Territory Story

Ruth Palmer was scared to death about coming on this podcast. But she did it anyway. And that just about sums up Ruth Palmer.  Born in Adelaide, Ruth was 15 when her parents decided to move to Port Hedland in Western Australia where he father took up another position as a train driver. Ruth refused to go and instead behind and moved in with her boyfriend. The relationship was not a good one f...

Each week we speak with Chris Walsh, Editor of the NT Independent online newspaper, about some of the stories making news in the Territory. This week’s stories are:  Senior Territory Labor figure found guilty of rape  Police Commissioner's radio interview Media fallout from Kumanjayi Walker coronial inquest Cost of new homes in NT to rise after government changed building codes, builders...

Celeste Mackenzie was born in Adelaide in 1996. The last child of five children on her father's side and two children on her mother's side, she's half German and has siblings from three other parents.  After finishing high school, Celeste had a gap year on Gold Coast where she ended up in a share house with five Brazilian girls. She eventually returned to Adelaide and stayed with her father who pa...

Each week we speak with Chris Walsh, Editor of the NT Independent online newspaper, about some of the stories making news in the Territory. This week’s stories are:   Mellon charged with 31 offences, subject of rare press conference where he was not named   Former assistant police commissioner managing NT Police problems: Fyles   Fyles Government kills public inquiry into police, says it is curren...

Each week we speak with Chris Walsh, Editor of the NT Independent online newspaper, about some of the stories making news in the Territory. This week’s stories are: Two other officers involved in Zach Rolfe trial have also complained about him being reinstated Editorial: Here’s why Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker needs to resign now NT Police watch commander in custody over conspiracy to pervert...

Each week we speak with Chris Walsh, Editor of the NT Independent online newspaper, about some of the stories making news in the Territory. This week’s stories are: 1. ‘In complete crisis’: Chalker not resigning despite 80 per cent of NT cops having no confidence in him 2. ‘Complexity of the complexities’: Fyles continues to support Chalker despite officers losing confidence 3. Zach Rolfe banned f...

Lisa was born in Bend, Oregon. The middle child in a Mormon household, in a town with a similar population to Darwin, she was destined for more. At the age of 18 she finished high school and took off to Japan as an exchange student where she tried to improve her Japanese. After returning to the States, she accepted a job as a nanny in New York. What an experience that was! She was exposed to unima...

Each week we speak with Chris Walsh, Editor of the NT Independent online newspaper, about some of the stories making news in the Territory. This week’s stories are:  Analysis: Fyles obligated to restore integrity by handing over Cabinet documents to ICAC Fyles attempts to defend Cabinet documents scandal in confusing radio appearance  CLP calls for Fyles Government to back fuel price inq...

Each week we speak with Chris Walsh, Editor of the NT Independent online newspaper, about some of the stories making news in the Territory. This week’s stories are: Gunner blocked ICAC from accessing documents connected to ‘serious allegation’: New report ‘Dark cloud’: Fyles must release documents that Gunner refused to give ICAC, CLP says Police review into Professional Standards announced in lea...

Each week we speak with Chris Walsh, Editor of the NT Independent  online newspaper, about some of the stories making news in the  Territory. This week’s stories are: Gunner resigns from NT politics By-election set for Fannie Bay to replace Michael Gunner Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s maiden speech Handling of the ‘Yuendumu critical incident’ offered as reason for no confidence in P...

Taylah Peters was born in Darwin to parents from country Queensland and Victoria, respectively. In a typical Territory story, both her parents came to Darwin separately for ‘a visit’ and stayed. After finishing high school, Taylah, moved to Brisbane and completed a degree in Human Services and Criminal Justice before becoming a social worker and then counsellor.  The pandemic changed the cour...

Each week we speak with Chris Walsh, Editor of the NT Independent online newspaper, about some of the stories making news in the Territory. This week’s stories are:  First case of monkeypox detected in NT  Turf Club grandstand saga ICAC’s executive assistant faces court over leaking charges; police officer facing similar charge  Alleged ‘chemical thrower’ found not guilty for riotou...

Cam Smith is a reporter with the NT News. Born in Victoria, Cam grew up in Mount Beauty, with an older brother and younger sister. After finishing school he landed a job as a cadet journalist with the Sun-Herald. He then spent several years as a journalist including a stint in the UK before finally taking a position with the NT News where he covered politics for four years before moving to TV. Cam...

