A senior NT public servant on an executive contract dishonestly claimed sick days while he was gambling at a casino, on fishing trips and golfing, which amounted to “corrupt conduct” the ICAC has found after a four-year long investigation, but chose not to name the executive or the government department involved.
The Finocchiaro Government will employ an executive on close to $250,000 a year to oversee the renovation of prisons and the construction of a new prison and work camps.
The independence of the Northern Territory Auditor-General’s office has been identified as “the most vulnerable to executive influence” of any jurisdiction in the country, according to an independent review of the AG’s office, with the current public sector watchdog calling for funding pressures and internal system problems to be addressed by the Finocchiaro Government to ensure its crucial independence continues.
A man is in Royal Darwin Hospital with a cut to his forehead from allegedly being attacked with an “edged weapon” after the windows of his parked car were smashed by three offenders who are still on the run, NT Police said.
An NT delegation led by Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations Robyn Cahill is on its way to Indonesia to strengthen the Territory’s economic partnership by engaging with the Indonesian government and local business representatives, the CLP Government said. SEE THE COST
A man has been arrested following a police pursuit after officers tried to stop him over an aggrevated burglary he allegedly committed in Alice Springs last Thursday.
A proposed three per cent pay rise for all public servants by the Finocchiaro Government was described by the police union as an insult, while the Community and Public Sector Union said skilled workers were leaving the public service and the Northern Territory altogether for better pay and conditions elsewhere.
“Special” corrections officers whose training requirements have not been publicly defined will be able to work in Northern Territory prisons following the Finocchiaro Government passing “urgent” legislative changes through Parliament this week, but the United Workers Union has warned the move has opened up the prison system to private labour hire, with a petition being circulated calling for a vote of no confidence in the Corrections Commissioner.
Charles Darwin University has cut departmental budgets and will see up to 20 staff positions terminated, in accordance with a pre-Christmas prophecy from vice-chancellor Scott Bowman, who told staff in late November the university’s “finances lie in ruins” and a “bloodbath” of staff cuts was on the cards before skipping town for early and extended leave.
UPDATED: Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro appeared on Thursday to walk back from her $3 million election pledge to give long-serving NT Police officers a bonus to keep experienced cops on the beat, after being questioned about it in Parliament, but later said she was still “committed” to a bonus although it is unclear how it will work, how much it will cost and how much police officers will receive.
The CLP Government will table a new bill to provide NT Police with “express powers” to access private property without a search warrant for offenders who breach parole or domestic violence orders.
A woman who yesterday allegedly stabbed a woman in back of the head at an Alice Springs licensed premises, and then stabbed a man in the arm and upper body, is still on the run, NT Police said.
