Toad-killing safaris could boost tourism Down Under, says mayor

Melbourne, June 4 (ANI): Darwin’s lord mayor has stated that he believes the idea of helping terminate cane toads could lure tourists to the Northern Territory.

Graeme Sawyer said there would be plenty of whack-happy visitors keen to take part in the game, even though past proposals by tour operators to include toad busts in their overnight camps had been knocked back.

“It’s crazy … we’ve had tour operators who want to do it and been denied by park rangers,” News.com.au quoted him as saying.

Frogwatch figures estimate there are about 92 million cane toads infesting the NT, which it says are having a huge impact in their competition for food with native animals.

Sawyer said the Territory could replicate the successes of the Great Toad Muster, held near the WA/NT border, which attracts volunteering tourists.

“It’s a pretty amazing experience out there … seeing these places at night, crocs in the water, there’s a sense of adventure and adds to people’s sense of achievement,” he said.

Sawyer said allowing organised tourist toad busts in places like Kakadu could be “very beneficial”.

“I think it could make a massive difference to places like Gunlom (Falls),” he revealed.

“What I hear is there are stacks and stacks and stacks of toads that come for refuge at the water,” he added. (ANI)

Lara Bingle’s ex manager may now sign up Oz topless fire-fighting heroine

Melbourne, May 18 (ANI): After being dumped by Aussie model Lara Bingle, celebrity agent Max Markson is set to sign up Northern Territory’s topless fire-fighting heroine Tash Bennett.

The high-profile agent is known for helping reality TV stars cash in on their fifteen minutes of fame.

He was also recently hired – and fired – but Australian cricketer Michael Clarke”s ex-fiancee Lara Bingle.

Bennett, who put the safety of her neighbours ahead of her own modesty last week after she battled a blaze at a neighbours house – topless, said she has not decided whether she would sign up with Markson and was having someone look over the contract.

The 27-year-old fitness instructor said Markson”s offer could be a big opportunity for her.

“I would love to do something else. In Darwin, I was working in the gym as a casual and I did personal training on the side, but it wasn”t long term for me. If there is more opportunity for me, I will sign,” News.com.au quoted her as saying. (ANI)

Horny kangaroo stalking women of Northern Territory!

Melbourne, May 14 (ANI): A kangaroo in the Northern Territory of Australia has been ruffling a few feathers by the amorous advances he has been making to the women of the area.

The well-endowed kangaroo has been hanging around the Honeymoon Ranges in Tennant Creek recently, making every effort to woo a woman.

One resident, who walks along the bike track to the Mary Ann Dam regularly, revealed her encounter with the animal, which had followed her early one morning.

“I turned around and saw this big kangaroo behind me, so I hastened my steps. It seemed a bit odd, but I continued walking and didn”t think much about it,” ntnews.com.au quoted her as saying.

“Then on the return walk he was there waiting for me. With his male pride on full alert, he started circling me. There was no doubt about what he wanted, the randy old thing.

“It was a huge kangaroo and quite intimidating. I yelled at him to go away, waved my hands about and let him know I wasn”t interested, but he was persistent – I”ll give him that,” she revealed.

The woman said the animal bounded off when other walkers approached.

But that was not the end of the raunchy roo”s antics, as he made another appearance at a recent nighttime speedway meeting.

Mother-of-three, Tanya Wilson, who was behind the pits, noticed he had come to check out the action.

“I thought it was strange that a kangaroo would come to such a noisy place, but I grew up around kangaroos so I went up to say hello,” she said.

“There I was having a nice chat to him when I heard others calling out to me, warning me to step away.

“I didn”t take any notice of them because I didn”t think I had anything to worry about. I thought he was just a cute, friendly kangaroo,” she explained.

Wilson was oblivious to the amorous nature of the interlude, but the kangaroo”s intentions were clearly evident to other speedway fans.

“Yeah, apparently he was quite aroused. I”m actually glad I didn”t notice,” she added.

There were reports a male speedway fan confronted the kangaroo but came off second best when the beast punched him in the face. (ANI)

Horny kangaroo stalking women of Northern Territory!

Melbourne, May 14 (ANI): A kangaroo in the Northern Territory of Australia has been ruffling a few feathers by the amorous advances he has been making to the women of the area.

