If tougher bail laws worked to reduce crime, then jurisdictions like the Northern Territory and Queensland – which already have among the most restrictive bail frameworks in the country – would be the safest places in Australia. But that is not what the evidence shows. Letter to the Editor from Dr Mindy Sotiri, Executive Director, Justice Reform Initiative.

Buffel grass as been declared a weed but in a class that has yet to be determined. MIKE GILLAM looks at the existential threat to our environment, and consequently to our economy and lifestyle, all but ignored in the election campaign.

An aggravated robbery occurred in Alice Springs this morning.

Locky Weir in his new JIMCO Prolite came first in the Arid Offroad NT Titles Round 1 at Mt Ooramina where 10 local entries vied for good placings. PADDY WEIR reports.

By ERWIN CHLANDA Transparency is a very one-sided proposition for the Central Land Council (CLC): It wants the news media to publish its positions but it won’t give answers to questions the media put to them. That’s certainly the experience of the Alice Springs News with this secretive organisation which, like other Aboriginal land councils […]

By ERWIN CHLANDA Landcare NT won’t be joining the “activists and economic vandals” as Joshua Burgoyne calls them. The Environment Minister isn’t talking about his government that will give an annual gift – no water rates to be paid – of 40 billion litres of Territory water a year, for 30 years, to the Chinese owned […]

By NEILL RETALLICK Two Australians. Born thousands of miles apart into very different circumstances, the only tenuous connection being their humble beginnings and strong desire to contribute to their communities. Many people have fought to improve rights for Indigenous Australians, but few have done more than Dr H C “Nugget” Coombs and Charles Perkins (pictured). […]

By MIKE GILLAM Another fire was raging in the river and concerned groups of locals gathered on the Wills Terrace causeway to watch in horror and hurt as several trees were engulfed in flames. I was taking photographs to record this latest outrage when the screech of a galah demanded my attention. At the fire’s […]

By ALEX NELSON During most of the 2000s I worked at the Olive Pink Botanic Garden, and two decades ago gained an insight into just how zealous keen birdwatchers and twitchers can be when news spread of sightings of an obscure little bird, the grey honeyeater, at the botanic garden. This was prompted by observations […]

The Central Desert Regional Council has sent “to the legal team” questions from the Alice Springs News about car expenses for its President, Adrian Dixon (pictured). No answers were given by Regional Manager Shiju Thomas. The President is entitled to have one car but usually has two: “The President may choose to have a dedicated […]