Issue 30

It was Chief Minister Adam Giles, not Aboriginal land holders, who raised the possibility of a nuclear dump near Alice Springs. ERWIN CHLANDA reports. PICTURED (from left): Matthew Palmer, Benedict Stevens, Russell Bray and Lesley Tickner reveal details.

See update Wednesday 7:30am

Bess Price (pictured) has rejected out of hand Labor suggestions that she may be involved in plans for a nuclear dump in her electorate of Stuart. ERWIN CHLANDA reports.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Parks Minister and Member for Stuart, Bess Price, must come clean about her activities around the possible nomination of a nuclear waste dump site in her electorate of Stuart, writes Gerry McCarthy, Shadow Minister for Resources.

Once a year in Alice Springs, dozens of grown-ups turn into kids again and have a ball: they transform into Vikings, pirates, captains, commodores, midshipmen, petty officers, sailors and dozens of other fantastic characters. It's the Henley on Todd, of course, one of those made-in-Alice events that have made the town famous the world over. ERWIN CHLANDA was there. For story, photos and video ...

The parade which will start the Alice Desert Festival will finish up on Anzac Oval – contrary to earlier expectations. ERWIN CHLANDA reports. PHOTO: Last year's parade.

The magnificent West MacDonnells: Central Australia's beauty spots, how do we get there and what should it cost?

We are right and our paying customer is wrong: is that, judging from the reaction to issues we raised last week relating to a tour company, the bizarre business model of our tourist industry? ERWIN CHLANDA follows up.

The Territory and WA, unlike all other states, do not have fatigue management regulations for drivers of tour buses. But Wayne Thompson (pictured), who chairs the transport sector of the industry body Tourism Central Australia, says NT Work Safe requires operators to provide a safe work place for their staff. ERWIN CHLANDA reports.

Councillor Eli Melky (right) has accused Cr Steve Brown (left) of having had a conflict of interest at a recent Seniors Coordinating Committee meeting which he chaired. Cr Brown rejects the accusation as mere grandstanding. In other council news, an in-house tree farm for growing street trees is being considered, and councillors raised no objection to an application by the Alice Springs Cinema for a seven-day a week liquor licence. KIERAN FINNANE reports.

LETTER TO EDITOR

Minister for Education Peter Chandler will return to Cape York Peninsula to visit schools getting great results, joined by Minister for Community Services Bess Price and three Indigenous educators from Territory Schools. It is crucial that the views of these influential educators are canvassed while reforms for remote schools are being developed, writes MR CHANDLER.

Thousands came to the Old Timers Fete today to yarn, watch, buy and eat as youngsters helped residents to celebrate their special day. ERWIN CHLANDA took his camera.

Queensland artist Tony Albert has been awarded the top prize at the 31st Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Straiit Islander Art Awards for his for his work We Can Be Heroes (detail left), which was inspired by events that took place in Sydney’s Kings Cross in April 2012 that involved a non-fatal police shooting of two Indigenous boys. Meanwhile a young Territory artist, Kieren Karritpul, from Daly River has taken out the inaugural Telstra youth award.

A smiling acquaintance passing in the street, mother of boy child, a presence in community meetings, occasionally on stage with others and her guitar – this was all I knew of Ruth Apelt until I made the connection one day between her and her partner, and the sad fact that he was dead, too young. Last month Apelt told something of his, her, their story in a moving one-woman show. KIERAN FINNANE reviews.