Stories from Darwin · Australia

The head of the Australian Defence Force confirmed Darwin will host a new battalion of amphibious landing craft by 2030. Lieutenant-General Simon Stewart stated the base battalion will include 300 crew members, consisting of soldiers, engineers, and administrators, along with their families. This follows an announcement last month that dozens of sea-to-land troop transports will be manufactured in Western Australia. These vessels are scheduled for deployment between three battalions in the Northern Territory and Queensland. The announcement follows a previous ADF announcement regarding the manufacturing of these transports. These transports are intended for deployment between various locations.

Documents released under Freedom of Information Laws to the ABC show the Federal Government performed due diligence on former cattleman Mr. Connolly. The government assessed him as appropriately qualified for the vice-regal role during background checks conducted in the months prior to his appointment. Critics have labeled the appointment reprehensible and offensive despite these findings. Critics are now questioning the criteria used to determine suitability for the position. The investigation follows requests made by the then acting Government. Connolly as requested by the former acting Northern Territory Chief Minister. A private interests declaration includes 13 questions regarding his criminal and employment history, though it lacks direct questions on his social media conduct.

Australian Federal Labor MPs have raised concerns regarding the appointment of David Connolly as the Northern Territory Administrator. Critics in Canberra expressed worries about his ability to properly represent the territory. The opposition specifically cited past social media posts by Connolly, describing them as reprehensible and offensive. The federal government previously conducted background checks on the new administrator.