An audio recording of last week’s contentious Darwin City Council meeting refutes council’s official claim that a crucial vote introduced at the eleventh hour to defer a decision on the RSL clubhouse proposal took place.
Mysterious legal issue stops council’s RSL vote – not sacred site, as aldermen stay quiet
Darwin Mayor Kon Vatskalis’s sudden deferral of a crucial council vote on the RSL’s proposed Esplanade establishment was influenced by an undisclosed letter of a legal nature – not solely over claims of an Indigenous sacred site, the NT Independent can reveal.
Mills pays Territory Alliance $200,000 for campaign costs
Former Territory Alliance leader Terry Mills donated more than $200,000 to his own now obliterated party, while Labor and the CLP both increased their campaign donations by close to 60 per cent in the election’s waning days, disclosures reveal.
CLP calls government to explain true costs of quarantine
The Opposition CLP leader has called on the Gunner Government to make the true per person cost to taxpayers for COVID-19 quarantine public, and explain why they have decided to keep the cost at $2,500 for adults not the estimated cost of $3,300.
Chief Minister cancels advice to cancel Christmas holidays
Chief Minister Michael Gunner has changed his pre-election message suggesting Territorians cancel their interstate Christmas holiday plans, saying the government “gets it” if people want to leave the NT to see their families.
Fifth floor shake-up: Gunner Government makes staff reapply for their jobs
A shake-up of the Gunner Government’s senior staffers is causing anxiety and anger on the fifth floor of Parliament House, with some forced to reapply for their jobs at a lower pay scale, while others appear to have been rewarded with plum gigs, the NT Independent can reveal.
Deputy PM says NT’s two lower house seats safe
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack says he and the Federal Government will ensure the Northern Territory retains its two lower house seats.
Bus drivers threaten class action over violent assaults, abuse and rock throwing
A contingent of Darwin bus drivers have signed a letter to the NT Government threatening a class action arguing the government had breached its duty of care as it was “acutely aware” of thousands of cases of abuse, violent assaults and rock throwing.
NT Government must ditch ‘destructive’ Gunn Point Peninsula development: Conservation groups
Gunn Point Peninsula, a favoured fishing spot, dotted with Indigenous sacred sites, land claims and untouched coral reef is in jeopardy of “major and irreversible” environmental impacts, according to an alliance of Northern Territory conservation groups.
Chief Minister hopes for ‘significant’ Kakadu funding in federal budget
A new art gallery has been touted by a Mirarr traditional owner as Jabiru’s first transitional step from a mining town to a tourism hub, despite being under the control of an organisation being investigated by the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations....
Federal Territory pollies’ travel expenses continued through pandemic, disclosures show
CLP Senator Sam McMahon was the biggest traveller of all NT federal politicians through the coronavirus pandemic, pocketing more than $17,000 in travel allowance in just three months for mostly NT-related travel, newly released expense figures show.
‘Cultural vandalism’: Darwin Alderman Gary Haslett slams proposal to drop council prayer
Darwin Council Alderman Gary Haslett has criticised a proposal to scrap the Lord’s Prayer from being read at the opening of council meetings, labelling any move to block it “cultural vandalism”.