The Finocchiaro CLP Government has expanded on a previous Labor government memorandum of understanding with Dutch company Vopak to “accelerate” construction of a carbon storage facility at Middle Arm that would see liquified carbon dioxide shipped into Darwin from local and overseas companies, but the project, if it proceeds, is still not expected until some time next decade.
SunCable has officially submitted an application for environmental approval to develop a second solar and battery precinct at Muckaty Station, which the company said is aimed at meeting increasing energy demands from data centres in the region, which will be in addition to its proposed solar farm near Elliot.
The parliamentary committee that inexplicably stalled its inquiry for months into the $320 million Acacia debacle has re-opened submissions to hear from “former employees and others with relevant knowledge” of what went wrong, as the NT Government moves to re-introduce the flawed digital patient record system this month in Darwin and Palmerston.
The Fair Work Commission has ordered Katherine Town Council to pay workers the performance wage rises they were denied since July 2022 by chief executive officer Ingrid Stonhill, which she had claimed was necessary due to the poor financial situation of the council at the time.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro says her government has a duty to “act responsibly with taxpayers money” and “can’t continue to throw good money after bad” while referencing a major Darwin project that she said was “fantastic” in theory, but had massively blown its budget under the previous government and “can’t come at any cost” – but she was not talking about the Darwin Ship Lift project.
The Department of Business says it is looking for “an appropriate course of action” to deal with the Darwin Basketball Association’s ongoing governance and financial failures, while the association incorrectly told members that media were forbidden under its constitution to attend its recent annual general meeting, where it produced financial statements showing its auditors once again raising questions over the group’s solvency.
A man has been killed after being hit by a car during a fight at Timber Creek overnight, while two other people were flown to Royal Darwin Hospital in serious conditions with stab wounds, NT Police said.
The government department in charge of the Darwin Ship Lift facility ignored advice from the Auditor General to order a cost-benefit analysis into the now $820 million project, stating it would do that when the project is complete, a new report has found, but nobody has been held accountable for the massive cost blowout, with the Finocchiaro CLP Government advised to continue with the project amid untested claims it cannot terminate the contract and has spent too much money to stop now.
The Northern Territory’s Chief Health Officer says he is now working with the Environment Protection Authority to assess Inpex’s historical under-reporting of toxic emissions from its Ichthys LNG facility in Darwin, while an “independent investigator” has also been tasked to verify all of the gas giant’s data.
The Fair Work Commission has dismissed an application by Katherine Town Council chief executive officer Ingrid Stonhill for an order to stop workplace bullying, after finding there was no ongoing risk following the departure in August’s municipal election of the councillor she had accused.
A woman has been charged for allegedly assaulting a paramedic who was treating her in Alice Springs yesterday afternoon, NT Police said.
A 26-year-old man was assaulted during a Tennant Creek home invasion after he confronted two male youths, one armed with an “edged weapon”, who broke into his house and stole his car, NT Police said.
