Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Archive for February, 2021
NT residents concerned over cotton farms
Northern Territorians are concerned the emerging cotton industry could damage Top End rivers, a poll of about 850 people has found. February 28, 2021 Northern Territorians are worried about the potential damage large-scale cotton operations could do to Top End rivers, a survey has found. About two-thirds of people polled say the cotton industry should […]
Peak NT group proposes Indigenous job plan
Northern Territory Aboriginal advocates say Indigenous people living in remote communities want job opportunities and not welfare. February 25, 2021 Indigenous people living in remote Northern Territory communities want job opportunities and not welfare, Aboriginal advocates say. Participation in education is increasing but employment rates are falling due to a lack of available jobs, Aboriginal Peak […]
Top End crocs on the move as big rains bite
Northern Territory rangers are finding crocodiles in places they’ve never seen before as the Top End’s soggiest wet season in years continues. February 25, 2021 Crocodiles are on the march across the Northern Territory as the Top End’s soggiest wet season in years continues. Territorians are finding large saltwater crocodiles far inland as heavy rain […]
Australian scientists focus on blood clots
An Australian-made biomedical invention is set to improve screening and treatment of stroke, heart attack and coronavirus-induced lung failure. February 25, 2021 A new Australian biomedical invention could help prevent deaths from stroke, heart attack and coronavirus-induced lung failure. The cake-box sized diagnostic device can measure a blood clot’s consistency and weight, to within a thousand millionth […]
Dingo landscape impact seen from space
The effects dingoes have on the environment have been captured in 32 years of NASA satellite imagery along Australia’s 5600km dingo fence. February 24, 2021 The environmental impacts of eradicating dingoes from the landscape are visible from space, a new study shows. Researchers studied 32 years of satellite imagery along the dingo fence which stretches […]
Calls to boycott Mercure over NT refugees
The Northern Territory Council of Social Service has called for international hotel chain Mercure to be boycotted for its role in housing 15 detained refugees. February 23, 2021 Social advocates have called for a boycott of an international hotel chain over its role in housing detained refugees in the Northern Territory. The NT Council of […]
NT cop’s murder trial may be on YouTube
The trial of Northern Territory police officer Zachary Rolfe, who is charged with the shooting murder of a young Indigenous man, could be webcast on YouTube. February 23, 2021 The trial of a Northern Territory police officer charged with the shooting murder of a young Indigenous man could be broadcast on YouTube. Zachary Rolfe, 29, […]
More pressure on Woolies over NT grog shop
Health and community organisation have called on Reconciliation Australia to dump Woolworths over a controversial Dan Murphy’s megastore in Darwin. February 23, 2021 More than 30 health and community organisation leaders have called on Reconciliation Australia to distance itself from Woolworths over a controversial Dan Murphy’s megastore in Darwin. A letter sent to Reconciliation Australia […]
MP’s text messages handed to NT watchdog
Texts allegedly linked to a Northern Territory MP who was dumped by Labor for lying about a relationship have been referred to the corruption watchdog. February 22, 2021 Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner has referred text messages linked to a former member of his parliamentary team to the corruption watchdog. Member for Blain Mark […]
NT vaccine rollout kicks off in Darwin
A quarantine worker at Howard Springs has been among the first Northern Territorians to receive a COVID-19 vaccine shot. February 22, 2021 A health specialist working with quarantining travellers has been among the first Northern Territorians to roll up her sleeve for the COVID-19 vaccine. Occupational therapist Erica Bleakley said receiving the Pfizer jab at Royal […]
Northern Territory town on flood watch
The Northern Territory town of Katherine remains on alert after heavy rain pushed a local river to its highest level in four years. February 21, 2021 Residents in the Northern Territory town of Katherine are on alert after heavy rain pushed a local river to its highest level in four years. More than 250mm of […]
COVID vaccines land in Northern Territory
The Northern Territory’s initial coronavirus vaccination jabs are expected to be administered on Monday after the first batch of doses arrived in Darwin. February 21, 2021 The first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine has arrived in the Northern Territory, with initial jabs expected within 24 hours. Two boxes of about 1000 doses of Pfizer vaccine landed at […]