The well-endowed kangaroo has been hanging around the Honeymoon Ranges in Tennant Creek recently, making every effort to woo a woman.

One resident, who walks along the bike track to the Mary Ann Dam regularly, revealed her encounter with the animal, which had followed her early one morning.

“I turned around and saw this big kangaroo behind me, so I hastened my steps. It seemed a bit odd, but I continued walking and didn”t think much about it,” ntnews.com.au quoted her as saying.

“Then on the return walk he was there waiting for me. With his male pride on full alert, he started circling me. There was no doubt about what he wanted, the randy old thing.

“It was a huge kangaroo and quite intimidating. I yelled at him to go away, waved my hands about and let him know I wasn”t interested, but he was persistent – I”ll give him that,” she revealed.

The woman said the animal bounded off when other walkers approached.

But that was not the end of the raunchy roo”s antics, as he made another appearance at a recent nighttime speedway meeting.

Mother-of-three, Tanya Wilson, who was behind the pits, noticed he had come to check out the action.

“I thought it was strange that a kangaroo would come to such a noisy place, but I grew up around kangaroos so I went up to say hello,” she said.

“There I was having a nice chat to him when I heard others calling out to me, warning me to step away.

“I didn”t take any notice of them because I didn”t think I had anything to worry about. I thought he was just a cute, friendly kangaroo,” she explained.

Wilson was oblivious to the amorous nature of the interlude, but the kangaroo”s intentions were clearly evident to other speedway fans.

“Yeah, apparently he was quite aroused. I”m actually glad I didn”t notice,” she added.

There were reports a male speedway fan confronted the kangaroo but came off second best when the beast punched him in the face. (ANI)

Deadly soil bacteria kills 10 people in NT

A dangerous bacteria found in soil has claimed the lives of 10 people in the Northern Territory, the Centre for Disease Control says.

Melioidosis usually strikes during the northern Australian wet season, which runs from about November until April.

The centre’s acting director, Dr Peter Markey, says about 20 to 30 infections usually occur each wet season, resulting in between two and four deaths.

But Dr Markey says this wet season has seen the number of infections surge.

“This year we’ve had 72 cases so far,” he said.

“That is over three times [what we would normally expect] and well ahead of any other season that we’ve had.

“And 10 of those people have sadly passed away from the melioidosis.”

He says all of the people who have died have been aged over 30 and had pre-existing medical conditions, including diabetes, lung disease and alcohol problems.

Dr Markey says melioidosis infections had occurred in urban and rural areas of Darwin, in Arnhem Land, in Katherine and in Central Australia.

“The bacteria live in the soil in the tropics and people can become unwell either inhaling the bacteria if they come into close contact with it or acquiring the infection through the skin via a cut or a sore.”

He said people should wear gloves and shoes when in contact with muddy soil to lower the risk of infection.

Federal Court hears arguments over NAPLAN dispute

The Federal Court has heard the Australian Education Union (AEU) is not acting in the broad educational interest by threatening to boycott national literacy and numeracy tests.

More than 1.1 million year three, five, seven and nine students are scheduled to sit the NAPLAN test next week.

The AEU argues the test results data will be used to unfairly rank schools.

It is pressing ahead with plans for a test boycott despite a Fair Work Australia ruling yesterday finding that the proposed industrial action is unlawful.

Lawyers for the Government’s Fair Work ombudsman have told a Federal Court hearing in Melbourne that the union is acting only in the interests of teachers, rather than in broad educational interests.

The court has heard massive logistical preparations have been made to deliver the test and the matter is urgent.

The union’s lawyers told the court the data would be false and inaccurate and would lead to teachers being badgered by parents.

The hearing continues.

Any Federal Court ruling on Naplan test boycotts will only affect Victoria, the Northern Territory and the ACT, where teachers come under the federal award system.

No date set for return to budget surplus

The Treasurer, Delia Lawrie, has avoided the Opposition’s questions about when her Government will be able to pay back its budget deficit.

The Government has announced the deficit will be $268 million this year – $94 million more than previously predicted.

The Government forecasts that it will be $61 million in the red by 2014.

During Question Time, the Opposition’s John Elferink sought to clarify when the debt would be paid off.

“Over the next four years you are going to nearly double the Northern Territory’s net debt,” he said.

