7 Darwin News Update

20/04/2023

Takeaway alcohol restrictions in Alice Springs have been extended for another three months.

The NT government saying the move is working- with alcohol related emergency department presentations at Alice Springs Hospital almost halving in the past three months.

Domestic Violence has also dropped by a third in the month since the restrictions came back into place.

03/04/2023

The NT Chief Ministers tribute to land rights campaigner and former Australian of the Year Yunpingu who died in north-east Arnhem Land after a long battle with illness.

It is with deep sadness that I acknowledge the passing of Yunupingu AM.

A Gumatj man of the Yolngu people, Yunupingu was born at Melville Bay in East Arnhem Land where he attended the Mission School at Yirrkala before moving to Brisbane to study at the Methodist Bible College.

He returned home in the late 1960s and it was in this same decade that he created the first traditional Aboriginal documents recognised by the Australian Commonwealth Parliament – the Yirrkala Bark Petitions.

Drawn up alongside his father, Gumatj clan leader Mungurrawuy, the Petitions were created in protest of the use of traditional Yolngu land for mining.

Yunupingu came to national attention around the same time for his role as court interpreter in the landmark Gove Land Rights Case.

Though unsuccessful, it was the first legal action of its kind by Indigenous Australians to challenge mining companies rights to exploit traditional lands.

And so began his life’s work.

Yolngu law and Aboriginal land rights.

In 1969 Yunupingu was elected to Yirrkala Town Council.

In 1975 he joined the Northern Land Council (NLC), serving as chairman for over two decades before his retirement in 2004.

His leadership at the NLC resulted in the return of all Aboriginal Reserves and most claimed areas in the Top End of the Territory to Aboriginal ownership.

He also played a key role in negotiations surrounding the Ranger Uranium Mine Agreement.

For Yunupingu it was always about respect.

Of people.

Place.

And the right of Aboriginal Australians to make their own decisions about their own land.

In 1978 he was named Australian of the Year.

In 1985 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his services to the Aboriginal community.

In 1998 his name was added to the list of the 100 Australian Living National Treasures by the National Trust of Australia.

Yunupingu considered his Australian of the Year Award a breakthrough.

That at last Aboriginal people were being recognised as the indigenous people of this country and that they must share in its future.

In 2008, Yunupingu led the presentation of another petition to the Australian Parliament - this time to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd asking for formal recognition of the rights of Aboriginal people through constitutional reform.

Few can say without hyperbole that an individual was ahead of their time.

Yunupingu was.

Without question he was.

And in 2019 he was announced as one of 20 members of a Senior Advisory Group tasked with the co-design of The Voice to Parliament.

Awarded the University of Melbourne’s highest academic honour, an Honorary Doctor of Laws while at Garma Festival in 2015 – Yunupingu served as senior ceremonial leader of the Gumatj clan and community elder throughout his later years.

He advocated for the rights and self-determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians till the last.

We have lost a visionary.

30/03/2023

NT POLICE TO ASSIST CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DUE TO OVERCROWDING:

The Northern Territory Police Force is assisting Northern Territory Correctional Services (NTCS) with the management of prisoners due to correctional facilities reaching capacity in Alice Springs and Darwin.

Prisoners in Darwin are being housed in police custody facilities but are under guard by correctional officers. No police officers are guarding prisoners.

In Alice Springs, NT corrections have remand prisoners housed in the Alice Springs Watch House and are guarding these prisoners. Alice Springs Police is assisting the NTCS with staffing when required.

NT Police say this a short term solution, to enable NTCS to explore other options for prisoner management.

27/03/2023

PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT:

Territorians are being urged to protect themselves from Mosquito bites, following the detection of the potentially fatal Murray Valley (MVE) encephalitis and Japanese encephalitis (JE) viruses in mosquitoes.

Those living in the Barkly region particularly told to cover up due to recent rains attracting a high volume of the flying insects.

MVE has been detected in Mosquitoes collected in Tennant Creek while the JE virus was detected in Darwin.

The Top End region recorded a fatal MVE case earlier this year.

January to June is the highest risk period for serious mosquito-borne diseases.

Learn more about MVE and JE on the NT Health website: https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/NiQNC1WLVRUK3NE8Fpdgmb?domain=ntgovernmentagencies.cmail20.com

Image: pixabay

24/03/2023

Fatal road incident – Victoria River

Northern Territory Police are investigating a non-suspicious fatal road incident that occurred near Victoria River yesterday afternoon.

At 5:15pm, police received a report of a man trapped underneath a trailer, approximately 10km east of the Victoria River Roadhouse.

Police attended the scene, where the man was declared deceased.

Katherine Criminal Investigation Branch are investigating the circumstances of how the driver became trapped underneath the trailer and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

NT Worksafe has been notified.

Traffic diversions are in place as the truck and trailer remain blocking the inbound lane to Katherine on the Victoria Highway. Motorists should expect delays and are urged to avoid the area if possible.

Police are calling for any witnesses, particularly those with dash cam footage, who may have seen a truck and trailer pulled over on the Victoria Highway near the Victoria River Roadhouse to make contact with police on 131 444.

Please quote reference number 10295434.

21/03/2023

Statement from NT Health. Palmerston and the Royal Darwin Hospital are at code yellow. Details below.

21/03/2023

21/03/2023

21/03/2023

Charges – Murder – Jingili

A 19-year-old man has been charged with murder and aggravated robbery after the death of a 20-year-old bottle shop worker in Jingili on Sunday.

He was remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court today.

Two youths aged 15 and 16 have been charged with two counts of aggravated robbery for their alleged involvement in incidents in Karama and Rapid Creek prior to the incident in Jingili.

