Chief Minister Michael Gunner no-show at Fannie Bay candidate debate ‘disappointing’, says organiser

CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner will be the only Fannie Bay candidate missing from a public debate to be held on Thursday, with organisers labelling his no-show as ‘disappointing’.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner will be the only Fannie Bay candidate missing from a public debate to be held on Thursday. Picture Katrina Bridgeford.

CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner will be the only Fannie Bay candidate missing from a public debate to be held on Thursday, with organisers labelling his no-show as “disappointing”.

The Rotary Club of Darwin is holding its third and final meet-the-candidate forum at Smith Street Social this afternoon but Mr Gunner, who is understood to have travelled to Wadeye, will not attend.

Mr Gunner said if he were to accept “every single invitation” he received, he wouldn’t have time to deal with the coronavirus or run government.

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“I do as much as I can to serve Territorians in the time that I have,” he said.

“Others have more time to dedicate to campaigning.

“My first priority is dealing with the coronavirus.”

However, event organiser Peter Hopton said Rotary had tried to fit into Mr Gunner’s schedule, including changing the date.

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He said he had asked Mr Gunner’s office if there was an availability between July 9 and August 22 and was told no.

“In that case, there must be another reason for his non-attendance,” Mr Hopton said.