Chief Minister’s colleagues back their leader despite Turf Club emails scandal

LABOR MLAs continue to throw their support behind Chief Minister Michael Gunner despite the Darwin Turf Club grandstand emails revelations

Chief Minister Michael Gunner has the full support of the party, pictured behind him is his ministry.

LABOR MLAs continue to throw their support behind Chief Minister Michael Gunner despite revelations his former chief of staff helped the Darwin Turf Club draft a letter to send to ministers asking for taxpayers’ cash to build a grandstand.

Labor MLAs put on a united front as news broke of the grandstand scandal on Friday.

Every sitting Labor member responded to questions put forward by the NT News.

There was resounding support from MLAs for Mr Gunner to remain in the top job.

Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison said she “100 per cent supports Gunner as Chief Minister”.

Attorney-General Natasha Fyles said as a result of the FOI she had reviewed documents regarding the grandstand within her own office.

“I’ve become aware of this through the FOI process and I have reviewed the documents that came into my office. I did receive a letter from the turf club and I sent that to my agency for a brief and reply,” she said.

MLAs became aware of the email correspondence between Alf Leonardi and the Darwin Turf Club when a Freedom of Information Request was lodged by the ABC last month.

Almost all cabinet members were told of the FOI request and Mr Gunner subsequently referred the exchange to the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption.

Other MLAs were informed on Thursday.

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Labor’s candidate for Johnston Joel Bowden refused to say whether he was worried the turf club saga would hurt his chances of winning the by-election at the end of the month.

“I’m staying focused on the people of Johnston and the Chief Minister has my full support,” he said.

Country Liberals’ candidate Tracey Hayes, who if endorsed on Saturday, will contest the seat of Fannie Bay which is currently held by Mr Gunner, said she could not comment on the matter until she was formally backed by the party.