NT politics stories of 2023: Stories that made headlines in the Northern Territory
From the Prime Minister’s emergency visit to Alice Springs, to the mystery sacking of a top public servant, here are the big political stories that made headlines this year. FULL LIST.
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From the Prime Minister’s emergency visit to Alice Springs, to a brand new Chief Minister in the dying hours of the year, here are the big political stories that made headlines.
January: Albanese makes emergency visit to Alice Springs amid crime wave
Stronger temporary alcohol restrictions were introduced in Alice Springs in a desperate effort to curb a shocking spike in violent crime and anti-social behaviour.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made an emergency visit to the Red Centre in January following community calls for help and mounting political pressure for the Commonwealth to do more to address the crime wave.
Home invasions, robberies, domestic violence, property damage and assault rates were soaring, with many Alice Springs residents blaming the expiry of the Stronger Futures “grog ban” in July last year.
Along with the takeaway alcohol restrictions, the Prime Minister announced the appointment of Dorelle Anderson as Central Australian Regional Controller, to help co-ordinate policy delivery between local, Territory and federal governments.
He said $14.2 million would be made available for “high-visibility police operations”, including security in public places, $2 million for CCTV safety lighting and $5.6 million for emergency accommodation.
February: Grog bans reinstated for remote communities
Town camps and communities across the Territory reverted to dry zones after the Fyles government passed legislation to reinstate alcohol bans.
The Liquor Amendment Bill passed in February “on urgency”, with the then Chief Minister emphasising the move was not a resurrection of intervention-era policy but based on community decision making.
Under the changes, communities can opt-out of restrictions only with the development of alcohol plans approved by 60 per cent of the local community and the director of Liquor Licensing.
The CLP supported the laws but said it was a rushed about-face from the government.
“Natasha Fyles wants to pretend that it isn’t the return of Stronger Futures. It is Stronger Futures by another name,” Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said at the time.
Also in February the federal government announced $250 million for Alice Springs to address social issues plaguing the region.
March: Bottleshop worker’s death leads to harsher bail laws, pepper spray on public transport
Thousands gathered on the lawns of Parliament House to rally for action against crime after 20-year-old Declan Laverty was stabbed to death while working at a Darwin bottleshop.
Laws were passed on urgency to remove presumption against bail for violent offences involving a weapon – part of a seven-point plan to improve safety in the Territory announced by the Chief Minister.
Also under the plan powers to carry pepper spray were extended to transit safety officers on public transport, with plans for crowd controllers to also carry the spray in the future.
The government committed to boosting police presence on the streets, and taxpayers funded private crowd controllers at takeaway alcohol stores for three months.
April: Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker booted from top job
The Territory government asked Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker to resign ahead of the top cop’s planned Easter leave.
Details of exactly why Chalker was being ousted were never made public, nor was the final bill to the taxpayer – though legislation suggests it could have been about half his annual salary.
At least $16,873 in legal fees were paid after a stoush between Chalker and Chief Minister Natasha Fyles over her decision to decision to sack him turned litigious.
A private settlement was reached and Chalker stepped down from the job before the matter made it to trial in the Supreme Court where both Ms Fyles and then Police Minister Kate Worden would have faced cross examination.
May: Fracking fracas after Beetaloo greenlit
Environmental groups aired their grievances very publicly after the NT government greenlit fracking in the Beetaloo Basin.
Then Chief Minister Natasha Fyles’ Nightcliff electorate was targeted by protesters who spray painted the numerals 9 and 8 on her window, referencing the number of a contentious emissions recommendation of the Pepper fracking inquiry.
A few weeks later, Ms Fyles was also followed over the finish line of the West Macs Monster trail race in Alice Springs by vocal anti-fracking supporters.
June: Turner turfed from Labor
Blain MLA Mark Turner said he was ‘blindsided’ when the NT News informed him of Territory Labor’s decision to kick him out, just days after he sought to lodge a bullying complaint.
A statement from the government said the decision not to renew his party membership followed an “unsuccessful discussion” with Mr Turner regarding his intentions to follow party rules.
At the time, Mr Turner said he would appeal the decision, but the only option for him to challenge it – Labor’s annual conference – was cancelled until after this year’s election.
