We already know the Northern Territory Government cannot keep the public safe, while openly applauding and engaging in unchecked widespread corruption, but on Tuesday we were provided hard evidence the government cannot manage its own finances, ticking the final box for federal administrative intervention.
The cronyism exposed at the Waterfront Corporation is the latest illustration of the perception of ongoing graft, corruption and nepotism in the public service, which is part of the wider dysfunction in the Territory that has led to a failed state, writes Dr Don Fuller in his first instalment examining the major governance failings that have besieged the Northern Territory since self-government.
Most of the world is trying to reduce the number of people who spend time in prison – not because of some wokesque preference for the rights of criminals over the rights of victims – but because prison increases the likelihood of violent reoffending, writes criminal lawyer Russell Marks.
The Northern Territory criminal court system is now a broken shambles which, although appearing to function, is actually in the process of collapsing and has become unsustainable, writes John Lawrence, in his first regular column for the NT Independent.
EDITORIAL: The CLP Government’s decision to ignore serious instances of improper conduct at the taxpayer-funded Darwin Waterfront Corporation when faced with documented evidence has sent a message to the entire NT Public Service: Go ahead and do your worst, this CLP Government will cover it up. It also shows why our latest government-in-crisis cannot perform its basic function of keeping the public safe and maintaining the public’s trust in its institutions.
EDITORIAL: Revelations this week that the Chief Minister’s family personally benefitted from the systemic maladministration and apparent misuse of public funds at the Darwin Waterfront Corporation is further proof the Territory is completely broken and must be the catalyst we need to finally stamp out corruption at the highest levels of our public institutions that has been allowed to run unchecked for years.
The NT News’ reporting on the Lloyd Creek housing development lacks independence, investigation and integrity, and shows blind obedience to a developer that is advertising with them, writes Gerry Wood.
LETTER: The CLP Finocchiaro Government observed while in opposition how infuriated and fed up the public and public service employees are with corruption, writes Owen Pike, while our corruption bucket is now overflowing with slime, gunk, and sludge, which the previous government filled but the current one is yet to deal with, as their own bucket fills up.
EDITORIAL: Recent revelations of alleged misconduct and misuse of public resources at the Darwin Waterfront Corporation has implicated those who held positions at the highest levels of the NT Public Service and government, but the CLP has repeatedly refused to order an independent investigation for their own reasons.
Dr Don Fuller asks what could possibly could go wrong with Charles Darwin University vice-chancellor Scott Bowman’s plans to provide courses to students in the United Kingdom?
Royal Darwin Hospital’s lack of rehab options for stroke victims has turned into a ‘hellish nightmare’ for a woman who will be left to die in the hospital with no other options available to her, writes her concerned and frustrated husband.
EDITORIAL: What’s clear from this whole sordid scandal is that nobody in a position of power in the Northern Territory wanted to do anything about Murphy’s improper conduct when it was presented to them by an interstate retired judge in the ICAC’s report last month, which points to the overall integrity deficit that continues to infect the Northern Territory’s elected party officials and public institutions.