Each week we speak with Chris Walsh, Editor of the NT Independent online newspaper, about some of the stories making news in the Territory. This week’s stories are: 1. Zach’s back: Constable Zach Rolfe to be reinstated by NT Police, sources confirm 2. Police media unit lied about video of Commissioner’s controversial speech to firefighting recruits, created ‘awkward situation’: FOI docs 3. ‘Integr...

Elizabeth (Liz) Spencer is Professor of Law at Charles Darwin University. Born in New Jersey, she's the last of four children. Her father was in the US Navy and met her Australian mother in Brisbane towards the end of World War II. In this respect she's half Australian. After finishing high school Liz went on to do a 'gap' year in France where she had some interesting experiences. She then returne...

Each week we speak with Chris Walsh, Editor of the NT Independent online newspaper, about some of the stories making news in the Territory. This week’s stories are:  Territorians told to be cautious, not fearful of rising Omicron sub-variant cases Around 22,000 Territory workers to get wage increase as minimum wage rises ‘Ignorant’ and a ‘complete lack of responsibility’: MLA reaction to Alice Spr...

Emanuel Masimo is a lawyer at Ward Keller practising in commercial law, estate planning and migration. Born in what is now South Sudan in 1999, Emanuel's family fled to Kenya as refugees as the country descended into civil war. They eventually migrated to Darwin in 2005 and he grew up in Karama, playing soccer and going to school. He eventually fell into law when his teacher encouraged him to 'put...

Each week we speak with Chris Walsh, Editor of the NT Independent online newspaper, about some of the stories making news in the Territory. This week, Chris is on leave so we spoke with his deputy editor, David Wood. This week’s stories are:  Minister gives TIO Stadium exemption, with no end date, from complying with Building Act  ‘Domestic dependent nations’: Treaty report proposes self-governing...

Each week we speak with Chris Walsh, Editor of the NT Independent online newspaper, about some of the stories making news in the Territory. This week’s stories are:  Chalker shares his ‘heart-breaking’ position with Estimates hearings, blames ‘mistruths’ and ‘disgusting commentary’ for problems  Vote of confidence in Police Commissioner by officers to happen in ‘coming weeks’  ‘Figu...

Alan Berman is Dean of Law at Charles Darwin University. Born in the USA, Alan, comes from interesting stock. His father was Latvian American and his mother, Moroccan American. Alan is a global citizen, comfortable in both Riga and Casablanca. After finishing Law School at Duke University, North Carolina, Alan worked in Sacramento, California. But he was never comfortable as a lawyer, preferring p...

Each week we speak with Chris Walsh, Editor of the NT Independent online newspaper, about some of the stories making news in the Territory. This week’s stories are: 1. New HR and well-being roles announced in NTPFES after delayed review into mental health 2. DIPL executive changes story on internal corruption report as ICAC conducting ‘review’ 3. ICAC forced to end ‘serious’ investigation after La...

Each week we speak with Chris Walsh, Editor of the NT Independent online newspaper, about some of the stories making news in the Territory. This week’s stories are: ‘Indefensible and lacked common sense’: NT teacher reinstated by Fair Work after losing job over COVID vaccine NT Government to lift vaccine mandate, public health emergency to end Lawler rejects independent engineer report into TIO St...

Dr Sabaratnam Prathapan was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. At the age of 19 he left for the UK and completed an Honours Degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Brighton. He worked for four years as an engineer in the UK before relocating to Singapore where he took up a position lecturing at an institute of higher education. During this period he saw a position advertised at the then Darwin Co...

Each week we speak with Chris Walsh, Editor of the NT Independent online newspaper, about some of the stories making news in the Territory. This week’s stories are: Legal action against vaccine mandate dead after Fyles Government ‘covers their backsides’ with legislation: UNTB 2. Two people arrested over alleged severed leg hit-and-run, body recovered: Police 3. New taxpayer-funded Aboriginal empl...

Each week we speak with Chris Walsh, Editor of the NT Independent online newspaper, about some of the stories making news in the Territory. This week’s stories are:  1. Natasha Fyles announces her new Cabinet  2. A descent into barbarism’: Fyles Labor Government passes torture payout cap on prison assaults  3. ‘As a new MLA, there’s no reason to be overseas’: Labor pollie Dheran You...