The Northern Territory news Wed 22 Aug 2018
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2018-08-22
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English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin
News Corp Australia
Darwin
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News Corp Australia
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/301480
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/368561
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 22 2018 NEWS 11 V1 - NTNE01Z01MA THE Territory Government has ordered an urgent review after a violent prisoner was allowed to travel alone on a plane from Alice Springs to Darwin. The NT News revealed yesterday that the man had travelled alone on the July 19 QantasLink flight to a medical appointment at Royal Darwin Hospital. It can now be revealed the prisoner who had an open rating, meaning he can travel Urgent review of con air unescorted in a vehicle was in jail after being convicted of aggravated assault. Attorney-General Natasha Fyles has ordered a review. I think that our community expectation has not been met in this situation, she said. The prisoner had leave to attend a medical appointment at Alice Springs Hospital. He was then referred to Royal Darwin Hospital and allowed to travel alone. While an open-rated prisoner can travel unescorted in a vehicle, the Attorney-General said this was the first case she was aware of where a prisoner had travelled alone on a plane. Qantas has a strict policy that any prisoner must be accompanied by at least one trained escort, but in this case the airline was never informed it had a prisoner on board. I think in the sense of someone travelling on an aeroplane, this isnt acceptable to the community and Ive asked the department to urgently look into this policy and provide me with advice, Ms Fyles said. Opposition Leader Gary Higgins in Parliament used the incident to attack the Governments community safety record. Weve now learned of instances where prisoners, some convicted of violent crimes, are flying around the Territory and others are being escorted by other prisoners to medical appointments, he said. Its like having a holiday. The revelation comes amid growing tensions between corrections officers and the Northern Territory Government, with the Government conducting a review of its prisons budget and unions threat ening strike action. Mr Higgins said the situation was a mess. How can you claim you want to keep the community safe when corrections officers are threatening strike action and prisoners are being allowed to jet across the Territory unsupervised? he said. But Ms Fyles said the review was essential. I think this highlights why were undertaking these comprehensive reviews and why were looking at the budget oversight because right now we cant explain to the community what are essential ser vices and what are additional costs, she said. There was controversy in 2014 under the CLP government when former Hells Angel Nicholas Shonky Cassidy was seen driving a truck around Darwin after being given an open security rating. Cassidy had been jailed for perverting the course of justice over the hit-run death of Levi Griffiths. The corrections department reversed this decision in the wake of community outrage and complaints from Mr Griffiths family. MATT CUNNINGHAM Sky News Correspondent Jodee Mundy performs her own story in Personal, showing during the Darwin Festival at Browns Mart Theatre Picture: MICHAEL FRANCHI Bringing Auslan to the stage Blue Mud Bay celebrations POLICE officers joined in the 10-year anniversary of the historic Blue Mud Bay decision, which passed through the High Court in 2008. The ceremony, held at the Baniyala/Yilpara Outstation and attended by 50 officers and other dignitaries, started with the Wave dance where both clan groups the Duma and Yirrtja carried a totem pole painted with their totems. The Blue Mud Bay decision was a land rights claim which resulted in traditional owners gaining exclusive access to the waters in the area. NT in need of more dentists A SHORTAGE of dental services in the NT is placing a significant cost burden on health services, according to leading Darwin surgeon Mahiban Thomas. At this weeks Royal Australasian College of Surgeons SA, WA and NT Annual Scientific Meeting, Dr Thomas will present findings from a study on patients with deep space neck infections who presented to Royal Darwin Hospital. It found emergency medical treatment in most cases could have been avoided had dental treatment been earlier. CHELSEA HEANEY JODEE Mundy was five years old and lost in Kmart when she first realised the rest of her family was deaf. Now, Mundys performance, based on her experiences as the only hearing person in her household, has had its Top End debut at the Darwin Festival. The experienced performer, whose show Personal will run this weekend at Browns Mart Theatre, said audiences could expect a funny, moving and poignant piece. Its about someone who speaks and signs, Mundy said. Its not about disability and ability, but about cultures and how we move through the world. Mundy said she hoped the performance would encourage people to learn more and engage with the deaf community. Auslan is a beautiful language and it is made for the stage. A lot of people dont get to see it, she said. Personal will be showing at 6pm every night until Sunday, with some weekend matinees available. For more information visit darwinfestival .org.au/events/personal FREE* Basil Growing Kit & Collectors Tray Get it with the paper this Saturday Collectors TrayBasil Growing Kit ntnews.com.au/seeds *1st seed kit and collectors tray are free when you buy the NT News (RRP $2.40) on 25/08/2018. Seeds 2-15 are available for $2.50 each when you buy the NT News or the Sunday Territorian 26/08/2018 - 8/09/2018. Total collection $62.80. Available at participating newsagents, Woolworths and Coles supermarkets while stocks last. One seed kit per original token from hardcopy (not digital) newspaper only. Collect all 15 Seed Growing Kits August 25 - September 8 Spinach Tomato MintRadish Lettuce ParsleyBasil Oregano * Paper + Basil Growing Kit + Collectors Tray$2.40