NT woman breaks man’s leg with woomera
A Northern Territory woman has allegedly broken her partner’s leg with a traditional spear thrower during a heated argument in Darwin. February 21, 2021 A Northern Territory woman has allegedly fled her home after breaking her partner’s leg with a traditional spear thrower during a heated argument. Police were called to a Palmerston home – 20km […]
Fine after NT worker electrocuted
A Northern Territory electrical firm and its director have been fined after an unsupervised apprentice was electrocuted on the job. February 19, 2021 A Northern Territory company director has been fined after an unsupervised apprentice electrician was electrocuted on the job. The 34-year-old fourth-year apprentice died while working with another apprentice on the roof of the […]
Darwin WWII bombing attack remembered
One of the last surviving WWII Darwin bombing veterans remembers the day war came to Australia’s backyard on the wings of 188 Japanese planes a lifetime ago. February 19, 2021 Mervyn Ey was a 20-year-old Australian Army private stationed in Darwin when bombs rained down on him and his mates 79 years ago. Now 99, […]
Parole board sounds warning on NT jails
Drug use, failing rehabilitation and staff resistance to change have pushed Northern Territory jails to a tipping point, the head of the parole board says. February 18, 2021 The Northern Territory’s overcrowded jails are at a “critical tipping point” with widespread drug use, failing rehabilitation programs and staff resistant to reform, the head of the […]
NT Labor sacks MP for ‘dishonest acts’
A Territory Labor MP has been dumped by the party for allegedly lying about an inappropriate relationship amid media claims of illegal drug use by unnamed MPs. February 18, 2021 Northern Territory Labor has dumped a member of its parliamentary team for allegedly lying about an inappropriate relationship. Former policeman turned politician Mark Turner was […]
NT revokes Greater Melbourne hotspot call
The Northern Territory has revoked its COVID-19 hotspot declaration for Greater Melbourne from 6pm ACDT on Wednesday. February 17, 2021 The Northern Territory has cancelled its COVID-19 hotspot declaration for Greater Melbourne. From 6pm ACDT on Wednesday travellers arriving in the NT from Victoria will no longer have to undertake 14-days’ mandatory supervised quarantine. Anyone […]
SA COVID-19 vaccinations to start in days
South Australia could start COVID-19 vaccinations as early as Monday, Premier Steven Marshall says. February 17, 2021 Aged care residents and frontline health workers are set to be among the first South Australians vaccinated against COVID-19. Health workers could start administering the Pfizer vaccine jabs as early as Monday, Premier Steven Marshall says. The vaccines […]
Slow NT COVID-19 vaccine rollout expected
It may take until the end of the year to vaccinate all Northern Territorians against COVID-19, with remote communities set to challenge the rollout. February 16, 2021 The Northern Territory may not be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 until the end of the year, with remote communities set to challenge the rollout. The first Pfizer vaccine […]
Fracking ‘risks NT groundwater ecology’
A study in the Northern Territory has found more work is needed to ensure gas fracking doesn’t endanger tiny subterranean shrimp critical to groundwater health. February 16, 2021 More research is needed to ensure proposed gas fracking in the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo Basin doesn’t endanger tiny subterranean shrimp critical to groundwater health, a study has found. […]
NT to double COVID-19 quarantine capacity
About 1700 Australians returning from overseas are likely to be able to quarantine in the Northern Territory from April. February 15, 2020 The Northern Territory’s Howard Springs COVID-19 quarantine facility is set to double the number of returning Australians it can accommodate. About 1700 overseas returnees are expected to be able to isolate there once […]
Top End vaccine rollout ready to go
Northern Territory health workers and staff at the Howard Springs COVID-19 quarantine facility will be among the first to be vaccinated against the virus. February 15, 2020 Health workers and staff at the Howard Springs COVID-19 quarantine facility will be among the first Northern Territorians vaccinated against the virus. The first Pfizer vaccine jabs are […]
Tourism revamp for Kakadu National Park
Australia’s pristine World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park will be upgraded as part of a $276 million plan to rejuvenate tourism. February 15, 2020 The Northern Territory’s pristine World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park will undergo a multi-million dollar revamp, making the experience for tourists even better. The $276 million upgrade plan includes new eco-lodges, wellness retreats […]