Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Archive for August, 2021
Top End to learn if COVID-19 has spread
The Northern Territory is likely to find out if a COVID-19 infected American man who travelled from a Sydney quarantine hotel to Darwin has infected others. August 18, 2021 Northern Territory authorities are expected to learn if a COVID-19 infected US man who travelled from Sydney to the Top End has spread the virus to […]
Top End in COVID-19 ‘waiting game’
Chief Minister Michael Gunner says the Northern Territory is in a “waiting game” after a COVID-19 infected American man travelled from Sydney to Darwin. August 17, 2021 Northern Territory authorities say it’s too early to know if a COVID-19 infected US man who travelled from Sydney to the Top End has infected others. Contact tracers have identified […]
Alleged NT lockdown thieves cop mask fines
Four men who allegedly broke into a Darwin restaurant and stole alcohol amid a COVID-19 lockdown will be fined thousands of dollars for not wearing face masks. August 17, 2021 Four men charged with breaking into an upmarket Darwin restaurant to steal alcohol amid a COVID-19 lockdown will also be slapped with thousands of dollars […]
Murder-accused cop’s trial postponed again
A trial of a Northern Territory police officer accused of murdering an Indigenous man has been delayed due to a COVID-19 lockdown in Darwin. August 17, 2021 A Northern Territory policeman’s long-awaited trial for allegedly murdering an Indigenous man during an outback arrest has again been delayed by COVID-19. Constable Zachary Rolfe, 29, is accused […]
Hundreds of NT COVID contacts identified
Contact tracers have identified 63 close and 237 casual contacts after a COVID-19 infected American man travelled from Sydney to the Northern Territory. August 17, 2021 Hundreds of close and casual contacts have been identified in the Northern Territory after a COVID-19 infected US man travelled from Sydney to the Top End. Contact tracers have […]
Top End starts first full day of lockdown
Greater Darwin and Katherine have woken to their first full day of lockdown after a COVID-19 infected man travelled to the Northern Territory from Sydney. August 17, 2021 Residents in Greater Darwin and the town of Katherine are starting their first full day in COVID-19 lockdown amid fears of a Delta outbreak. About 150,000 people […]
Parts of NT enter 72-hour COVID lockdown
Greater Darwin and Katherine have been locked down for three days after an American man infected with COVID-19 travelled to the Northern Territory from Sydney. August 16, 2021 Parts of the Northern Territory have entered a snap 72-hour lockdown after a US traveller infected with COVID-19 spent four days in the community. Chief Minister Michael […]
Olympians are ageing and winning
Australia’s Olympians are getting older and they’re winning medals, a study into the peak performance age in sport has found. August 15, 2021 The average age of Australia’s Olympians is increasing and they’re not just participating, they’re winning medals. Over the seven summer Games staged between 1992 and 2021 the mean age of our male […]
Murder-accused cop’s courtroom defences
A jury will be asked to decide if a Northern Territory policeman accused of murdering an Indigenous man was ‘performing his duty’ when the shooting occurred. August 13, 2021 A jury could find that a Northern Territory policeman accused of murdering a young Indigenous man during an outback arrest is immune from criminal liability. Constable […]
Toxic Vic pet meat traced to NT property
The pet meat that caused a spate of Victorian dog deaths has been traced to an outback property in the Northern Territory. August 12, 2021 Toxic horse meat found to be responsible for a spate of Victorian dog deaths has been traced to an outback property in the Northern Territory. More than 20 dogs have died […]
Healthy sounds in bid to lure fish to reef
Researchers will broadcast the sounds of a healthy underwater ecosystem to try to lure fish to the Great Barrier Reef and speed up its recovery. August 11, 2021 Scientists will broadcast the sounds of a healthy underwater ecosystem on the Great Barrier Reef in a bid to lure fish and speed up its recovery. Researchers […]
Armed students target remote NT teachers
Armed primary school-aged children have allegedly broken into teachers’ homes wielding machetes on a remote Northern Territory island. August 10, 2021 Children on a remote Northern Territory island have allegedly wielded machetes against teaching staff in the dead of night. Armed primary school-aged children have repeatedly broken into teachers’ homes on Groote Eylandt, about 670km east of […]
NT reforms to improve Aboriginal justice
