By ERWIN CHLANDA
Police say they have a warrant to search the premises of MPH Constructions in Alice Springs but will give no further details.
We will report further details as they come to hand.
UPDATE October 13, 2:39pm
The police released the following statement this afternoon:
“Police are investigating the Indigenous Employment Provisional Sum after receiving a referral from DIPL [Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics]. Search warrants have been executed on Northern Territory businesses as part of this investigation.”
This article is incredibly irresponsible. MPH are a local firm that support local employment, sport and the wider community and this publication is prepared to drag their name through the mud without knowing why and for the sake of a cheap headline.
This non story is not in the public interest, is not even a story or allegation, is extremely damaging to a local firm’s reputation and should be taken down immediately. Shame on the Alice Springs News for this sensationalist gutter journalism.
I have to agree with Richard here, it is a very thin line you tread when reporting (?) items such as this.
Very unprofessional and I believe it flies in the face of any presumption of innocence, even if something comes of this search warrant “news” items like this are nothing better than gossip.
Very disappointing almost to the point of being malicious.
Richard and Laurence, I’m not sure what you are reading but it looks like they are just informing us on a fact, they aren’t alleging anything.
I hope there is nothing wrong and maybe it’s just something that has nothing to do with the running of the company.
Laurence and Richard: What nonsense. No accusations are being made. This is an accurate report of an infrequent, unusual and serious police activity. As such it is news. We do not interpret that activity. No more and no less.
Erwin Chlanda, Editor.
This article is very concerning and extremely unprofessional from a news outlet. This should be taken down. What a way to try and damage a local business.
I have to agree with Richard here. MPH is a local construction firm that employs local people.
They are also at the forefront of the Indigenous employment scheme that employs and gives opportunity to local Indigenous people, skilled or not.
They have been one of the most successful contractors to utilize this scheme. I know from experience that it is quite hard to successfully and legitimately utilize the benefits of this scheme as it is, and always has been, easily manipulated, exploited and corrupted.
The fact that MPH have somehow made this system work when all other construction contractors have struggled is a testament to how well they have been operated and to run them down like this isn’t very polite or professional. I
would have preferred that this story was published after more details had been released, if it even is a story.
Wow John, I didn’t know anything about the whole situation but what you have said certainly insinuates something …
No comment on the articles.
MPH built me a house in Ntaria in 2015. They did a great job, a good price, professional relationship with me and my architect, attention to detail and obvious pride in their work. I have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone looking to build anything.
This looks like another furphy coming up here. Most prominent local firms are honest play, by the law and are accountable.
What is not being said is that a lot of the indigenous recruits to the 30% scheme (particularly in the building trade) whether they be 10%, 40%, 60% or completely black sign up for trades but suddenly find the work is too hard, too long hours, or other reasons so lickety split with no warning leaving the contractor short staffed and in a lot of cases they have to temporerly recruit sub contractors in the vacant positions to get the work completed. This is very unfair to the employers.
@ Concerned Citizen: Furphy? Does it mean the police is gossiping?
Police do not come to your premises with a warrant for no reason at all. This us a serious matter. If we want to start closing the gap, now is the time to do so.
@ Concerned Citizen: This is not what the article is about. Read it.
@ Facts October 16: I merely pointed out the unreliability of some of the Indigenous recruits in that they take days off for sorry business, cultural ceremonies, football competitions, NAIDOC celebrations the list goes on and on which leaves the employer in a fix trying to finish a contract on time and on budget. I don’t know your background but it’s obviously not commercial.
Surprised! Yep yet again, but this time at a lot of the readers. (Are you pollies in disguise?)
I don’t see the paper making any accusations or innuendo here, merely reporting that the “Police SAY they have a warrant to search the premises of MPH Constructions”.
So, shall we bury our heads in the sand? Do you want the news or not?
The fact that a lot of the responses here are emotionally based, seems a little odd to me. Is there more to this story perhaps?
To those who passed comments about the article being “incredibly irresponsible”, I suggest you spend your time watching Goggle Box or the Batchelorette to stay informed and stay away from reading this (IMHO) unbiased newspaper.
@ Concerned Citizen: I again read the article. It doesn’t say anything about what you are implying. Do you know more about this than what is published? Very interested now.
@ Facts October 19: My my, I don’t know what cave you live in but a quick Google search would have enlightened you on the activities of the Police search warrant on various Territory Businesses (not just MPH). It is an audit by DIPL to confirm that they are complying to the conditions of Indigenous Employment Provisional Sum (IEPS) Eligibility Criteria – effective 4 August 2017.