Shadow Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing, Marie-Clare Boothby, says new Racing Minister, Chansey Paech, needs to dump Labor’s plan to recoup the $12 million gifted to the Darwin Turf Club through an improper Cabinet process, and provide certainty to the Territory racing industry. “Labor itself is divided over whether to claw back the funds, with the Minister for Major …

Shadow Minister for Health, Bill Yan, says it is disgraceful renal dialysis patients are being turned away from scheduled sessions because of critical staff shortages within the NT health system – and sent instead to the Emergency Department at Royal Darwin Hospital. “For this to happen in the electorate of Natasha Fyles – who is the Chief Minister and also …

Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Gerard Maley, says Labor has overseen a critical population decline since coming to power in 2016. “The latest Census population count by state and territory, shows the NT’s population sits at 232,605 – that’s a decrease from the 2016 Census which recorded the NT’s population at 245,048 as at 31 December 2016.1 “When you couple …

Shadow Minister for Remote Housing and Town Camps, Bill Yan, says it’s disappointing the Minister for Housing and Homelands refused to say whether her department will seek restitution from offenders found guilty of damaging, or setting fire to, homes during ongoing violence in the remote community of Wadeye. “It was today revealed Territory taxpayers will foot the bill for more …

Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Marie-Clare Boothby, says it’s absolutely unbelievable that the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Paul Kirby, has no oversight of – and no idea about – funding for his portfolio. “We asked the Minister simple questions like: What is the 2022–23 budget specifically allocated to Veterans’ Affairs? Despite being the Minister responsible for the portfolio, he claimed …

Shadow Minister for Agribusiness and Aquaculture, Joshua Burgoyne, says it’s deeply concerning that the new Minister is yet to meet with the Territory’s top experts on biosecurity threats. “Minister Paul Kirby, who took over the Agribusiness portfolio three weeks ago, today made it clear one of the biggest risks to agriculture in the NT was lumpy skin disease (LSD). Yet …

Shadow Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Steve Edgington, says Territorians who are being victimised at disgraceful rates can have little faith Labor is prioritising their rights, rather than focusing on the rights of offenders, after a number of revelations today in Estimates. “The new Attorney-General, Chansey Paech, revealed there are 1,727 claims for Victims of Crime compensation and on average …

Shadow Minister for Territory Families, Joshua Burgoyne, says it’s incredibly disappointing the Opposition and Independent MLAs only had 45 minutes to quiz the Minister for Territory Families on one of the most important portfolios – the care and protection of children. “Minister Worden is now responsible for two of the biggest portfolios – Police, and Territory Families – both those …

Shadow Chief Minister, Lia Finocchiaro, says it’s absolutely astonishing the new Police Minister couldn’t outline a single initiative to address ongoing issues with attrition, morale, lack of mental health services within NT Police – and the escalating crime crisis – saying “I’ve only been in the job three weeks”. “Despite attrition within the NT police force on target to hit …

Shadow Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Steve Edgington, says today’s revelations of increasing violence and crippling staff shortages at Tennant Creek High School is indicative of government failures, across the board. “It’s absolutely extraordinary that teachers in Tennant Creek feel they have no other option, but to pen a unanimous letter to the Education Minister because they don’t feel safe …