Candidates Matt Paterson and Damien Ryan declare their conflict of interest

ANY discussions the Alice Springs Town Council hold surrounding the project of the National Aboriginal Art Gallery will now be without the input of both the town’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor

Deputy Mayor Matt Paterson and Mayor Damien Ryan have declared a conflict of interest in the National Aboriginal Art Gallery. Picture: ANTHONY GEPPA

ANY discussions the Alice Springs Town Council hold surrounding the project of the National Aboriginal Art Gallery will now be without the input of both the town’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Mayor Damien Ryan and Deputy Mayor Matt Paterson, both candidates in the upcoming Territory election, have both come out and declared a conflict of interest surrounding the project.

Mr Paterson, now Territory Alliance’s candidate for Namatjira, declared a conflict of interest in regards to the project on Sunday following comments made on radio by Member for Araluen Dale Wakefield.

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Ms Wakefield accused Alice Springs councillors on ABC radio last week of putting politics ahead of progress in regards to the gallery.

“I have taken on board the advice given to Council on Conflicts of Interests over the past six months and as a candidate in the upcoming Territory Election, I am acutely aware of the perception of, and actual, conflicts of interest,” Mr Paterson stated.

“When it comes to the battle between the NT Government and the Alice Springs Town Council over the repurposing of Anzac Oval as the site for the NAAG, I believe I have a perceived conflict of interest due to Minister Wakefield’s accusation of Members ‘politicking their decision’.

“The last thing I want to do is have the Government attack the integrity of a Council process. For this reason, I will remove myself from all deliberations and decisions on this issue until after the NT General Election on 22nd August 2020.”

Following Mr Paterson’s announcement, Mr Ryan on Monday morning declared his “perceived” conflict as the Country Liberal Party’s candidate for Araluen.

“The NT Government has treated me with disdain on this issue since September 23,” Mr Ryan said.

“So it is for the best that I take no further part in the discussions about it.

“If someone wants to raise the matter for discussion there are three committee chairman in the room who can take the chair.”