Darwin Turf club chair Brett Dixon head hits back over grandstand

Darwin Turf Club chairman Brett Dixon has hit back at Labor caucus secretary Kate Worden over her suggestion the tender his company won to build the $12 million grandstand should be recalled.

An artist’s impression of the proposed Darwin Turf Club grandstand. Picture: SUPPLIED

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Darwin Turf Club will not be recalling the tender to build its $12 million multipurpose grandstand.

Club chairman Brett Dixon, whose company Jaytex won the contract to build the new three level grandstand, hit out at claims by Labor caucus secretary Kate Worden that the tender could be recalled.

“Work on the project has already started and it’s nonsense to say the Turf Club could recall the tender after it was awarded,” Mr Dixon said.

“The works started as soon as was practicable. It was always the plan to use our best endeavours to complete procurement and have the winning tenderer have the stand completed and ready for handover prior to Cup Carnival 2020.”

Mr Dixon also said a claim by Ms Worden last week that he awarded the $12 million government funded project to himself was not true.

“The contract was awarded to Jaytex by the board after a recommendation from the independent panel, I had nothing to do with the decision making,” Mr Dixon said.

“I excluded myself from all meetings and discussions the moment we were notified that we were going to get the grant.

“The tender process was open and transparent.

“The Chief Minister Michael Gunner said … ‘our tender process was handled with absolute probity and fairness.’

Turf Club chairman Brett Dixon said a Department of Business investigation found the tender process fair. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

“The decision making panel was made up of two independents, a Department of Business representative and two Darwin Turf Club board members.

“We engaged an independent probity officer, who wrote a glowing report on the process and how it was fair to all tenders.

“Subsequently (the) Deptment of Business did its own investigation which has since been proven that the tender process was unbiased and fair to all tenders. The process could not have been more robust.”

Mr Dixon said comments by the Chief Minister that future government grant processes would have a perceived conflict of interest clause would be of concern to businesses.

“For mine in a nutshell Darwin is too small,” Mr Dixon said.

“The motivated business people are the same people who fill most of the free board positions with community groups that drive so many social and sporting organisations in the community.

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“My fear is he is suggesting that people who have perceived conflicts will not be able to trade.

“Even when a fair and just tender process or procurement process can be proven?

“Boundless Possible is the Territory’s catch cry and excluding people from participating will act as a penalty for anyone who wants to have a go.”

“The answer is simple. Manage the conflicts, make sure the process and procedures are sound, robust and fair to all, as we did in our tender process. We must give opportunity to all, instead of penalising the ones that are out there making it happen.”