In case you missed it, here is a two-minute rundown of this week’s top stories: Controversial pet rental laws taking effect in a few weeks; revelations federal money intended for NT roads is being reallocated to hire more public servants; and secret Chinese documents signed by the NT Chief Minister that have never been publicly released might see the light of day; here’s the top stories of the week:

Senate passes unanimous motion calling on NT Government to lift ban on free press

The Australian Senate has publicly rebuked Chief Minister Michael Gunner, unanimously passing a motion last night calling on the NT Government to rescind its ban on the NT Independent.

In a twist of fate, the motion passed the Senate with support from all parties – including Labor – while Mr Gunner was in Canberra on an official trip to curry favour with federal politicians.

The motion was brought forward by CLP Senator Sam McMahon after being circulated in the Upper House to all parties and amended.

Read the full story here.

 

Gunner says he will produce secret China agreement, changes story on what it is

Chief Minister Michael Gunner has told Estimates hearings he will table the secret document he signed with an unknown Chinese official while on a state visit to Shenzhen, China in October 2019.

But it is still unclear when exactly it will be made public or what department actually holds it, after Mr Gunner claimed different departments hold the agreement and appeared to contradict his previous claim that it was a “sister cities arrangement” with Shenzhen.

The NT Independent first revealed the document had been signed in June, raising questions over why the Chief Minister had not made the international agreement public.

Read the full story here.

 

Federal money for NT roads diverted to boost public servant numbers, consultants: DIPL

The Gunner Government is taking federal cash intended for private companies to build and upgrade the Territory’s roads and using it to hire more public servants, while at the same time paying more consultants for “specialist advice”, the Estimates Committee was told by a senior public servant.

Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics (DIPL) chief executive Andrew Kirkman made the surprise revelation after being asked by the Opposition to explain how DIPL was finding cost efficiencies in the face of a government fiscal crisis that will see debt increase to $8.4 billion this year from $1.8 billion in 2016.

Read the full story here.

 

Pet rental laws to come into effect on January 1

Controversial changes to tenancy laws that give renters the presumed right to keep pets will come into effect from January 1, the Gunner Government has declared.

The move attracted heavy criticism when the government moved to introduce the legislation in February, but they backed off and delayed implementing the changes earlier this year.

But today, Attorney General Selena Uibo issued a statement instead of fronting media, declaring the laws would come into effect from January 1.

Read the full story here.

 

Interstate woman to face court over sex with boy: police

Police have charged a woman with 12 counts of having sex with a boy under 16-years old.

NT Police media manager Rob Cross said the 22-year-old woman was scheduled to appear in Alice Springs Local Court on Tuesday.

He said police allege the woman travelled from an un-named place interstate to Alice Springs and had sex with the boy during October to early November.

Read the full story here.