The latest national news update from the National Indigenous Radio Service.
NT electoral record breaking weekend
The Northern Territory has a new government this morning after electoral records were smashed over the weekend.
Adam Giles’ government was thrown out of office after just one term, with a host of personal and political scandals plaguing the government. The party won majority government in 2012, but was forced to form a minority government after four different party members defected.
Over the weekend, the Country Liberals have so far claimed just one seat, with the chance of picking up two more. That will leave them just 3 in a 25 seat parliament, with independents likely to hold more – four, possibly five. It will be the first time in history independents hold more seats than an Opposition party.
The ABC predicts the Labor Party will win as many as 18 seats.
Federal court to rule on Adani challenge
The Federal Court will today hand down a decision on a challenge by conservationists to Australia’s biggest coal mine slated for Queensland’s Galilee Basin.
The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) case against Adani’s Carmichael mine argued the approval of the mine was inconsistent with Australia’s obligation to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
Lawyers for Adani contested the ACF challenge along with representatives of Greg Hunt who approved the mine when he was environment minister.
ACF has said the case was the first of its kind to be heard in Australia, with the court asked to examine a section of environmental law that had not been tested previously.
The conservationists believe if they are successful, the case would strengthen climate change considerations and World Heritage protection in Australian law.
Victorian police investigate shooting
Police are investigating who shot a man moments before he was involved in a car crash in Melbourne.
Two cars collided in Epping about midday yesterday, with one male passenger found to have suffered non life-threatening gunshot wounds.
It’s believed the man was shot before the crash, Victoria Police say.
WA police find body near search for Kiwi
Police have found a body in a national park northeast of Perth near a search area for a missing man.
West Australian police have been searching for New Zealand man Michael Junior Huria, 23, who went missing on Monday in what relatives have said might be a spiritual journey.
Police received information about 3.30pm on Sunday that a body had been found in the Walyunga National Park, close to Ellenbrook where Mr Huria went missing.
However, they have not released any identification or confirmed whether the discovery is related to the search for Mr Huria.
Vic taxi drivers consider legal action
The Victorian government is the latest to face a possible lawsuit over its plans to legalise ride sharing and dump taxi licence fees.
The Victorian Taxi and Hire Car Families group is meeting with lawyers this week as they contemplate legal action against the government. The group, representing more than 500 concerned taxi owners, is also meeting with the government on Thursday.
Queensland already faces legal action after passing legislation allowing ride sharing last month,
Woman ‘stabbed partner’ at Qld hospital
A woman has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing her partner while he was being treated at a mental health facility in Brisbane.
Police say the 28-year-old took a knife to the Toowong Private Hospital and repeatedly stabbed her partner, 38, in the neck and upper body on Saturday evening.
Staff made numerous triple 0 calls for help, and media have reported some of the workers restrained the woman until police arrived.
The man, who was attacked in his room, has since undergone surgery for serious knife wounds but his condition is not considered life threatening.
The woman was arrested at the scene. She’ll appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday on an attempted murder charge.
Man charged over Gold Coast carjacking
And a man has been charged following a series of violent offences on the Gold Coast over the weekend, including a carjacking at rifle point.
The 24-year-old will appear in Southport Magistrates Court today to face a string of charges including attempted murder, robbery, and gun-related offences.