“By what date will you pay that back, or is it just the case that you’re happy to rack it up on the credit card and let somebody else sort out the problem?”

Ms Lawrie was almost drowned out by the Opposition when she responded.

“Now is not the time for that, now is the time for protecting jobs and we will return the budget to surplus,” she said.

“We have explained the step-out strategy.

“We’ve certainly indicated we’ve extended that by about two years.”

“As you go into surplus, you’re paying off debt.”

The Chamber of Commerce says the $268 million deficit is a responsible way to keep construction jobs in the Northern Territory until the next big project.

Chris Young says Government stimulus will cover for a lack of private investment in the wake of the global financial crisis.

“Quite simply, you’re talking $5.1 billion of expenditure,” he said.

“They’re throwing virtually everything that’s coming in the door straight back out the door and that’s got to be good for the economy.”

The Real Estate Institute says it is pleased with budget announcements that attract first homebuyers into the market but is urging faster land release.

The institute’s chief executive, Quentin Killian, says some of the fast track land releases in Palmerston have been too gradual and the need is most urgent in Alice Springs.

“We would hope that the Government is good to their word and does fast track land release and particularly in and around Alice Springs area.

“While we continue to look at Bellamack and Zuccoli and other Palmerston suburbs, Alice Springs is an area that’s in chronic housing shortage at the moment so it’s very important that the AZRI site gets fast tracked.”

Court officer’s identity theft jail term reduced

A former court officer who was found guilty of stealing a colleague’s identity has had her jail sentence reduced.

In February, 21-year-old Taylie Jade Sweeney was sentenced in the Darwin Magistrates Court to serve two months behind bars for stealing the colleague’s identity to obtain money.

Today, she won an appeal in the Northern Territory Supreme Court, arguing that part of her sentence was manifestly excessive.

The judge reduced her actual jail term to two weeks.

The court heard Sweeney is seven months pregnant and she has 14 days to surrender herself to the court.

Death threats made in manslaughter case

The Northern Territory Supreme Court has heard of death threats made by prisoners against the five men charged with killing an Alice Springs man last July.

Anton Kloeden, Scott Doody, Timothy Hird, Joshua Spears and Glen Swain have been in protective custody on remand at the Alice Springs jail for the past eight months.

All five today pleaded guilty to manslaughter over the fatal assault of Kwementyere Ryder.

The court heard the accused men are only allowed one or two hours a day outside their cells because they need to be kept separated from other prisoners.

Kloedon’s lawyer told the court that his client sees a person dragging a finger across his throat every day as an unmistakable signal.

He said another prisoner claims he will chop off his head and cook him like a kangaroo and has threatened to kill one of Kloedon’s relatives.

The court heard the men, who are in their early 20s, drove through the dry Todd River towards two camps of Aboriginal people early on the morning of July 25 last year after a night of drinking.

They later returned to the river and fatally assaulted Mr Ryder who had thrown a bottle at their utility.

The five men are expected to be sentenced next week.

Fishermen not respecting sacred sites, court told

A court has heard commercial barramundi fishermen are not respecting sacred Aboriginal sites in the Northern Territory.

Commercial barramundi fisherman Darren Murray was this morning fined $5,000 after pleading guilty to setting up a gill net on a sacred site in the Blyth River in northern Arnhem Land.

The Darwin Magistrates Court heard Murray deliberately entered the river mouth, which has been a registered sacred site since 1985.

In a submission to the court, traditional owners said they have had problems with commercial fishermen for a long time, as “they sneak in and out of the estuary at night”.

They said fisherman did not respect Aboriginal law or culture.

They said when fishermen entered the sacred site, “it’s like a curse. We get sick and our children get sick” and their “dreamings will be chased away”.

Murray’s lawyer, Peter Maley, told the court that the fisherman has had trouble selling his wild barramundi catch because of the flood of “cheap imports coming in from Indonesia” and “restaurants preferring to buy that at a significantly reduced price.”

Mr Maley said the Territory’s wild barramundi industry was “under siege” from imports.

He said Murray was going to get out of the fishing industry because of this pressure.

The court heard Murray has been to court for two similar offences in the past decade.

Right owners consulted on nuke dump: Ferguson

The Federal Resources Minister says there is no doubt the right traditional owners were consulted over the prospect of their land being used to host a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory.

