BUSHRANGER

Local Court judge John Neill’s trademark dry sense of humour was on display this week when a hearing set down for one day threatened to spill into a second. Upon agreeing to hear details that were “probably irrelevant” after much handwringing from the bar table, Mr Neill graciously relented.

“I don’t want to create an unnecessary delay by way of appeal because somebody says I did not permit something to be properly put before me,” he said.

“So, we’ll call the witness back and we’ll proceed for the next three weeks until all matters have been munched upon to everyone’s satisfaction.”

CREAM OF THE CROP

Suzi Milgate, the real estate agent alleged to have thrown a cream pie in Chief Minister Natasha Fyles’s face, has reached new levels of fame.

A local talent show last week featured an act entitled “Mrs Cream Pie”, where a bewigged contestant lip synched perfectly to Milgate’s defence of her alleged actions.

“It’s a slight error of a cream fresh pie!” she said, before stripping off her top and being doused with whipped cream.

She may not have won the talent quest, but Mrs Cream Pie gets five stars in Bushie’s eyes.

AIRPORT ENCOUNTER

Continuing on that note … it’s always an odd feeling seeing official figures out of their natural habitat and even more so when those always seen publicly in dress uniform are spotted wearing more casual clothes.

Bushie is sure NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt and likely trying to fly under the radar, had an “of all places” moment on Tuesday when he ran into four journalists in the security queue at Darwin Airport.

Bushie understands the commissioner was off to Melbourne to meet with top police brass from across the country for a conference.

PROFESSIONAL PROTESTS

There were security concerns

before last Friday’s Labor Party fundraising dinner with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Madame Za’s that the usual anti-fracking mob would stage a protest.

As it turns out, the usual antifracking mob were out in force, but this time they were protesting against Israel’s retaliatory action against Hamas in Gaza.

The usual faces were in attendance, including the NT Environment Centre’s Naish Gawen and one-time City of Darwin candidate Suki DorrasWalker armed with her infant kids.

Poses the question whether the frequent protest flyers are passionate about issues or just passionate about protesting for the sake of it.