US Marines have arrived in Darwin this week, marking the beginning of a six-month deployment for training and operations as an air-ground taskforce.
Territory Coordinator Bill passed in late night parliamentary session
The Territory now has a ‘Coordinator’, following a late-night session of Parliament that saw the CLP Government use its numbers to pass the controversial legalisation that will create a new government position with the powers to circumvent existing public safeguards, that Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said would “redefine the way business is done in the Northern Territory”.
Murphy officially terminated, no word on hiring panel for new police commissioner
Police commissioner Michael Murphy has been officially terminated from the role, the Chief Minister has said, although there was no update provided on when a new commissioner will be hired and how that hiring panel will be managed.
New DAMA agreement aims to boost employment, business in the NT
A fresh five-year Designated Area Migration Agreement has been established for the Northern Territory, enabling employers to access more overseas workers until June 30, 2030, significantly increasing the number of eligible occupations from 135 to 325.
ICAC report into Murphy’s conduct finally released as political cover-up concerns remain
The ICAC’s report into Police Commissioner Michael Murphy’s improper conduct in hiring a mate for a senior police executive role has contradicted Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro’s account of events, raising more questions about why she chose not to take any action against the commissioner for more than a week and initially remained silent on the scandal.
Police Commissioner’s mate’s wife also promoted rapidly into management role
Sonia Kennon, the wife of Police Commissioner Michael Murphy’s good mate Peter Kennon, whose promotion led to the downfall of the top cop, was herself promoted twice over a short period of time under the Murphy regime, taking her into the lower reaches of management after allegedly failing the Senior Sergeant’s exam multiple times before that requirement for promotion was removed, sources have told the NT Independent.
Cash and safe stolen in Alice Springs break-in
Police are looking for a perpetrator who broke into a Alice Springs business and stole cash and a safe, NT Police said.
High-priced Melbourne lawyer to represent govt over Kirkman Fair Work matter
Territorians will pay for a high-priced Melbourne lawyer to defend senior government executive Andrew Kirkman’s actions at an upcoming Federal Circuit Court hearing in Darwin, after another court found he threatened to blackmail a female staffer and inflicted a mental health injury on her while engaging in “aggressive” and “threatening” behaviour in 2021.
‘Time to come clean’: Parliament resumes amid Police Commissioner scandal; Territory Coordinator laws to be passed
The Opposition says it will be demanding answers from Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro when Parliament resumes Tuesday morning, calling for the release of the full Operation Apollo report and for her to explain why a so-called “educational tool” for the public service has been kept secret, while Ms Finocchiaro said on Monday she was still waiting for advice from the ICAC before tabling the report in Parliament. That and other issues are expected to dominate this week of parliamentary sittings.
Government settles illegal land clearing matter out of court
The Environment Centre NT has said the Finocchiaro Government’s tough on crime rhetoric clearly does not apply to big business, in response to the announcement it has negotiated a settlement with the owners of Claravale Farm over illegal land clearing, which still allows them to farm the area of land they admitted they cleared without a permit.
Male arrested after allegedly bashing disabled man, indecently assaulting sleeping woman during home invasion
A 24-year-old male was arrested this morning after allegedly breaking into an Alice Springs home and assaulting a disabled man, then indecently assaulting a sleeping woman in the same home, NT Police said.
AirAsia launches direct Darwin-Kuala Lumpur route with govt funding
A new travel connection has been established between the Northern Territory and Malaysia following AirAsia Malaysia’s announcement of its non-stop service from Darwin to Kuala Lumpur, that was made possible with an undisclosed amount of taxpayer funds.