M+J Builders joined special NT delegation days before director’s arrest
Days before its directors were charged with allegedly defrauding the Department of Defence of $71 million, an embattled construction company was rubbing shoulders with high-ranking military and government officials. Details.
Days before Michael and Jessica Buckley were charged with allegedly defrauding the Department of Defence of $71 million, their embattled construction company was rubbing shoulders with high-ranking government and military officials at a premier defence summit.
The 2025 Indo-Pacific International Maritime Exposition, considered the region’s most significant commercial maritime and naval defence exposition, was held in Sydney this month and drew almost 30,000 attendees.
The biennial event aims to connect influential figures across defence, government and industry.
Ahead of the event, Defence NT, which was hoping to platform Northern Territory talent, assembled a delegation consisting of 26 local businesses and organisations.
Among them was M+J Builders.
From November 4, delegation members were introduced to hundreds of influential figures involved in the defence sector across three days.
Being an official delegation, the group was also given unrivalled access to exhibiting organisations, explore new markets and connect with potential investors.
Meanwhile, Defence NT was unaware the AFP was eight months deep into investigating the married couple and their company.
Making M+J Builders’ presence more awkward was that the exposition was officially supported by the Royal Australian Navy and the Department of Defence, which the married couple is accused of defrauding.
By the end of the event, M+J Builders had been given access to 39 Chiefs of Navy or equivalent and up to 240 delegations from across 58 nations.
Mr Buckley was arrested 11 days later at his Darwin home.
After being charged with dishonestly gaining a benefit from a Commonwealth entity, he was granted bail on Monday.
Ms Buckley was arrested on Thursday morning and has also been charged with the same offence.
Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet chief executive, Luccio Cercarelli, told this masthead he would “not comment” on the matter as it was before court, but defended Defence NT’s mission to platform local businesses.
“The NT Government continues to work closely with stakeholders across the defence, government and industry sectors to promote the capability of Territory businesses as part of the NT Government’s economic strategy,” he said.
“The NT Government’s investment in the 2025 Indo-Pacific defence exposition supported more than 25 Territory organisations to showcase their capabilities to key defence decision makers.
“Defence NT will continue to pursue similar opportunities to support Territory businesses.”
Defence NT did not respond when asked if it had briefed Indo-Pacific’s organisers since charges had been laid against the Buckleys.
The high-profile legal matter has triggered reaction on the fifth floor as well.
In the days following confirmation Mr Buckley had been charged, staffers of Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro commenced the tedious process of removing any mention of M+J Builders throughout social media content and government press releases.
A CLP Government spokesperson acknowledged a scrub was underway.
“In light of the ongoing investigation concerning the company, all relevant materials have been removed,” they said.
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Originally published as M+J Builders joined special NT delegation days before director’s arrest
