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Bowden meets his match

MEMBER for Johnston and former Richmond AFL star Joel Bowden might have been calling the shots during estimates but it wasn’t the case at Gardens Oval last weekend. Running water for the Nightcliff Under 14 boys, Bowden was yellow-carded for “coaching”. His love for Richmond was on display Friday night when he closed estimates with a simple message: “Go The Tigers!”

Old-fashioned sledge

AND speaking of Bowden, the award for best sledge during budget estimates week went to him, who chaired the sessions, for this exchange... Gerard Maley: For the record, Minister, I was born at the old Darwin Hospital, so I know what you’re talking about. Eva Lawler: So was I. Joel Bowden: For the record, I wasn’t alive.

Chansey ties up rivals

LOCAL Government Minister Chansey Paech, ever the dapper dresser, upped the ante during estimates this week. After some banter, CLP Daly MP Ian Sloan cheekily asked who in the room had the best tie. Johnston MLA Joel Bowden, citing a decision from ”high above” (it was his wife), said Barkly MLA Steve Edgington’s tie was the winner. But Mr Paech wasn’t about to be out-tied, opting to swap his out during a brief break. Bushie assumes the Minister has a tie catalogue in a corner of his office.

True sign of the times

CORONAVIRUS restrictions have had a major impact on our lives with social distancing, contact tracing and isolation words which have become part of our everyday vocabulary in 2020. One CDU student representative found that out the hard way recently, when his hand sign welcoming 63 international students into the country slipped over the barbed wire fence. It doesn’t look like he’ll be getting it back anytime soon.

Judge’s empty feeling

AN NT judge made a comment on the new design of Alice Springs Local Court after being left with a chamber empty of lawyers and defendants this week. “Did they put hiding spots in the new building? We can never seem to find anyone here,” Judge David Bamber said with a disbelieving chuckle after having had to adjourn the court twice before midday due to no shows.

Punchy finish no drama

TWO blokes became a subject on Twitter this week after being filmed having a punch on during a race finish at Alice Springs Turf Club over the weekend. Sporting personalities called the scene “outrageous”, but Bushie understands the men were just putting it on for the cameras in an odd style of celebration after they backed a winner.

Sour grapes over ID check

IS this taking things too far? A woman went into a bottle shop to buy zero alcohol wine. Despite it being zero alcohol she had to provide all her ID.

WORST PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: Budget estimates delivered some bombshells but perhaps none more “typical NT government” than news the cost of the State Square carpark had blown out by $7.3m, partly due to asbestos remediation but mainly due to landscaping works to make it look lush.