Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Archive for April, 2022
Stargazers in for rare four-planet skyshow
Early risers are in for a rare treat on Sunday morning when four planets align followed by Venus and Jupiter appearing to almost collide with one another. April 30, 2022 Stargazers are in for a rare spectacle this weekend with four planets set to align followed by Venus and Jupiter appearing to almost smash into one […]
Navy bids farewell to veteran patrol boats
The navy has started retiring its veteran Armidale-class of patrol boats, with the HMAS Maitland decommissioned in Darwin after 16 years of service. April 30, 2022 The Royal Australian Navy has started retiring its veteran Armidale patrol boats, with the HMAS Maitland decommissioned after 16 years of service. They’ll be replaced by a dozen much larger […]
Darwin prison guards expected to strike
Corrections officers plan to walk off the job in Darwin on Monday over the Northern Territory government’s public sector pay freeze, a union says. April 29, 2022 Prison guards are set to walk off the job in Darwin over the Northern Territory government’s public sector pay freeze. The protected 12-hour strike planned for Monday will […]
NT unrest, 37 homes damaged, nine arrests
Northern Territory police have arrested nine people in a remote Indigenous community amid an ongoing violent feud between rival family groups. April 28, 2022 Nine people have been arrested in a remote Northern Territory Indigenous community amid an ongoing violent feud between rival family groups. Tensions in Wadeye, 400km southwest of Darwin, escalated in late […]
Bushfire warning for central desert region
Australia’s central desert region is ripe for a massive bushfire event after a wetter than average winter fuelled vegetation growth, fire experts warn. April 28, 2022 Australia’s central desert region is ripe for a massive bushfire event, Northern Territory fire experts warn. The Alice Springs region’s vegetation fuel load is huge and highly flammable after one […]
Crocodiles change diet to land prey: study
Saltwater crocodiles have changed their diet from fish to pigs and it could be why their numbers have rapidly climbed in northern Australia, scientists say. April 27, 2022 Saltwater crocodiles have changed their diet from seafood to mammals, and they’re moving inland to feed on their favourite tucker, a new study has found. Feral pigs […]
Labor pledges action on NT remote housing
Federal Labor has pledged to provide $100 million for housing in remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory if elected. April 27, 2022 Indigenous Northern Territorians in remote communities urgently need new homes and essential infrastructure upgrades, federal Labor says. The party has promised to negotiate a new $100 million remote housing agreement with the Northern […]
NT community unrest, residents evacuated
Northern Territory police are evacuating vulnerable Indigenous residents from a remote community amid an ongoing violent feud between rival families. April 27, 2022 Police are evacuating vulnerable Indigenous Northern Territorians from a remote community amid an ongoing violent feud between rival families. Tensions in Wadeye, 400km southwest of Darwin, escalated in late March and have continued […]
NT relaxes isolation rules for fully vaxed
Triple vaccinated close contacts of COVID-19 cases in the Northern Territory are no longer required to isolate from midnight Tuesday. April 26, 2022 Triple vaccinated close contacts of COVID-19 cases won’t be required to isolate under updated health directions in the Northern Territory. The isolation period for unvaccinated close contacts has been reduced from 14 to seven days […]
Sweltering temps forcing people from homes
A survey of 2000 Australians has found many feel unwell on hot summer days and almost a third leave their homes to escape the heat. April 26, 2022 Most Australians feel unwell on hot summer days and almost a third flee their homes to escape sweltering heat, a survey has found. Global warming is taking […]
Punters pack NT pub for Anzac Day two-up
Hundreds of punters have packed into a Darwin pub to play the much-loved betting game of two-up with their mates on Anzac Day April 25, 2022 Hundreds of punters have packed into a Northern Territory pub to play two-up with their mates on Anzac Day. The beloved betting game is a tradition as timeless as […]
Santos gas project faces financing delay
A South Korean bank has delayed its financing decision over Santos’s massive Barossa gas project in the Northern Territory, traditional owners say. April 21, 2022 An international bank has delayed its financing decision over a massive gas project in the Northern Territory, traditional owners opposed to the venture say. The Indigenous group, from the Tiwi […]
