The Territory’s hospitals will get a one-off cash injection of $51 million this year as part of the Albanese Labor Government’s national funding boost, which the government said was done to strengthen Medicare and support public hospitals.
CLP Minister’s luxury private jet trip to high tea at Hilton revealed
EXCLUSIVE: CLP Education Minister Jo Hersey took a luxury private jet between Katherine and Darwin to attend a boozy, “bottomless” high tea at the Hilton Garden Inn Darwin in early December, but she claims no taxpayer money was expended despite posting photos of the jaunt on her government-funded social media account, which comes as the Minister was also caught out misleading Territorians about her disclosable interests.
CLP, Labor won’t rule out inquiry into $60M IEPS fraud scandal
The CLP Government and the Labor Opposition have not ruled out supporting independent MLA Justine Davis’s calls for a parliamentary inquiry into the rorting of a government Indigenous employment scheme that saw an estimated $60 million fraudulently obtained by up to 146 Territory contractors.
CLP open up $15 billion debt ceiling amid fiscal pressures
The CLP Government will plunge the Territory into further debt rather than find necessary cost savings of $450 million a year, with Treasurer Bill Yan proclaiming the move “responsible action to repair the budget”.
Two charged over Coconut Grove shooting
Two men have been charged over Monday’s shooting in Coconut Grove, another person who was arrested has been released, while the gun that was used has not been found, NT Police said.
‘Who is responsible?’: Calls for public inquiry into $60M Indigenous Employment Provisional Sum fraud scandal
An independent MLA has called for a full parliamentary inquiry into how $60 million was stolen from Territory taxpayers through the Indigenous Employment Provisional Sum scheme, with only $900,000 recovered and two small-time contractors jailed for rorting $300,000, while larger companies suspected of obtaining millions were never charged.
ICAC did not investigate nepotism, conflicts of interests in Health; instead provided ‘guidance’ on ethical practices
Suspended ICAC Michael Riches did not investigate NT Health Department findings of nepotism in procurement and recruitment processes that it identified may warrant criminal prosecution, and instead conducted a “review” two years after the department raised its concerns, with the corruption watchdog finally making four “best practice” recommendations, while providing “guidance” to support ethical practices and thanking staff.
Airnorth to operate flights between Cairns and Alice Springs with NTG subsidy
UPDATED: Airnorth is launching direct flights between Cairns and Alice Springs, with an undisclosed subsidy from taxpayers, while tickets started being sold on Monday for the first flight on April 14.
More than 2,000 illegal vapes seized by police in Palmerston raid
More than 2,300 illegal nicotine vapes worth $140,000 and an undisclosed amount of marijuana were seized by NT Police on Friday, following a raid of a Palmerston residence after a tip-off that illicit substances were at the house.
REVEALED: Total cost of government’s fraudulent Indigenous Employment Sum scheme finally disclosed
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.
Hyperbaric unit at RDH closed, Territory divers advised not to dive
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.
NT Government accelerates Corrections ‘Master Plan’ as MLA sends complaint to UN
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.