connolly as NT Administrator, newly released internal government documents show, with one brief suggesting Mr Connolly’s vast “meat inspection” experience “may not necessarily reflect the formal training or experience in public administration and understanding” necessary for the vice-regal position, while also raising concerns about the effect his public comments could have on eroding the public’s trust in the role.

The Labor Opposition has congratulated the Finocchiaro CLP Government for its picks to lead the new Integrity and Ethics Commissioner office, while integrity experts still hold concerns the process of appointments has eroded public confidence, particularly around the unadvertised role of chief executive that will be filled by former AFP and NT police commissioner Reece Kershaw, with one integrity expert describing the current situation as akin to a sad “satire”.

The Finocchiaro CLP Government has inexplicably chosen “canapes over cost-of-living relief” for Territorians in last week’s budget, critics say, after directing an additional $1 million to controversial Administrator David Connolly’s office and a further $2 million it didn’t have last year to Protocol NT – the body that organises official government functions and special invite-only events.

One of CLP backbencher Clinton Howe’s former electorate officers has filed an unfair dismissal application with the Fair Work Commission stating she was fired because she refused to “falsify electorate information” in a database that secretly stores personal information about constituents for the Country Liberal Party and was subjected to bullying and “unreasonable” micromanaging in the office.