NT Independent

Chief Minister rules out referring $850m ship lift cost blowout for independent investigation

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro on Monday ruled out referring the now $850 million Labor-led ship lift project for a proper investigation, after a parliamentary inquiry late last year found the deal to build the facility for the Paspaley Group lacked transparency, any trace of public accountability and was carried out with questionable public benefit involving multiple unexplained contract variations.

‘NT legal legend’ who supports CLP’s child placement reforms worked as Minister’s adviser

The “NT legal legend” described in media reports as backing the CLP Government’s controversial reforms to child placement legislation did not disclose that she worked for Minister Robyn Cahill as an adviser less than a month before making her submission to the parliamentary committee considering the new legislation.

Work Safe charges NT Health over ‘preventable’ death

NT Health has said it will not comment on NT Work Safe charges over the death of a mental health patient who had a history of volatile substance abuse, was considered at risk of self-harm, and died after inhaling the contents of a deodorant can purchased from a Royal Darwin Hospital pharmacy.

Skate, music and culture headline new Alice Springs youth festival

A new youth festival will be held in Alice Springs to mark the conclusion of NAIDOC Week, featuring live music from local talent alongside a national headline act, organisers have said.

Road train catches fire after crash on Arnhem Highway

Fire and rescue crews are at the site of a road train that caught on fire Tuesday morning following a crash on the Arnhem Highway east of the Adelaide River bridge.

Teen dies after alleged stolen vehicle rollover near Katherine

A 16-year-old boy has died following a single-vehicle rollover north of Katherine this morning after a series of alleged vehicle thefts overnight, NT Police said.

Arafura Rare Earths mine given ‘significant project’ status by NT Government

The $1.6 billion Arafura Rare Earths Nolans Project north of Alice Springs has been declared the Northern Territory’s first “significant project” under the Territory Coordinator Act, that the Chief Minister says will see the project given “the full attention of the government” to assist it move through “all of the risk processes and systems”, which follows last week’s final investment decision.

‘Certain conduct was inappropriate’: Dept confirms police investigating toxic workplace allegations involving death of IT worker

NT Police are investigating toxic workplace allegations linked to the Acacia IT system, which family members of deceased employee Shaun Joyce said contributed to his death, after the Department of Corporate and Digital Development’s internal investigation found “inappropriate” conduct occurred.

NT’s Integrity and Ethics Commissioner’s office lacks proper independence: National report

The Northern Territory’s “problematic Super Inspector” position to oversee the recently created Office of the Integrity and Ethics Commissioner, that the CLP Government filled with former ICAC inspector Bruce McClintock, has been flagged by a national organisation as “a good example of how oversight can go wrong” with integrity bodies.

Roadside drug test leads to guns seizure

A roadside drug test that allegedly returned a positive result for methamphetamine led to the seizure of seven firearms, ammunition and drugs in Katherine, NT Police said.