Bushranger

Fake news a real handful

HEALTH Minister Natasha Fyles admitted the NT News’ fake stories on April 1 attracted a fair bit of unwanted attention on Monday – with one report suggesting the Gunner Government was so confident in the success of the Arafura Games, it would put in a Commonwealth Games bid. Obviously, the yarn was a total stitch-up – but Bushie understands it fooled a number of ABC Darwin scribes, who put in media requests with the department before being assured it was a prank.

Trevor out of harm’s way

SELF-DESCRIBED artistic and legal genius Trevor Jenkins fled the jurisdiction a while ago. This week in Darwin Local Court, prosecutor Ian Rowbottam half-sarcastically bemoaned Jenkins’s move to Tasmania. Judge John Neill, who has experienced the displeasure of Jenkins exposing himself in court – revealing an all-over tan – said: “Mr Rowbottam, anything that has Mr Jenkins away from this jurisdiction is highly desirable.” Hopefully it is too cold in Tassie for Jenkins to get his kit off there.

Party on in Parliament

BOOZERS take note – the Government has put out its draft liquor Bill to consultation. The Bill marks out a handful of oases in the desert of our post-Riley review future – places which are exempt from licensing requirements and booze can be sold and consumed with nary a care. Those places include Defence Force bases, and on trains, planes and boats on long-distance voyages. Thoughtfully, our politicians have granted themselves an exemption. The only other place not subject to licensing requirements is Parliament House.

Care factor decidedly low

ONE of Bushranger’s mates was winding up a working lunch at a Darwin eatery on Friday and bemoaned the fact he couldn’t stay a little longer. The restaurateur made a convincing pitch for the party to kick on. “Gunner’s on holidays, he doesn’t care, why should you?” Ouch.

Even Greens earn nod

TERRITORY fisherman turned legislator Nigel Scullion finished up a 17-year career in Federal Parliament this week. And unusually for the scrappy senator, he had a kind word for just about everybody in his valedictory speech – even the Greens. He credited the party for having “rarely vacillated” in its beliefs, though he did not share them. Nige said he plans to spend his retirement shooting pigs and fishing barra.

Nigel always poles apart

PERHAPS one of the outgoing senator’s greatest and most lasting legacies will be the 2007 NT News front page story in which he recounted being handcuffed, near naked, to a Russian stripper’s pole. “If you ever get an offer to go drinking with Icelandic whalers and Canadian crab fishermen, take them up on it,” he said at the time. Bushranger is told that story is still shown to incoming MPs as an example of crisis PR done right.

Tennant couple go close

THERE was a last-minute dash for the Most Powerful Couples list top 10 out of Tennant Creek would you believe. The Deputy Mayor of Barkly, deputy president of the Tennant Show Society and president of the Tennant RSL Kris Civitarese made a bold showing along with wife Nicole who won the NT Young Achiever Award late Friday. Sadly the list was decided – perhaps next year.