Residents of Darwin's largest short-stay accommodation facility, the Yilli Short-Stay Accommodation (YiSSA) in Marrara, have protested its closure. The Northern Territory government is moving up to 120 people to a new facility in Batchelor, a town of around 500 people. Residents say they feel dehumanised and worry about access to healthcare and schooling. Some are unsure where they will stay, and one resident says she cannot afford alternative accommodation. The government says the new facility offers food, care and a warm bed.
Darwin's 400-bed YiSSA shelter is closing this weekend after the Northern Territory government rejected a federal rescue offer. Residents have been asked to move about 100 kilometres to Batchelor, a town of around 370 people with no public transport. Support groups warn that women fleeing violence, dialysis patients and families will lose access to Darwin-based services. The Northern Territory government says medically vulnerable people will not be moved, but has not detailed what support will be available in Batchelor.
First Nations residents of the Yilli short-stay accommodation complex in Darwin face eviction on Sunday, when the facility closes. The Northern Territory government did not renegotiate a five-year lease and turned down a $6.5m federal offer to buy the buildings. The remaining 120 residents will be moved to Batchelor, 100 kilometres away. Federal minister Malarndirri McCarthy called it a deeply sad day. Resident Fiona Dhawunymurruwuy, who recently had a leg amputated, says she has nowhere to go after her rehabilitation. Protesters rallied in Darwin calling for the government to reconsider.
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About 300 protesters rallied in Darwin to oppose the Northern Territory government’s plan to close a homeless shelter and relocate residents 100km away to Batchelor. The shelter houses up to 400 mainly Aboriginal residents, including domestic violence survivors and those needing medical treatment. Federal Minister Malarndirri McCarthy urged the NT government to extend the centre’s operation for at least six months, citing the urgency for vulnerable families. The NT government plans to move residents to temporary accommodation in Batchelor, despite federal funding offers to keep the Darwin shelter open.
Seventeen people from the Northern Territory have been named as nominees for the 2027 Australian of the Year Awards. Nominees were recognised in four categories: Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Local Hero. Their work covers youth mentorship, education, First Nations culture, volunteering, community advocacy and healthcare. National Australia Day Council CEO Carrie Leeson said the nominees share a commitment to caring for others. The Northern Territory award recipients will be announced on November 9 in Darwin, with the ceremony livestreamed online.
Police have arrested a 31-year-old man over a domestic violence incident that occurred in Alice Springs on Saturday. Officers from Strike Force Viper detained him at a property in the Sadadeen area on Monday afternoon, around 1:30pm. He has been remanded in custody while police prepare charges against him. He is expected to face the Alice Springs Local Court the following day.
City of Palmerston has released the Palmy Youth Info Map, a pocket-sized guide for young people aged 12 to 25. The map lists 17 services across Palmerston and surrounding areas, covering activities, health and wellbeing, education, employment and emergency contacts. Parents, carers, friends and support workers can also use it to help young people find support. The map is available on the council website, with printed copies at Civic Plaza, Palmerston Recreation Centre and the City of Palmerston library.
Two people face drug charges after police executed a search warrant at a home on Gap Road in The Gap, Alice Springs. Officers from the Southern Drug Investigation Unit seized a quantity of methamphetamine below trafficable levels, drug implements and various weapons. A 41-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman were arrested at the address.
A 55-year-old man has been arrested and charged in Katherine over drug offences. Police say he left about 5 grams of methamphetamine under a pillow at a Katherine hotel he had checked out of on Thursday, 15 October. Detectives from the Northern Investigations Section seized the drugs and began an investigation. On Friday, police stopped his vehicle near the Katherine Weighbridge and found a less than traffickable quantity of cannabis inside. He faces charges of possessing a dangerous drug in both traffickable and less than traffickable quantities, and driving with a prohibited drug in his body.
Northern Territory Police are appealing for information about an aggravated robbery at a home in Eldorado Crescent, Tennant Creek. Between 1:00am and 2:30am, the occupant woke to the sound of people entering the house unlawfully. The occupant confronted three unknown males, and one allegedly threw a hammer at them before all three fled on foot with stolen property. The occupant was not physically injured. Anyone who saw suspicious activity in the area or has relevant information is asked to call police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, quoting reference NTP2600103924.
A Northern Territory review into child protection found that domestic violence by the girl's father was the biggest risk to five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby. The Department of Children and Families recorded 14 notifications linked to family violence since 2020, five of them in the weeks before her death. The review made 45 recommendations, which the government has accepted. Sector representatives said the recommendations were similar to earlier ones. Experts warned that treating family violence as a child protection issue could lead to victims losing their children.
A mud crab venture in Wadeye, a remote Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory, has grown into a full commercial operation. The Thamarrurr Sea Farmers now have up to 60 crab pots in the water and a team of nine workers. They send 35 to 50 kilograms of mud crabs to Darwin each week. Backers hope the industry could eventually employ about 100 people, though leaders say the growth will take time. The sea farmers say they are focused on sustainable harvesting.
Three female youths aged 16, 15 and 11 have been arrested after a vehicle was stolen in Karama on Thursday night. Police say two offenders snatched the keys from a man's hand on Mahogany Crescent around 9:40pm. The victim locked himself in the car, and one youth allegedly threw a rock at him as the group drove away. Strike Force Trident recovered the vehicle around 12:50am, and the three were caught after a short foot chase. Anyone with information is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
The CLP Government says the Northern Territory's mining industry is gaining momentum, with five major projects reaching final investment decision or securing committed funding since 2024. Together they represent more than $5 billion in announced investment and thousands of construction and operational jobs. Several projects are building accommodation for growing workforces, including a 252-room village at the Jervois Copper Project. Exploration investment rose 49 per cent in the June 2026 quarter compared with a year earlier. Minister for Mining and Energy Gerard Maley said Territory workers and businesses must be the first to benefit.
Prosecutors have dropped a breach of bail charge against Labor MP Luke Gosling at a short hearing in the Darwin Local Court. Gosling still faces two charges of assaulting Northern Territory Administrator David Connolly, which he denies. Those charges were not raised in court on Monday. Gosling's lawyer, Marty Aust SC, described the withdrawal as a first step in the successful defence of all charges. Gosling's bail conditions bar him from coming within 50 metres of NT Government House.
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Royal Darwin Hospital has apologised after confidential medical information about about a dozen pregnant patients was allegedly shared on Instagram. The posts, from an account linked to an overseas trained doctor who was a medical observer, reportedly included patient names and diagnoses, and reached 28,000 followers. The doctor said she cannot confirm how the images were posted and did not intend to disclose patient information. Her attachment to NT Health has since been terminated. Health Minister Steve Edgington said stricter background checks and induction processes will be introduced for medical observers.
Entry-level mechanical watches are getting cheaper and better, and major brands are part of that trend. WIRED asked its watch experts to choose their favourite mechanical watch under $400. The list includes models from Caravelle, Orient, Timex, Sea-Gull, Baltic, Bulova, Citizen, Vostok and Seiko. Each pick is described by its price, size, movement and water resistance, along with the reasons the experts gave for choosing it.
