Media Releases

Leader of the Opposition, Lia Finocchiaro, says it’s disgraceful that the Gunner Government is still failing to be open and transparent about where they are spending Territory taxpayers’ money, according to the latest Buy Local Plan Compliance Report. “In 2016 Michael Gunner took his plan for open and transparent government to Territorians and promised them that there would be change. …

Leader of the Opposition, Lia Finocchiaro, says 2021 has been jam-packed with scandals, stuff ups and slippery decisions by the Gunner Labor Government – and Territorians are the big losers. “Barely a week has passed this year, without a sensational failure from this scandal-plagued Gunner Labor Government. From youth bail bungles, to disgracefully bad behaviour from Labor MLAs and staff …

Shadow Minister for Health, Bill Yan, says the Gunner Government needs to explain why the Northern Territory needs five doctors available to act in the role of Chief Health Officer. “In a recent gazette notice, Minister Fyles names Charles Pain, Anthony Carpenter, Danielle Esler and Jacqueline Murdoch to act as the Chief Health Officer – in Dr Hugh Heggie’s absence. …

Leader of the Opposition, Lia Finocchiaro, says it is unbelievable that the Health Minister finds it ‘too hard’ to work out how many doctors and nurses she needs to recruit to plug the critical staff shortages across the NT. “Opposition questions, submitted through a formal Parliamentary process, quizzed the Health Minister on how many doctor and nurse positions are currently …

Shadow Minister for Health, Bill Yan, says ongoing staff shortages and crippling pressure on the Territory’s health system is having a detrimental impact on Territorians living in regional and remote areas, with a number of clinics closing down over the Christmas holiday period. “This comes at the same time the Gunner Government has thrown open the borders to interstate travellers. …

Leader of the Opposition, Lia Finocchiaro, says our overworked and under resourced police are bearing the brunt of Labor’s failed law and order policies, with the latest crime statistics showing a shameful upwards trend in violent crime, right across the Territory. “The figures show, year on year to the end of October that: 8,839 people were the victim of assault …

Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Gerard Maley, says the Gunner Labor Government has put its own interests ahead of Territorians by refusing to front the media for the daily COVID update. “The Government has questions to answer about the movements of a woman and her baby who travelled from Timber Creek to Darwin, via Katherine, and are COVID-positive. That information …

Leader of the Opposition, Lia Finocchiaro, says Michael Gunner has treated every public servant with contempt and now he’s facing the backlash. “Already, public servants at Power and Water and Jacana Energy have shunned Michael Gunner’s bonus – which isn’t tied to wages and is taxable. “They know this offer is nothing more than a four year wage freeze sweetened …

Shadow Minister for Small Business, Marie-Clare Boothby, says Labor has been forced into an embarrassing backflip from the impractical and unworkable post-December 20 measures announced by the Chief Minister last week – but the damage has been done for many tourism operators across the Territory. “We welcome these changes – but calling them ‘modest’ is just a desperate attempt by …

Shadow Minister for Health, Bill Yan, says the CLP Opposition has referred a $4.3 million contract, awarded to Ernst and Young consultancy by NT Health, to the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) after the Territory’s Auditor General found it was against procurement rules. “This consultancy was originally commissioned to review the Department of Health’s COVID-19 response and quietly morphed into …