Bushranger
They both start with ‘N’
JEEZ, it’s tough when your Queensland producers can’t recognise Territory faces. Channel Nine News had an embarrassing stuff-up last Monday night, announcing “it’s a tough first day back at work for Natasha Fyles” over a video of Treasurer Nicole Manison speaking. Luckily, in the main report, the team figured out who was who.
Croc on a trap snaps blues
SEVERAL croc traps have been set up in the flooded Territory community of Daly River. When asked if any of the traps had snagged a saltie, Chief Minister Michael Gunner had a bit of a chuckle. He confessed that no crocodiles had been caught, but one resident had put a croc shoe on top of one of the traps. Proving that the community may be going through a difficult time, but it has certainly not lost its quirky sense of humour.
Deja vu in halls of power
THERE’S a touch of deja vu about recent federal political scandals. First, there was the federal “cabinet” leak, where the ABC came into possession of a filing cabinet filled with confidential cabinet documents. Of course, a similar thing happened in Alice Springs last year when a cabinet filled with confidential Territory Families case files wound up at the tip shop. The Barnaby Joyce tale of woe — high profile pollie dumps his wife and knocks up a staffer — also seems very familiar to NT politics watchers. If separate scandals, involving separate pollies, do also come in threes, Malcolm Turnbull should keep a sharp eye out for any ministers spending an inordinate amount of time in their parliamentary dunnies.
Career changes afoot
IF you listen to the official line, Alice Springs Judge Greg Borchers is a changed man and he’s put his decade of controversial conduct behind him. Then again, Bushie was told this from a well known Darwin lawyer who ap- peared before Borchers for the first time recently: “I found myself in perhaps the deepest, most horrible depression of my life. I asked myself, when is the next GAMSAT, maybe I could be a doctor instead?”. Bushie will keep you updated on the career choice.
Happy Valentine’s divorce
CAVENAGH St law firm, Coonan & Coonan Legal have been on a mission to drum up more Facebook followers. One of the firm’s areas of expertise is in organising efficient divorces. If you follow them and tag your special someone, you’ll go into the draw for a romantic cruise on Darwin Harbour. The winner will be drawn on Valentine’s Day. Nothing screams romance like a date sponsored by divorce lawyers.
Meeting’s mixed messages
CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner said Labor backbencher Scott McConnell informed the Labor caucus meeting about his decision to quit last Thursday. Ironically that night no fewer than three of the members of that caucus were posting messages on Facebook about what a wonderful catch up they had all had that day. Maybe the significance of Mr McConnell’s departure was lost on them.
Line-up for Darwin bombing
THE battle to sink the Darwin is hotting up. First it was the Gold Coast to put in a bid to have our namesake the HMAS Darwin scuttled off its coast. Now the Tasmanian State Government has submitted a bid to have the decommissioned HMAS Darwin scuttled off Tasmania’s east coast where it could serve as a potential artificial reef and dive site. In 2016 the Taswegians lost out to Queensland in the fight to sink another boat for the same purpose.