Chief Minister Michael Gunner walks back threat to introduce legislation allowing him to sack board members as Darwin Turf Club prepares to vote on new board

Chief Minister Michael Gunner has walked back a threat to introduce legislation that would allow him to terminate board directors at his discretion.

• Darwin Turf Club board to resign or be sacked over ICAC report: Gunner
• Two-thirds of Darwin Turf Club board resign over ICAC report into $12m grandstand

CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner has walked back a threat to introduce legislation that would allow him to terminate board directors at his ­discretion.

As the Darwin Turf Club prepares to vote on a new board – now likely delayed until August 24 – Mr Gunner said on Sunday he may not take any legislative action, even if the DTC elects board members that the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) made findings of misconduct against.

When asked if he would push forward with the legislation if that situation arose, he said: “That would be a problem for me that I’d have to discuss with the (DTC) chair.”

DTC chairman Brett Dixon, who is one of the individuals ICAC made findings of ­improper conduct against, has refused to step down and has nominated for the board at the club’s upcoming election.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“If these resignations are not forthcoming, we will make legislative changes which would permit the government to sack the board,” Mr Gunner said in a blistering letter to Mr Dixon in June.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro has called Mr Gunner’s “staggering backflip” an admission he “has finally ­realised how desperate his ­attempts to shift blame for his approval of $12m for the dodgy grandstand deal really are”.

CLP Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“We should never be in a position where Michael Gunner has unprecedented and unrestricted control of every gymnastics club, pony club or footy club in the NT,” Ms ­Finocchiaro said.

Meanwhile, DTC vice-chairman Richard O’Sullivan said there had been a delay to the vote due to the initial ballots including a candidate who was ineligible to nominate ­because he had not been a member long enough.

Mr O’Sullivan said there would be a special general meeting on Monday night at which a motion would be forwarded that “the ballot be ­deferred and that new ballot papers be distributed ... and ­results determined or advised to members on August 24”.

“There were 19 on the initial ballot, with an ineligible person. Following Monday night’s meeting, it’s hoped that the ballots will be circulated with 18 nominations for board positions,” he said.

MORE TOP NEWS

Territory Check-In App gets major upgrade

Northern Territory declares Cairns and Yarrabah Covid-19 hotspots as of 12pm Sunday

Family of four lucky to survive the NT ‘Holiday from Hell’

After the votes are tallied, the elected 10-person board will then elect the chairman, vice-chairman, deputy vice-chairman and treasurer.

Mr O’Sullivan said should he be elected to the board and “there were enough independent new members that wanted me to be the chair”, he would respect their vote.

News Corp Australia has lodged a five-page complaint on behalf of the NT News and its former editor Matt Williams about the contents of the ICAC report in to the $12m grandstand grant that has been accepted by ICAC inspector Bruce McClintock.

The complaint also ­included allegations that a senior ICAC official gave NT News general manager Greg Thomson the impression the reference to Mr Williams in the forthcoming report was, in essence, a retaliatory act by the ICAC over the NT News’ ­reporting of unrelated matters concerning the ICAC.

Follow @leesaulrobinson