Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro says she wants to allow 16-year-olds to carry OC spray and let people purchase it on behalf of others when her government legislates to make the public access trial permanent later this year, a move an independent MLA said should be backed by evidence and questioned whether teenagers could make split-second decisions about when its use was lawful.
Two people were arrested after a street brawl in Alice Springs allegedly involving machetes and metal bars overnight, while NT Police say a 13-year-old takeaway shop employee was bashed and robbed at knifepoint on Saturday night and two people were treated for facial injuries after a separate street fight linked to ongoing family tensions following a death last month.
EXCLUSIVE: Labor MLA Manuel Brown was caught speeding again by police earlier this year, the NT Independent can reveal, after his licence was suspended for three months last October for multiple speeding violations, which comes as questions remain unanswered about Mr Brown allegedly allowing his 14-year-old child to illegally drive a vehicle while his licence was suspended.
A 40-year-old man has been charged after allegedly indecently touching and grooming a child under 16 during a vacation care program in the Darwin region, NT Police said.
Labor politician Manuel Brown allegedly had his underaged unlicensed child drive him around in his taxpayer-funded vehicle on various occasions while his driver’s licence was suspended for multiple speeding tickets, separate sources have said, while confusion intensified with Mr Brown’s father-in-law calling into local radio Thursday to claim he drove Mr Brown around in the “family car” for three months, raising questions about possible misuse of his government fuel card.
A powerful and passionate Territorian who many political observers thought would enter NT Parliament at some point has resigned as executive director of the Environment Centre NT, to take up a national role after six years holding successive governments and industry to account for their environmental failings. Kirsty Howey’s last day will be August 14.
Opposition Labor Leader Selena Uibo has blamed a “highly-charged political environment” for allegations of bullying and racism made by staff in her office against a senior figure, while refusing to respond to questions about who investigated the allegations and what action was taken.
A massive 99 per cent of the Territory’s firefighters have voted to reject the government’s latest enterprise agreement offer, the union representing firies has said, stating the government’s tactics to “strong-arm” workers to accept the deal has also been rejected.
UPDATED: Deputy Opposition Leader Dheran Young was suddenly sacked as deputy Thursday night and replaced with recently elected Member for Nightcliff Ed Smelt, in a move Labor Leader Selena Uibo said would give Mr Young more time out bush to “support his constituents post-flood”.
Corporate and Digital Development Minister Josh Burgoyne avoided answering questions about his department at Estimates, including about the failed Acacia IT project and the internal investigation into the suicide death of an employee, by choosing to make a speech for the full allocated time rather than open himself and the chief executive to public examination.
NT Health Department acting chief executive Susan Bowden has refused to explain how men armed with a machete and a nulla-nulla entered Tennant Creek Hospital to allegedly assault a patient last week, while the Australian Medical Association has raised safety concerns and NT WorkSafe has pledged to inquire into the incident after the department failed to notify the workplace regulator.
Approximately 5,000 Jacana Energy customers across the Territory are experiencing significant billing delays attributed to a major issue with the rollout of smart meters, the company revealed at Estimates hearings, while it is owed tens of millions in unpaid bills.
