Half of the controversial $320 million NT Health Acacia patient record IT system is being shelved pending new funding approvals, bureaucrats have told a parliamentary committee, despite their own previous warnings that not fully implementing it risks a “catastrophic IT systems failure” that could disrupt health services.
UPDATED: Kat McNamara, the first NT Greens member elected to NT Parliament, has resigned “effective immediately”, citing health reasons, while a federal senator says McNamara was insulted and “intimidated” by government while in Parliament.
The NT Government’s decision to approve a 30-year water licence to Fortune Agribusiness for its Singleton Station project will now be considered by the High Court, following a challenge by native title holders from the Mpwerempwer Aboriginal Corporation.
The CLP Government’s rushed amendments to the Housing Act that will continue to see individual remote housing residents not consulted on rent increases has been panned by Aboriginal land councils and other bodies as an “assault on the fundamental rights of Territorians”, while the government claims it will consult with the groups before future rental rises.
St John Ambulance NT has announced Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley’s chief of staff Abigail Trewin as the new chief executive of the troubled organisation, with the politician paying tribute to her in a press release announcing her appointment but failing to disclose she was working for him.
Police Commissioner Martin Dole has appointed Commander James J. O’Brien as acting deputy commissioner, leap-frogging him over four assistant commissioners and three acting assistant commissioners, in a move labelled “very odd” and a “massive slap in the face to all the staff ranked above him” by a former officer, but described as a “common occurrence” by the top cop.
UPDATED: A 47-year-old worker at Newmont’s Tanami gold mine in remote Central Australia has died, the company has confirmed, while investigations are underway.
Hibiscus Shopping Centre in Darwin’s northern suburbs is being offered for sale for the first time in more than 40 years, the sales agent has said.
A police investigation into Darwin Mayor Peter Styles’ alleged involvement in the production and distribution of fraudulent how-to-vote cards that is now entering its sixth month remains ongoing, NT Police say, despite recent claims by one of the subjects of the investigation that everyone has been cleared of wrongdoing.
Confusion reigned Monday over who the current King’s representative in the Territory is after the Chief Minister said David Connolly was the Administrator with “limited powers” while the Administrator’s office said last week Chief Justice Michael Grant would be acting Administrator until February 27, with the situation further convoluted by Speaker Robyn Lambley issuing an internal email warning MLAs not to be “disrespectful” to Mr Connolly when Parliament resumes this week.
International test cricket will return to Darwin in August after more than two decades, featuring Australia against Bangladesh at Marrara Stadium, as part of a multi-match agreement between Cricket Australia, NT Cricket and the NT Government.
The NT CLP Government has announced the extension of the HomeGrown build grants program, which will now run through September 2027, which it said will offer long-term stability for families, builders, and investors, with 400 grants having been approved for first-time home buyers to put towards building or buying their first home amid a “difficult time” to enter the NT housing market.
