DTC chair Brett Dixon steps away, refuses to resign

Embattled Darwin Turf Club chairman Brett Dixon is stepping away from the position, but resisted the Chief Minister’s demand to resign.

Darwin Turf Club chairman Brett Dixon.

• ICAC finds corruption in $12m grandstand probe
• Gunner considering legal action over Turf Club grandstand scandal
• Turf Club board yet to respond to Gunner’s request for resignations

EMBATTLED Darwin Turf Club chairman Brett Dixon has stepped away from the position but has resisted the Chief Minister’s demand to resign, in the wake of a damning ICAC report into the club’s $12m grandstand grant.

Mr Dixon is taking leave of absence and Rob Longuet will take over as acting chairman.

The Territory’s anti-­corruption watchdog Ken Fleming found five people, including Mr Dixon and Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s former chief of staff, engaged in improper conduct following his investigation into the NT government’s awarding of a $12m grandstand grant to the Darwin Turf Club in June 2019.

The ICAC report stated the turf club’s conduct under the current board had been “improper” in the circumstances surrounding the construction of a multimillion dollar grandstand, which was partially funded by the NT government.

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Chief Minister Michael Gunner has demanded the DTC board members resign.

Mr Dixon issued a statement to members on Tuesday, in which he said: “It is with great regret I will be taking a leave of absence from both the Darwin Turf Club and TRNT board as of today.

“Over the last 18 months the investigation and the recent ICAC report has devastated me, and my mental and physical condition has deteriorated to a point where I feel unable to function at my best.

“The whole saga has affected my family and I require time to support them as well.

“The ICAC report is biased and the evidence I gave was totally ignored, destroying my reputation and the goodwill I have built up in Darwin and at the Darwin Turf Club over the last 40 years.

“This has distressed me ­beyond compare, but please be assured that everything I have done at the Darwin Turf Club and the TRNT has been sincere and in the best interests of the club and the racing industry in the Northern Territory over the last 19 years.”

The NT News has sought a comment from Mr Fleming.

Mr Gunner first called for Mr Dixon and the board members to resign when the report was handed down on Friday.

In a blistering letter sent to Mr Dixon on Monday, Mr Gunner said his resignation was “required to return confidence to the organisation and the Territory Racing Industry”. “The ICAC report made findings of … improper conduct against you, board chairman, Darwin Turf Club Incorporated,” Mr Gunner wrote.

“The ICAC report also advised that your actions may be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration of criminal charges.”

Mr Gunner reiterated his desire for a complete resignation of the entire DTC board and insisted he would consider moving legislation to remove them.

“On 25 June 2021, I issued a statement in response to the ICAC report and its findings,” the letter stated.

“In that statement, I called for the resignation of the entire Darwin Turf Club board.

“If these resignations are not forthcoming, we will make legislative changes which would permit the government to sack the board,” the letter stated.