A 17-year-old is also facing charges over the Rapid Creek incident.

"Investigations remain ongoing and police are appealing to the public to check their private and business CCTV, and dash camera footage for the movements of a 2014 blue Toyota Camry with Northern Territory registration CE71BI between 5pm Sunday 19 March and 4am Monday 20 March".

13/02/2023

Cyclone Watch – Gulf of Carpentaria:

The weather bureau continues to monitor a tropical low off the Northern Territory coast which could develop into a Cyclone tomorrow.

A Cyclone Watch has been issued for communities between Groote Eylandt and the Queensland border.

Locals are being warned to expect gale force winds with damaging gusts up to 90km/hour tomorrow morning.

Severe thunderstorms with damaging wind and heavy rain could also occur within the watch area.

Incident Controller, Superintendent Paul Faustmann said: “Local police in the area have activated local emergency plans and are actively engaged in preparation for the possibility of a cyclone.”

A Flood Watch and Severe Weather Warning for damaging surf is current for parts of the Top End.

10/02/2023

24/01/2023

Alcohol Restrictions have been announced for Alice Springs, following a visit from the PM to address the crime crisis.

For a 3 month period takeaway sales of alcohol will be banned on Monday and a Tuesday.

Bottle shops will only be open other days from 3-7pm.

People will only allowed one purchase per day.

Anthony Albanese also outlined $50 million for community support over two years to restore order. It’s unclear how much of this is new funding.

While, Arrernte woman Dorelle Anderson was named as the new Central Australian Regional coordinator.

24/01/2023

The PM is arriving in Alice Springs amid calls for him to address a recent spike in alcohol-related crime.

Anthony Albanese and Chief Minister Natasha Fyles will meet with locals.

There is a push for the Defence Force or Federal Police to be deployed to the outback town.

24/01/2023

17/01/2023

Call for information – Hit and run – Palmerston

A 31-year-old woman has been taken to Darwin hospital following an alleged hit-and-run incident in Palmerston overnight.

The 30-year-old drive later handed himself into Police.

The victim received non life threatening injuries.

NT police were also called to a large disturbance in Gray overnight- where multiple people were reportedly fighting with weapons.

An investigation is underway into both incidents and witnesses are being urged to come forward.

13/12/2022

We send our deepest condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the beloved Queensland Police Service officers, Constable Matthew Arnold and Constable Rachel McCrow, as well as the member of the public, who tragically lost their lives yesterday.

We also extend our thoughts and wish for a quick recovery to the two police officers who were taken to hospital.

Our hearts break for the blue family 💙💙

09/12/2022

And that’s us out for the year!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

See you in 2023!

06/12/2022

HEALTH ALERT:

Territorians are being warned of severe to extreme heat conditions across most of the top end this week.

NT health says the Territory is at level two 'watch and act- with the potential to reach a level three 'emergency warning' over the next couple of days.

Health authorities are urging residents and tourists to take appropriate action to avoid heat stress.

30/11/2022

Making news tonight:

* Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright has faced Darwin Court on multiple charges relating to the fatal helicopter crash that killed his co-star Chris 'Willow" Wilson.

He was bailed to appear at a later date.

* The age of criminal responsibility has been raised from age 10 to 12 after legislation passed parliament overnight.

The changes will come into effect in the second half of next year.

*And Dr Hugh Heggie PSM has been appointed as Northern Territory Administrator.

29/11/2022

UPDATE #

Matt Wright has now been charged.

He is the third person to be charged in relation to the fatal helicopter crash that killed Chris ‘willow’ Wilson.

29/11/2022

CROC WRANGLER MATT WRIGHT HAS FLOWN TO DARWIN AFTER AN ARREST WARRANT WAS ISSUED BY NORTHERN TERRITORY POLICE OVER A FATAL HELICOPTER CRASH.

The 43-year-old was escorted by a group of men who shielded him from media at Darwin airport today.

Wright is expected to face SEVEN charges but has strenuously denied any wrong doing.

It follows the tragic crash in February that killed his co-star Chris 'Willow" Wilson.

28/11/2022

ARREST WARRANT- FATAL HELICOPTER CRASH WEST ARNHEM LAND:

An arrest warrant has been issued for a 43-year-old man, believed to be TV presenter Matt Wright.

It's understood the Outback Wrangler star has been told to attend a police station in Darwin by Wednesday.

It follows a crash in February which killed his co-star Chris 'Willow" Wilson.

Police say when he presents he will be charged with:

• Pervert the course of justice

• Destruction of evidence

• Fabricate evidence

• Interfere with witnesses

• Unlawful entry x 2

22/11/2022

16/11/2022

HELICOPTER CRASH:

A 47-year-old man has sadly died in a Helicopter Crash in East Arnhem Land yesterday.

"At 2:45pm, police received reports of a helicopter crash south of the remote community of Ramingining. The 47-year-old male pilot was declared deceased at the scene".

An Investigation into its cause is continuing.

24/10/2022

CALL FOR INFORMATION - HELICOPTER CRASH - WEST ARNHEM LAND

Northern Territory Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances of a fatal helicopter crash that occurred in West Arnhem Land in February.

Read more here >>>> https://bit.ly/3SxWUS2

21/10/2022

Todays news headlines in the NT:

** NT WorkSafe has withdrawn charges laid against Hewitt Cattle CEO Michael Hewitt - over the fatal helicopter crash at MacDonnell Ranges in 2018.

** Members of NT police have continued giving evidence at the inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker.

** A 17-year-old youth has been charged after he allegedly threatened a taxi driver with a weapon in Ludmilla yesterday.

** And The Federal Treasurer says widespread flooding across Australia's East Coast will push inflation above 8% for fruit and vegetables.