Robyn Lambley to refer NT Beverages investment to ICAC

The Independent Commission Against Corruption may be dragged into the scandal around the NT’s Infrastructure Development Fund decision to investment $10 million of taxpayer’s money into to a struggling water bottling company.

Member for Araluen Robyn Lambley says she has been pulling together a dossier of information on the Infrastructure Development Fund’s investment in NT Beverages.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption may be dragged into the bubbling scandal around the NT’s Infrastructure Development Fund decision to sign off on a $10 million taxpayer-funded investment to a struggling water bottling company.

Territory Parliament’s independent Member for Araluen Robyn Lambley, who has referred the matter to the Auditor General, is now pulling together a dossier of information “as we speak” to submit to ICAC.

NT Beverages’ $190,000 taxpayer bill

“The IDF lasted two years and had $200m of taxpayer’s money … it’s only investment was $10m to a company that failed. Why did it pluck this company out of nowhere to put $10m into it?” Ms Lambley said.

“It is a scandal that we lost so much money.

“Territorians want to know what was the level of due diligence that was followed? What was the business case that convinced the decision makers to invest in NT Beverages, particularly given it eventually went into voluntary administration?”

Ms Lambley said the NT Government’s determination not to give full and frank answers about the $10m investment and loss of millions of dollars of taxpayer dollars was another reason for referral to the corruption watchdog.

“The Treasurer will not commit to undertaking her own investigation into the decision making process and instead has put a lot of energy into dismissing any notion of a probe which is concerning, she said.

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Treasurer Nicole Manison said the decision to invest in NT Beverages was made by the independent board of the NTIDF, which was set up by the former Government.

“This Government has closed the fund, established a better investment model to create jobs for Territorians and recouped funds through the sale of NT Beverages,” she said.

“The Territory Government had also created an ICAC to restore trust in the NT. Anyone, including Robyn Lambley, can report a concern.”