Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Archive for January, 2022
WA back to school plan,18 COVID-19 cases
Western Australia has detected 14 locally acquired COVID-19 cases and four infections linked to travellers. January 25, 2022 Western Australia has reported 14 new local COVID-19 cases and rolled out its back to school plan to keep students safe while learning. Air purifiers, carbon dioxide monitors, face masks and extra cleaning will help protect students, […]
NT records 517 new COVID-19 infections
COVID-19 continues to spread through remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory with more than 500 new cases recorded. January 25, 2022 The Northern Territory has detected 517 new COVID-19 cases as the virus continues to spread through remote Indigenous communities. NT Health reported 31 infections in Galiwin’ku on Elcho Island in Arnhem Land with […]
Work begins at major NT gold project
The Northern Territory government has awarded the Mt Bundy Gold Project major project status, with three mines set to be restarted. January 25, 2022 Three Northern Territory mines are set to restart operations after major project status was awarded to the Mt Bundy Gold Project. The NT government says the $412 million project is likely […]
WA detects 13 new local COVID-19 cases
Western Australia has detected 13 locally acquired COVID-19 cases and two infections linked to travellers. January 24, 2022 Western Australia has reported 13 new local COVID-19 cases as the Australian Medical Association calls for urgent health restrictions. Of the locally acquired infections, 10 are linked to an outbreak in the southern Perth suburb of Coolbellup, near […]
AUSMAT heads to remote NT community
An Australian Medical Assistance Team and the military have been sent to a remote Northern Territory Aboriginal community to combat a COVID-19 outbreak. January 24, 2022 The Northern Territory has reported 286 new COVID-19 cases as an Australian Medical Assistance Team and the military step in to help combat a remote Aboriginal community outbreak. The […]
NT shipwreck reveals sailors’ secrets
A Japanese shipwreck in waters off the Northern Territory hides a tale of conflict, tragedy and secret friendship with the Aboriginal people. January 22, 2022 Deep beneath the waves on a remote part of the Northern Territory coastline, a Japanese shipwreck hides a tale of conflict, tragedy and secret friendship with the Aboriginal people. Pearling mothership […]
Protesters rally in Darwin against Santos
Protesters have rallied in Darwin to voice their concerns about Santos gas exploration in the Beetaloo Basin and the company’s Barossa offshore gas project. January 22, 2022 Dozens of activists have rallied outside Santos’s Darwin headquarters to voice their concerns about the gas producer’s Northern Territory projects. They want more oversight of the company’s onshore gas […]
NT back to school plan, 432 COVID-19 cases
Chief Minister Michael Gunner has rolled out the Northern Territory’s back to school plan as 432 new COVID-19 cases are detected. January 21, 2022 The Northern Territory has reported 432 new COVID-19 cases and rolled out its back to school plan to keep students in class and learning. Measures such as face masks, extra cleaning, […]
NT prison escapees captured after car bogs
Three Northern Territory prison escapees have been arrested after their stolen car got bogged in the Northern Territory outback. January 21, 2022 Three sunburnt and thirsty prison escapees have been captured after their stolen car got bogged in the Northern Territory outback. Richard Henwood, 37, Ezra Austral, 23, and Maximus Cutta, 20, fled the Barkly […]
NT remote COVID clusters grow, 459 cases
The Northern Territory has recorded 459 new COVID-19 cases as the virus continues to spread through remote Indigenous communities. January 20, 2022 The Northern Territory has reported 459 new COVID-19 cases as infections continue to rise among the Indigenous population and remote communities. It brings the total number of active cases in the NT to […]
New virus threat to NT cop’s murder trial
Less than three weeks from a Northern Territory policeman’s murder trial, a Darwin court does not have a plan to protect the jury from COVID-19. January 20, 2022 With less than three weeks until the latest attempt to run a Northern Territory policeman’s murder trial after it was twice cancelled due to COVID-19, the Supreme […]
Virtually explore wrecked WWII sub off NT
The tragic secrets of a wrecked Japanese submarine that sank with 80 crew aboard during a WWII battle near Darwin can now be discovered using virtual reality. January 20, 2022 The secrets of a wrecked Japanese submarine destroyed during a dramatic battle with the Royal Australian Navy off the Northern Territory coast 80 years ago […]
