NT estimates 2024: Brent Potter quizzed over Mindil Beach fireworks flip flop

The Major Events Minister says government offered ‘financial assurance’ to get the fireworks back to Mindil – but Territorians are unlikely to know the cost.

Minister Brent Potter faced estimates on Tuesday. Picture: Fia Walsh.

The government gave NT Major Events ‘financial assurance’ to move Territory Day celebrations back to Mindil beach, estimates have revealed, however the cost of the bungle will likely never be known.

Brent Potter’s portfolios were scrutinised at estimates hearings on Tuesday, canvassing topics including the potential cancellation of the Alice Springs Masters Games and the fireworks flip flop.

Mr Potter said the decision to move the iconic July 1 fireworks display from Mindil Beach was made by Major Events, who assessed it as too risky to continue without an Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (AAPA) certificate given informal complaints relating to the protection of sacred sites in the area.

“There was miscommunication around the requirement for the AAPA certificate, but there was also our concern around informal complainants – I’m not going to name who they were here,” Mr Potter said.

Territory Day fireworks will return to Mindil after the government offered Major Events ‘financial assurance’.

“Once it was made clear that it was not a mandatory requirement, that it was still within the scope to do it, NT Major Events made the decision to go back to Mindil Beach.

“I can’t clarify the cost to move it to the Waterfront because that was being absorbed within their (Major Events) budget.

“To move back to Mindil Beach, there was potentially going to be a cost that was a risk to them … what they needed to do was get assurances that if there was an assumed cost that they would be able to deliver at Mindil Beach again, and we’ve given them that assurance.”

While funded by the government, NT Major Events is a corporation rather than a department and is therefore exempt from the estimates process and not required to disclose commercial costs.

The final decision to return to Mindil was made by Major Events, Mr Potter said.

Opposition spokesperson for Major Events Josh Burgoyne. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Meanwhile it was confirmed the swimming event had been cancelled at Alice Springs Masters Games.

The October sporting event will be the first Masters Games in six years, however Mr Potter flagged there was a possibility it could be canned.

“The sport can’t go ahead if there’s no one playing the sport, and if we don’t have the volunteers, then again, that would be another barrier or delay or shrinkage,” he said.

“As a government we have provided the money and intent and the Major Events company is delivering on that. From my point of view, as the minister, it’s all guns go and steam ahead to get this going, I just can’t influence who signs up and who volunteers.”

Shadow Major Events Minister Josh Burgoyne said Labor was failing to deliver what was once a “marquee event on the Australian sporting calendar”.

“This event has been cancelled by Labor since it was last held in 2018 and now Labor can’t even confirm if the 2024 event will go ahead and provide certainty to our local sporting organisations,” Mr Burgoyne said.

“People aren’t signing up to the games because Labor have let crime get out of control in Alice Springs, damaging our reputation.”

Originally published as NT estimates 2024: Brent Potter quizzed over Mindil Beach fireworks flip flop