The Northern Territory news Mon 14 Dec 2009
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2009-12-14
This publication contains may contain links to external sites. These external sites may no longer be active.
English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin
Nationwide News Pty. Limited
Darwin
application/pdf
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Nationwide News Pty. Limited
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/215422
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/711789
4 Northern Territory News, Monday, December 14, 2009 www.ntnews.com.au P U B : N T N E W S D A T E : 1 4 -D E C -2 0 0 9 P A G E : 4 C O L O R : C M Y K NEWS Pollies claim $80k in fuel Snowdon, Scullion leave rest in their dust ByNICKCALACOURAS THE Territorys federal politicians are racking up the most expensive fuel bills in the country. Federal politicians last year spent $4.3 million on cars and petrol to travel around their electorates. The average cost for each politician was $19,000. But the Territorys politicians spent significantly more than this. The largest bill went to Lingiari MHR Warren Snowdon (pictured, left) who charged the taxpayer $82,910.33. The second highest bill went to CLP Senator Nigel Scullion (pictured, right) with $81,115.98. Mr Snowdon said the figures were not surprising. They reflect the cost of doing business in the second largest electorate in the country, he said. Mr Snowdons electorate of Lingiari covers all of the Northern Territory, except Darwin, Palmerston and the rural area measuring 1.3 million square kilometres. Its my role, and the role of my staff to drive and visit our constituents, who happen to live in some of the most remote parts of Australia, he said. They shouldnt be disadvantaged because they live in the bush. Mr Snowdon said that fuel was also more expensive in isolated areas and the price had risen dramatically in recent years. Senator Scullions office said he was the Deputy Leader of the Nationals in the Senate and chairman of the regional and remote indigenous committee, which required extensive travel. NO IDEA: Chris Diamandopoulos with the flattened reindeer light display. Picture: NICK WELSH Grinch ploughs car through family Xmas decorations A HEARTLESS Grinch has ploughed a car through a familys lawn, crushing an ornamental reindeer and leaving a path of Christmas light destruction. Developer Chris Diamandopoulos said he spends two months every year setting up the Christmas lights at his Bayview home. It wouldnt be Christmas in this house without the lights, he said. Every year my kids help me and give me a hand putting these things up. But early last Thursday morning a car was driven through the lawn towards the house until it smashed several lights and crushed a lit-up reindeer. I was just so cut when I saw it in the morning, he said. Police knocked on doors, but the neighbours didnt see anything. NICK CALACOURAS Pair jailed for cop assault, trashing TWO men who assaulted a police officer with a beer stubby and then stole his patrol car and trashed it have been sentenced in the NT Supreme Court. Dixon Jurra, 21, and Rex Pollard, 23, were involved in a high-speed car chase near Alice Springs in January, but it was called off by watch commander Nathan Finn. He then patrolled the highway while officers involved in the pursuit looked around the camp. Acting Sergeant Finn found Jurra and Pollard with their three passengers off the side of the highway, and held out his pistol to them. He reached into the car to pull the keys out of the ignition but as he moved back Jurra threw the beer stubby at Sgt Finn, hitting him in the head, which started bleeding. Pollard threw another stubby at him, but it missed. When Jurra picked up a large rock and held it above his head Sgt Finn pulled out his gun again, and the group ran to the police car which was still running and sped off, leaving Sgt Finn alone. Jurra and Pollard left the car when it ran out of petrol, but not before breaking all the windows. The damage to the car cost almost $3500. Jurra was sentenced to four years in prison, suspended after 18 months to be under supervision and not buy or drink alcohol for six months after his release. Pollard was sentenced to five years in prison with a non-parole period of three years. He was disqualified from driving for five years. They were ordered to pay half the cost of the damage to the police car each. Six-minute medicine to be over THE days of six-minute medicine could be over. Doctors who spend more time with their patients will receive higher Medicare rebates under a major revamp of the system from May. Under the current sys tem, Medicare provides a rebate of only $34.30 when doctors deal with a series of simple problems in a consultation that lasts between six and 20 minutes. The problems dealt with had to be classed as complex be fore they could charge a higher fee of $66.45. Under revisions doctors can claim a level C ($66.45) if a consultation takes 25 minutes that may have a patient requiring a doctor to perform a number to tasks.