The Federal Government has chosen Muckaty Station, north of Tennant Creek, as the preferred site for the dump after an agreement was reached with the Ngapa clan.

But other traditional owners have told a Senate inquiry in Darwin at least five clans are linked to the land and have not been consulted.

Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson says the rightful owners have been approached.

“If there is any disputation to the land council’s decision-making process, let it go to court,” he said.

“But I say this, no one is disputing that the land in question is owned by the Ngapa people.”

Meanwhile, NT Chief Minister Paul Henderson told the inquiry the Territory had been unfairly singled out to house the dump.

Mr Henderson says the Commonwealth has the power to force the dump on the Territory and is doing so to minimise any legal challenge.

The Member for Barkly, Gerry McCarthy, has also told the inquiry the proposed dump is causing confusion and division in his electorate.

NT unfairly singled out over nuke dump: Henderson

The Chief Minister has told a Senate inquiry the Commonwealth is forcing a nuclear waste dump on the Northern Territory by using a constitutional weakness.

The Senate inquiry is looking into the Commonwealth’s plans to set up a nuclear waste dump at Muckaty Station, north of Tennant Creek.

The Chief Minister, Paul Henderson, has told the inquiry the Territory has been unfairly singled out to house the dump.

Mr Henderson says the Commonwealth has the power to force the dump on the Territory and is doing so to minimise any legal challenge.

The Labor Member for Barkly, Gerry McCarthy, has also told the inquiry the proposed dump is causing confusion and division in his electorate.

The inquiry continues.

Pre-budget cash splash goes to road upgrade

The Northern Territory Treasurer say this year’s budget will focus on infrastructure, social welfare, health and housing.

The Government made its first pre-budget announcement for the year today, saying it would spend $3 million to upgrade Vanderlin Drive in Darwin.

Treasurer Delia Lawrie says she will highlight how the Government plans to get out of deficit when she delivers the budget next month.

But she says a cut in GST revenue is making the recovery harder.

“There are certainly impacts in terms of our reduced GST relativity that is making it more difficult in terms of the step-out,” she said.

“But we’ll still be climbing back into health in the forward years.

“It’s tougher without a doubt because of a reduction in the GST.”

Teacher pleads guilty to sex with 13yo student

A Darwin teacher has pleaded guilty in the Northern Territory Supreme Court to maintaining a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old student.

The 36-year-old man was teaching the girl dance last year when they formed a friendship after the girl confided in him about being sexually abused as a child.

The victim’s lawyer told the court the girl “looked to the accused as a teacher and friend and he abused that trust.”

If found guilty, he faces a maximum term of 20 years in prison.

He has been in custody since his arrest in November last year.

The court heard the case is the first of its kind to go before Northern Territory courts.

Nuclear dump protesters target NT Parliament

Protesters have gathered at Parliament House in Darwin to lobby against the Commonwealth’s plans to set up a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory.

The protest comes as a Senate inquiry is about to hear evidence in Darwin from traditional owners who are against the dump.

Muckaty Station, north of Tennant Creek, has been nominated to be the site of a national radioactive waste repository by the Ngapa clan with the support of the Northern Land Council.

Today, about 40 people from Tennant Creek and surrounding communities gathered outside Parliament House wearing T-shirts and holding banners that read “Northern Land Council no more”.

A traditional owner from the Ngapa clan, who was at today’s protest, says he is opposed to the dump and says the Muckaty Station site is sacred.

Four other traditional owners will give evidence at the Senate inquiry this afternoon.

Protesters are calling on the inquiry to travel to Tennant Creek and talk to the people directly affected.

The inquiry has already met in Canberra where the Northern Land Council gave its evidence.

Ryder death: accused men could plea by Friday

The Northern Territory Chief Justice says he is willing to hold a weekend sitting of the Supreme Court to hear the pleas of five men accused of a murder in Alice Springs.

Anton Kloeden, Glen Swain, Scott Doody, Joshua Spears and Timothy Hird are all charged with the murder of a 33-year old Aboriginal man now known as Kwementyere Ryder.

His body was found near the Todd River in Alice Springs in July last year.

The Crown has offered all five men the option to enter pleas to the alternative charge of manslaughter.