The Northern Territory government and Aboriginal leaders have signed an agreement to deliver better justice outcomes for Aboriginal Territorians. August 9, 2021 The Northern Territory has released its long-awaited Aboriginal Justice Agreement, with hopes the reforms will reduce crime and Indigenous imprisonment rates. The NT government and Aboriginal and community organisation leaders on Monday signed a […]
Hemp crops suited to warm Top End climate
Northern Territory growing trials are investigating whether the Top End’s warm dry season could deliver an edge in the emerging industrial hemp market. August 7, 2021 The Northern Territory is exploring whether its warm winter weather could deliver an edge in Australia’s emerging industrial hemp market. Hemp is an environmentally sustainable crop that can be […]
NT disputes Commonwealth vaccine figures
The Northern Territory has disputed the federal government’s new method for calculating COVID-19 vaccination rates, saying it’s not fair or accurate. August 6, 2021 The Northern Territory has disputed the federal government’s new method for calculating COVID-19 vaccination rates. The new system has seen Territory vaccination rates fall by about seven per cent for first […]
Star 100 times bigger than sun explodes
Australian scientists have captured the first moments of an exploding giant star, 100 times bigger than the sun, as it became a supernova. August 5, 2021 Australian astronomers have captured never-before-seen photos of an exploding giant star, 100 times bigger than the sun. The imagery of the supernova shows a powerful burst of light as a […]
NT MP quits, triggering by-election
The Northern Territory is set for a by-election in the seat of Daly after first-term opposition MP Ian Sloan announced he’s quitting politics. August 5, 2021 The Northern Territory is set for a by-election after a first-term opposition MP announced he’s quitting politics due to health issues. Country Liberal Party member for Daly Ian Sloan […]
Gunner rejects call to send vaccines south
The Northern Territory’s opposition leader wants to share the Top End’s COVID-19 vaccine supplies with NSW, but the chief minister says there are none to spare. August 5, 2021 The Northern Territory’s chief minister says opposition calls to send surplus COVID-19 vaccines to virus-stricken NSW are “mad” and could risk lives. Country Liberal Party leader […]
Northern Territory bans subsea mining
The Northern Territory has banned seabed mining in a bid to better protect its fragile marine environment and the industries reliant on it. August 4, 2021 The Northern Territory has banned seabed mining in a bid to protect its fishing, aquaculture, pearling and tourism industries. Subsea mining poses a significant risk to fragile coastal and […]
Households urged to complete census early
The federal government is urging Australian households to fill out their online census forms early if they know where they’ll be on August 10. August 4, 2021 More than a million Australian households have completed their census forms, six days ahead of the official national headcount. The census is scheduled for Tuesday, but the federal […]
NT’s top hospital calls code yellow alert
The Northern Territory Health Department has declared a code yellow at Royal Darwin Hospital after running at near full capacity for 10 days. August 4, 2021 The Northern Territory has declared a code yellow at the Top End’s biggest hospital after it was inundated by patients. Royal Darwin Hospital has been at, or near full […]
NT corruption watchdog faces investigation
The office of Northern Territory’s anti-corruption commissioner is being investigated in relation to a report into Darwin Turf Club. August 4, 2021 The Northern Territory’s new anti-corruption commissioner says he will cooperate with an investigation into his office. Michael Riches has only been the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption for a month and already he’s dealing […]
Talks underway for Darwin Olympic parade
Australia’s returning Olympians could be honoured with a ticker-tape parade in Darwin after they finish COVID-19 quarantine. August 3, 2021 Australia’s returning Olympians could be honoured with a ticker-tape parade in the Northern Territory after they’re released from COVID-19 quarantine. More than 100 athletes and support staff touched down at Darwin International Airport about 5am […]
NT land council lashed over fracking talks
Top End traditional owners have told a parliamentary inquiry the Northern Land Council has failed them during Beetaloo Basin gas fracking negotiations. August 2, 2021 Traditional owners have taken aim at the Top End’s Indigenous representative body, accusing it of abandoning them during gas fracking negotiations. The Northern Land Council is only consulting with malleable […]