Call for military help on NT outbreaks
Peak Northern Territory Indigenous organisations are calling for federal government and defence help to battle COVID-19 outbreaks in remote communities. January 19, 2022 Indigenous groups are calling for urgent support from the military and federal government, saying the Northern Territory’s COVID-19 pandemic response has failed. NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles backed the request for more commonwealth resources […]
Huge NT fuel site to power US fighter jets
A huge $270 million Darwin storage facility capable of holding 300 million litres of fuel will support US military operations in the Asia-Pacific region. January 18, 2022 Construction work is set to start on a huge US fuel storage depot in the Northern Territory to support military operations in the Asia-Pacific region. The $270 million […]
COVID reaches more remote NT communities
The Northern Territory has detected 625 new COVID-19 cases as the virus spreads to more remote Indigenous communities in central Australia and the Top End. January 18, 2022 The Northern Territory has reported 625 new COVID-19 cases with concerning outbreaks in remote Indigenous communities from Arnhem Land to central Australia. Among the newly infected are […]
NT police probe Darwin bush camp death
Northern Territory police say they have not ruled out foul play after a woman died in a Darwin bush camp. January 17, 2022 Police investigating a woman’s death in a Darwin bush camp say they have not ruled out foul play. The woman died about 12.30am on Monday in scrubland in the northern suburb of […]
Remote NT lockdowns, 284 new COVID cases
The Northern Territory has detected 284 new COVID-19 cases as the virus spreads through the Indigenous population, with two remote communities locked down. January 17, 2022 The Northern Territory has reported 284 new COVID-19 cases as the virus spreads through the vulnerable Indigenous population and two remote communities go into lockdown. Yirrkala in East Arnhem Land will […]
Heat fears for NT prison camp escapees
Northern Territory prison escapees on the run for three days have been urged to turn themselves in with fears for their safety under the extreme temperatures. January 17, 2022 Prison escapees on the run for three days in the heat of the Northern Territory outback have been urged to surrender for their own safety. Richard […]
Indigenous COVID response, ‘moral failure’
University of NSW researchers say a poor government response to COVID-19 in Indigenous communities is “a failure of moral human rights responsibility”. January 15, 2022 Indigenous COVID-19 vaccination rates lag behind those for other Australians due to poor federal and state government planning, researchers say. Coupled with a revolving door approach to vaccine advice, it has […]
NT youth detainees test positive for COVID
Four inmates at a Northern Territory youth detention centre in Alice Springs have tested positive for COVID-19. January 14, 2022 The pandemic has reached a Northern Territory youth detention centre, with four inmates at an Alice Springs prison diagnosed with COVID-19. Territory Families, Housing and Communities has provided few details about the infected youths, who […]
NT COVID reporting failure, 546 new cases
The Northern Territory has 546 new COVID-19 cases as Chief Minister Michael Gunner says there is no excuse for the government failing to report exposure sites. January 14, 2022 The Northern Territory has reported 546 new COVID-19 infections as the government apologises over an embarrassing exposure site reporting failure, saying it has “no excuse”. The […]
Santos pays out after NT fracking battle
Gas producer Santos has agreed to pay Northern Territory cattle baron Rallen Australia’s $400,000 legal bill after ending their gas fracking court battle. January 14, 2022 Australia’s second-largest independent gas producer Santos and a Northern Territory cattle baron have agreed to end their onshore gas fracking court battle. The energy company has agreed to pay Rallen […]
NT eases COVID-19 testing rules, 550 cases
The Northern Territory has reported 550 new COVID-19 infections as it eases testing rules, with rapid-antigen tests replacing PCRs in many instances. January 13, 2022 The Northern Territory has reported 550 new COVID-19 cases and mandated the reporting of positive rapid-antigen test results. It brings the territory’s total active caseload to about 3000 with 24 […]
NT seagrass study finds huge meadows
Scientists surveying seagrass meadows in waters off the Northern Territory say they are more widespread and diverse than expected. January 13, 2022 Marine seagrass meadows in waters off the Northern Territory are more widespread and diverse than previously thought, new research has found. The first survey in 15 years of the Limmen Marine Park and […]