EXCLUSIVE: The staggering amount of money believed stolen by NT construction companies through the government’s flawed Indigenous Employment Provisional Sum scheme has finally been released, following the conclusion of multiple investigations into the troubled program that ended with only two small-time contractors going to jail, with the NT Government recovering less than 1.5 per cent of the total funds it suspected were rorted.
The head of Royal Darwin Hospital advised Territory divers in mid-December to reconsider diving activities because the hospital could not offer emergency recompression treatments due to the hyperbaric chamber unit being shut, while the Health Department will not say when it closed, why, or when it may re-open.
Corrections Minister Gerard Maley has assured Territorians the CLP’s plans for dealing with overcrowded prisons and watch houses is “working” amid an influx of prisoners, while an independent MLA has raised human rights concerns with the UN about the ongoing conditions in the Territory’s jails.
The Federal Labor Government has announced $24 million for essential infrastructure and community facilities across the NT in another pre-election goody for the Territory.
EXCLUSIVE: Investigations into the largest known fraud ever perpetrated in the Northern Territory have ended with only two small-time contractors convicted of defrauding the Indigenous Employment Provisional Sum scheme, that saw potentially tens of millions of taxpayer money rorted by dozens of NT construction companies.
Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said he supports “in principle” all seven points of action requested of the Federal Government by Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro to help fight crime in Alice Springs, and pledged support should the Coalition secure victory at the next federal election.
Treasurer Bill Yan is taking the crumbling Territory economy on the road through the NT next week – with special guest Under Treasurer Tim McManus – in an effort to explain to Territorians how the CLP Finocchiaro Government is planning “to fix the economic mess”.
Darwin Council’s proposed 21-storey civic centre building that will be co-owned by a private developer has been criticised as an “horrifically expensive” cost for the council per square metre, but the Lord Mayor has said it is good value for money, while a residents’ petition has been launched to stop the project.
Despite improving retail spending and rising equipment investment, CommSec’s State of the States report reveals that the Northern Territory remains firmly recognised as the country’s worst-performing economy, ranking eighth out of eight once again.
A stolen Mercedes motorhome discovered in a Darwin CBD street with ammunition inside led NT Police to uncovering meth, a fake firearm and stolen IDs and bank cards belonging to more than 50 victims.
Channel 9 has axed Darwin’s local nightly bulletin with some staff sacked and others possibly “redeployed” to other areas of the company in a shock move.
WATCH THE VIDEO: A video of prominent Darwin silk Jon Tippett recorded in the police watch house shortly after he was arrested for drunkenly crashing into a police car last November, shows him repeatedly laughing at the situation while asking officers to “make it a whole lot easier” on him, the NT Independent can reveal.
