A new ‘Boosting Literacy and Numeracy Plan’ will be implemented across Territory schools in response to steadily declining standardised test results that the government hopes will lead to improved basic reading and maths skills for students.
Major drug bust involving Vietnamese crime syndicate ends in three arrests, 113kgs of cannabis seized
Three men are facing multiple drug charges following an NT Police bust in Holtze on Monday that resulted in 113 kilograms of cannabis being seized along with $170,000 in cash, which police said has “significantly disrupted” a Vietnamese organised crime syndicate operating across state borders.
Coroner’s findings into death of Kumanjayi Walker delayed until next month
Coroner Elisabeth Armitage has delayed the release of her findings into the death of Kumanjayi Walker for nearly another month at the request of the families involved, which follows the death in custody of another Yuendumu man last week in Alice Springs during a failed arrest.
Alice Springs cop involved in fatal supermarket arrest of Aboriginal man identified
EXCLUSIVE: One of two ‘plain-clothes’ police officers who pinned a disabled Aboriginal man to the ground at an Alice Springs supermarket where he lost consciousness and subsequently died, has been identified as a police “liaison sergeant” who was not on frontline duties at the time of the fatal incident, the NT Independent can reveal, with the officer previously the subject of complaints over his use of force against Indigenous people. *NOTE: The feature image in this article is of a previous arrest by the officer, not a picture of the incident on Tuesday*
Parliamentary inquiry into Darwin Waterfront scandal scheduled for Tuesday
A two-hour hearing into the potential misuse of taxpayer money and other misconduct at the Darwin Waterfront Corporation has been quickly scheduled for Tuesday by a CLP-dominated parliamentary committee, following a referral from the Opposition last week, but the committee has yet to seek internal documents from the corporation as evidence to inform its investigation, the NT Independent understands.
‘Emotions are raw’: Probe into death of Aboriginal man in police custody at supermarket continues
UPDATED: The cause of death of a 24-year-old Yuendumu man who died while being arrested by NT Police officers on Tuesday afternoon at an Alice Springs supermarket is still unknown following an initial autopsy, police said Wednesday afternoon, while political leaders have called for the community to remain calm as the investigation continues.
NT public servants’ work from home proposal rejected amid contract talks: Union
The Finocchiaro Government has rejected a presumption in favour of NT public servants working from home, as well as the removal of a cap on the amount of days they can spend working from home, the Community and Public Sector Union has said, while Public Service Minister Jo Hersey said the government would not reduce the existing flexible work arrangements, but would not say what its work from home policy was.
An embarrassment of Riches: Redacted report into former ICAC’s conduct released
Former ICAC Michael Riches “had a thing for pretty girls in the office” an investigation into his conduct as the NT’s anti-corruption watchdog has revealed, according to one former staffer, while 15 people described Mr Riches’s leadership style as “erratic, controlling, and awkward socially”, with one describing his office as “the most horrible place I’ve ever worked”.
Cost-of-living pressures hitting the Territory hard: NTCOSS report
Rental affordability is continuing to worsen across the Northern Territory, a new report by the NT Council of Social Service has found, with the body warning the rising cost of living in the NT is “concerning”.
CLP MLA wins prestigious political leadership course scholarship
CLP backbencher Tanzil Rahman has been selected to attend the McKinnon Institute’s Advanced Political Leadership program that aims to enhance and develop “high quality political leadership”, particularly for MLAs who are “potential ministers in the short to medium term”.
Alice Springs supermarket death being treated as ‘death in custody’ by NT Police
UPDATED: A 24-year-old Aboriginal man who was restrained by NT Police at the Coles supermarket in Alice Springs on Tuesday following an alleged altercation with a security guard has died, NT Police said, with the death now being investigated as a death in custody.
CLP change Auditor-General’s duties without informing Auditor-General
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has moved to alter the duties of the NT’s fiscal watchdog, but failed to consult with him about the changes, raising questions over what else the government intends to alter involving the Auditor-General’s powers and responsibilities, while failing to address critical risks to the office’s independence and funding shortfalls raised earlier this year.