Lawyers for the accused told the Supreme Court they could be ready to proceed to a plea on Friday.

The Chief Justice Brian Martin has urged the lawyers to come to an agreement on the facts by Friday.

He says he is also willing to sit on Saturday to have the pleas heard because there are no other free court dates until July.

Wood blocked from airing nuke dump views

Independent MLA Gerry Wood says he has been silenced by the Senate Committee examining a proposed nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory.

Mr Wood says he was told he cannot speak at today’s hearing in Darwin because he failed to supply a written submission.

He says he made oral submissions at both the Canberra and Alice Springs hearings and was not previously required to register in writing.

“It just appears to me as though this inquiry has decided to invite a select number of people and silence anyone else that really wants to speak,” he said.

He believes he’s been barred from participating in Darwin because he disagreed with Senator Crossin at previous hearings.

“I would have thought that for the benefit of giving more than one side of the story it would have been good to hear another point of view,” he said.

Senator Trish Crossin says all speakers are required to make their intentions known to the Committee.

“We have no submission from Gerry Wood,” she said.

“Certainly not had a phone call from him and so it is not possible for a Senate Committee to plan and conduct its work if we don’t hear from potential witnesses.”

Traditional owners of the site proposed for a nuclear waste dump near Tennant Creek are today expected to tell the Senate Inquiry that their opposition was ignored when the site was nominated.

Elders from each of the five families from Muckaty Station will attend the inquiry, which will examine the suitability of the site, which was nominated by the Northern Land Council.

A spokeswoman for the group, Dianne Stokes, says she will reaffirm her people’s claim to the land.

“I’m coming here to reply to all the information … talk back to these people to what they said at the Senate Inquiry meeting up in Canberra,” she said.

“I want to tell them what I heard, it’s not true.”

Probe continues into fatal Katherine crash

The Northern Territory’s Major Crash Unit will this morning continue to examine the scene of a fatal accident that happened in Katherine at the weekend.

The accident occurred when a car pulled out of Zimin Drive onto the Victoria Highway and collided with a line-marking truck on Saturday night.

Superintendent Bob Harrison says the driver of the car was killed.

“[It's] a very sad state of affairs, that one,” he said.

“And obviously all our people are down there investigating that at the moment.”

Speeding minister fined for 149 kph drive

The Northern Territory’s Transport Minister says he was listening to a fast-paced Hoodoo Gurus song when he was caught speeding at almost 150 kilometres per hour.

Police detected Mr McCarthy speeding at 19 kph over the 130 kph speed limit between Tennant Creek and Alice Springs on Saturday.

Mr McCarthy released a statement admitting to and apologising for the traffic offence, for which he received a $200 fine and three demerit points.

But the Opposition’s John Elferink says that is not enough.

“It’s a chronically embarrassing thing for him,” he said.

“And of course it’s now up to [the Chief Minister Paul] Henderson to demonstrate whether or not he continues to have confidence in his own Transport Minister.”

Mr Elferink says Mr McCarthy has ignored his own previous warnings.

“Well, the minister’s made it difficult for himself because he is the one who has referred to the people who speed as idiots,” he said.

“He came into the Parliament in October last year and and lectured the Parliament at length in relation to the idiots who speed.”

Today, Mr McCarthy told the ABC: “I’ve been irresponsible and paid the price … I hold myself up as a bad example. I’ve made a mistake.”

He resisted calls to give up his role as Transport Minister.

“My response is that I will continue in the job, that I have a lot of passion for the job,” he said.

“I’ve made a very foolish mistake and a bad judgement and I need to be held accountable for that.

“I will pay my fine and I also have been issued with demerit points.

“This represents tough penalties.”

Intervention homes still contamainted

One in 10 demountable homes installed for Northern Territory Intervention workers remain un-usable because of contamination that was first detected two years ago.

In 2008, some workers with the Northern Territory Emergency Response were moved out of the demountables and converted shipping containers they were living in, after tests showed almost 90 per cent had air quality problems.

There was a second formaldehyde scare in 2009 involving the replacement accommodation in a number of remote communities.

The office of the Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin has confirmed that air quality in 40 buildings is still a concern.

The government has been working with experts to ensure the accommodation meets World Health organisation chemical exposure standards.