Mr Turner recently said he intended to write to Labor’s national executive to bring their attention to the incident, but that he no longer wished to rejoin the Territory team.
“I’ve found I can represent my electorate of Blain much better as an independent,” he said.
Meanwhile, a new one-year social housing deal had to be negotiated with the commonwealth after the Territory government failed to meet previous funding targets.
July: West Arnhem council chief stood down after booze allegations
An outback Territory council went to ground over claims its senior staff took alcohol into a dry community to drink after a day of cultural awareness training.
West Arnhem Regional Council’s chief executive officer Paul Hockings was fired from the job amid the allegations.
Mayor Matthew Ryan said the incident was being investigated internally.
“Council will not be disclosing the identity of the people involved, and will not be providing a running commentary on the progress and outcome of this investigation,” he said.
“Council reiterates that this matter is being taken very seriously.”
It was not alleged they intended to supply the alcohol to others in the community.
Also in July, Territory police were granted the green light to “wand” people for knives and other weapons in 16 “high-risk” areas.
The government passed the Police Legislation Further Amendment Bill 2023 on urgency during July’s parliament sittings, which included changes to the Weapons Control Act 2001.
August: City of Darwin Council in the spotlight
A coronial inquest into the domestic violence killings of four Territory women revealed a shocking shortfall in funding for the issue in the NT.
Domestic Violence Minister Kate Worden called on the commonwealth to come to the table with needs-based funding.
And in local government drama, a new councillor was appointed while a controversial member was handed a Code of Conduct warning after a social media post.
Mad Snake Cafe owner Sam Weston was also confirmed as the new Lyons Ward councillor, two weeks after the tightly contested by-election following Paul Arnold’s resignation.
September: Chief gets creamed at local markets
Cullen Bay real estate agent Suzi Milgate made national headlines when she allegedly assaulted Chief Minister Natasha Fyles at the Nightcliff markets.
Ms Milgate was charged with aggravated assaulted after a video of her allegedly smashing Ms Fyles in the face with a cream crepe went viral.
Speaking after the incident, Ms Milgate said she had no regrets about the alleged attack, which she insisted had been “a minor error” and that she “didn’t mean to cause her any harm whatsoever”.
Both the government and CLP slammed the violent act.
October: Voice receives resounding ‘No’ vote
Years of campaigning for or against the Voice to Parliament was all wrapped up within hours on referendum night, with an overwhelming ‘No’ response.
The Territory’s overall result was 39.7 per cent Yes and 60.3 per cent No, but a larger Yes vote was recorded in the seat of Lingiari — home to many Indigenous communities.
A few days later the CLP issued a statement rejecting the government’s commitment to a Treaty.
November: Brand new cabinet unveiled, and Fyles stands by shareholding
November kicked off with a new-look cabinet, with two figures booted to the backbench.
Paul Kirby and Lauren Moss were out while Brent Potter and Joel Bowden were brought forward, taking over Police and Infrastructure portfolios respectively.
Later that month it was revealed Chief Minister Natasha Fyles owned shares in gas company Woodside, raising questions about whether it was a conflict of interest given her position of power and Woodside’s interest in the Middle Arm Development Precinct.
Ms Fyles divested the 169 shares to end the “distraction”, but maintained it was not a conflict.
December: Fyles resigns after shares scandal, Lawler takes the reins
In a late December development not many people saw coming, Chief Minister Natasha Fyles resigned from the top job and cabinet after it was revealed she did not disclose her shareholding in mining company South 32.
Just over 24 hours later, after rumours swirled of bitter infighting within the Labor Party, Treasurer Eva Lawler was announced as the NT’s 13th Chief Minister.
In the wash-up of the new Chief, Tourism and Mining Minister Nicole Manison announced she would also be stepping down from cabinet.
New bottleshop hours, public drinking laws and greater powers for private security were also brought in this month, despite gaining backlash from hospitality industry heavyweights.
CLC chair shares criminal history: ‘My mistakes are teaching others’
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has called for Warren Williams to stand down, saying it’s ‘unacceptable’ for him to be leading efforts to reduce Indigenous disadvantage while having spent time in prison for DV offences.
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