Media Releases

Leader of the Opposition, Lia Finocchiaro, says the Police Minister’s performance on thefourth day of Estimates bordered on embarrassing as she fumbled her way through basicquestions around her key portfolio. “It is farcical the Minister – who is the former Treasurer – couldn’t even answer the firstquestions put to her around what is the agency’s efficiency dividend. “When questioned about …

Shadow Minister for Territory Families, Joshua Burgoyne, says it’s alarming that more than 80 Youth Justice Officers have been attacked by detainees at Don Dale in just three months. “Opposition questioning has revealed that between 1 January and 9 April 2021 there havebeen a total of 83 incidents involving youth offenders assaulting Youth Justice Officers. “Those figures are broken down …

Shadow Minister for Health, Bill Yan, says the latest NT crime statistics show a serious failurein the Gunner Government’s alcohol policy with grog-related assaults continuing to skyrocketright across the Territory. “Alcohol-related assaults are rising at an alarming rate. The latest crime stats (year on year toApril 2021) show Territory-wide booze-fuelled violence has climbed by 36%. “Palmerston recorded a staggering 86% …

Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Gerard Maley, says it’s concerning one of the key Ministersresponsible for spurring economic growth and attracting private investment oversees adepartment riddled with budget wastage. “Despite the Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission (TERC) and the Langoulant ‘Planfor Budget Repair’ both recommending an immediate overhaul of the NT’s major projectsprocess and highlighting the need for a “single point …

Shadow Minister for Health, Bill Yan, says a shocking time-wasting exercise by Laborbackbenchers who have asked an abundance of Dorothy Dixers during the first two days ofEstimates just confirms the absolute panic from the Gunner Government about being held toaccount. “It’s pretty ridiculous that instead of allowing the Opposition and Independents to quizMinisters on government spending, Labor backbenchers have wasted …

Leader of the Opposition, Lia Finocchiaro, says the Health Minister will be forced to answerquestions over a multitude of failures including significant changes to clinical procedures sincethe Gunner Government forced AUSMAT from the Howard Springs quarantine facility,keeping the public in the dark over critical bed shortages at Royal Darwin Hospital as well asthe shambolic amalgamation of Territory health services, when …

Leader of the Opposition, Lia Finocchiaro, says the Gunner Government’s so-called debtceiling is a false and inaccurate label for a toothless measure, designed to get the ChiefMinister out of a political hole rather than to reduce debt and improve the Territory economy. “It’s deeply concerning, although not surprising, that Michael Gunner has tried to pull thewool over the eyes of …

Shadow Minister for Territory Families, Joshua Burgoyne, says it is ridiculous the Minister forTerritory Families can’t answer simple questions relating to the safety of staff at the Don DaleYouth Detention Centre. “We submitted questions to the Territory Families Minister back in March – they’re currentlymore than 50 days overdue. It’s a requirement that written questions are answered within 30days. “Why …

Leader of the Opposition, Lia Finocchiaro, says the public service is in crisis with a myriad ofkey senior roles left vacant for months on end. “These vacancies are at the very top of the public service and it’s concerning the GunnerGovernment is moving at snail’s pace to fill these positions. For example, since last year theDepartment of Attorney-General has had …

Leader of the Opposition, Lia Finocchiaro, says the Gunner Government has run out of excuseswhy it continues to allow Treaty Commissioner, Mick Dodson, to collect his $290,000 a yearsalary despite accusations of verbal abuse and threats of physical abuse against an Indigenouswoman – as his two weeks of sick leave draws to a close. “It’s not surprising the Treaty Commissioner …