Bushranger
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It’s a big alart alart!
FORMER NT News sports editor Carl Pfeiffer got off to a rocky start as Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Eva Lawler’s trusty media adviser. On Monday, his very first day in the role, Carl sent out a “MEDIA ALART” to let everyone know about an event in Darwin CBD. Nothing like a typo in the subject line to show the media you mean business! Bushie can attest that Carl is a good operator and will be a handy acquisition for the Territory Government’s spin doctor unit going forward.
Emily’s bar hopping
FORMER NT Miss Universe finalist Emily Wilson was back in court this week – but this time it was for the right reasons. Ms Wilson pleaded guilty to trying to smuggle seven ecstasy pills into the BASS IN THE GRASS music festival earlier this year. Her lawyer, Matt Hubber, was successful in arguing for no conviction to be recorded so she could pursue a legal career and the pair were reunited after Mr Hubber offered her a job in his office. Bushie wishes Ms Wilson well and hopes to see more of her on the right side of the bar table in the years ahead.
Boundless just okay
THE official Instagram account of the NT Government’s Boundless Possible initiative, which cost taxpayers $1.5 million and took six months of research has amassed just 1036 followers. By comparison, the popular CU in the NT brand has a whopping loyal 17,700 followers.
Sorry I can’t be there but …
PRIMARY Industry Minister Ken Vowles didn’t win any votes this week when he sent a video to the AGM of the NT Seafood Council. Minister Vowles has been secretly scathing of his colleague Lauren Moss’s failure to attend the Brolga Awards and himself kicked up a stink when former CLP Tourism Minister Matt Conlan also failed to attend the Brol- gas. Bushie guesses a glitzy award night is more substantive than an AGM for an industry fighting for its survival in the face of moves against it by the NT Government and the Northern Land Council.
Real tourism injection
Chief Minister Michael Gunner will be giving tourism a massive injection this Christmas – in the Land of the Long White Cloud that is. Mr Gunner will be going hiking in New Zealand during his Christmas break. With passenger capacity down courtesy of the Qantas changes by three per cent, we are glad he can getaway. At least he won’t be clogging up tourism spots locally so they can
WORST PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK:
be sold to someone, actually selling them to anyone would be good.
Wedding bells loom
THE Territory’s favourite songbird Jessica Mauboy might soon be heading down the aisle. Our Jess has been dating her high school sweetheart boyfriend Themeli Magripilis for the past nine years, and Bushie’s spies report Themeli might be popping the question soon. As there’s no better place to tie the knot than in the Territory, we’re recommending a sunset ceremony at Gunlom in Kakadu National Park. Wedding singer not required.
Kudos to Moss
AFTER copping a battering in the media recently for skipping the NT tourism industry’s premier awards, Tourism Minister Lauren Moss rather wisely decided to front up to the NT Media Awards last weekend. The cheery tourism minister was reportedly in good spirits all night, but remained stonyfaced when the MCs thanked everyone for attending the accolades instead of a mate’s interstate wedding. Lots of giggles from the audience, though. Ironically, Channel 9 chief of staff Kathleen Gazzola wasn’t able to attend – and accept the station’s award for best news coverage – as she was at a mate’s interstate wedding.