Triple murderer alleges bullied confession
Five weeks out from being sentenced, convicted triple murderer Benjamin Hoffmann says he was bullied into confessing and he wants to change his guilty plea. April 21, 2022 A gunman convicted of murdering three people in Darwin and killing another during a drug-fuelled rampage says he was bullied into confessing and he wants to change his […]
DV murder-accused man in Darwin court
A man has faced court after allegedly murdering a father of two during a “horrendous” domestic violence attack in Darwin. April 20, 2022 A man accused of intentionally killing a father of two during a “horrendous” domestic violence attack in Darwin has faced court. Eliasoa Thomas Wasaga, 51, appeared on Wednesday in the Northern Territory Local […]
Man dies after brawl in Top End community
A man has died after a brawl between rival families in the remote Northern Territory Indigenous community of Wadeye, 400km southwest of Darwin. April 20, 2022 A man has died after a brawl in a remote Northern Territory Indigenous community, with news of his death triggering a fresh outbreak of violence. Another man was injured […]
Helicopter crash victim hanging from cable
A National Geographic television show cast member was hanging in a sling 30 metres below a helicopter when he was killed in a crash in the Northern Territory. April 19, 2022 A cast member of National Geographic’s Outback Wrangler show who died in a Northern Territory helicopter crash was hanging from it on a sling […]
US combat aircraft arrive in Top End
A squadron of US Marine Corp’s tilt-rotor combat aircraft has landed in the Northern Territory amid increasing military cooperation with Australia. April 18, 2022 A squadron of US tilt-rotor combat aircraft depicted in dozens of Hollywood blockbuster action movies has landed in the Northern Territory. Known as the Red Dragons, the 10 Bell-Boeing V-22 Ospreys have […]
Call for action on plastics in waterways
Volunteers collected more than 250,000 pieces of rubbish from Australia’s waterways, with polystyrene and cigarette butts among the most common items found. April 18, 2022 Polystyrene, food wrappers and cigarette butts were among the most common items found by volunteers collecting rubbish from Australia’s largest waterways They picked up more than a quarter of a […]
400-year-old Dutch artwork found in NSW
The National Trust of Australia has found a 400-year-old Dutch painting at a property in the NSW Blue Mountains and it could be worth up to $5 million. April 17, 2022 A 400-year-old “one in a million” Dutch painting possibly worth up to $5 million has been found at a property in the NSW Blue […]
Relative charged over ‘horrendous’ murder
Police allege a father of two who died after being attacked in a Darwin home was murdered by a relative. April 17, 2022 A father of two who died in hospital after being attacked with a weapon inside his Darwin home was allegedly murdered by a relative. The 54-year-old was found seriously injured at a unit […]
Darwin port plan sparks health concerns
A Darwin Harbour industrial development backed by the Morrison government could have severe impacts on human health, an environmental report says. April 17, 2022 A new Darwin port industrial hub spruiked by the deputy prime minister could have severe impacts on human health, a Northern Territory government environmental report says. Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce on Tuesday […]
Bilby populations climb across the country
Australia’s home-grown alternative to the Easter Bunny, the bilby, is experiencing a population boom in a series of predator-free havens. April 16, 2022 Australia’s own version of the Easter Bunny, the bilby, is on the comeback trail after being pushed to the verge of extinction The pint-sized marsupial, which has soft grey fur, long ears […]
Man charged with murder in Darwin
NT police have charged a man with murder after his alleged victim died from his injuries in a Darwin hospital. April 15, 2022 A man has been charged with murder after the father-of-two he allegedly assaulted with a blunt weapon died in a Darwin hospital. The 54-year-old victim was found seriously injured at Tomaris Court flats […]
Invasive mango pest detected in Top End
An industry-threatening pest known as the mango shoot looper has been detected for the first time in the Northern Territory. April 14, 2022 Northern Territory horticulturalists are on high alert after an industry-threatening plant pest known as the mango shoot looper was detected in the Top End for the first time. The invasive moth species, […]