ICAC probes circumstances of Territory Alliance leader Terry Mills’ former staffer’s employment

THE Territory’s corruption watchdog is conducting a preliminary inquiry into the circumstances around Territory Alliance leader Terry Mills’ employment of a former staffer while he was Opposition Leader.

Territory Alliance leader Terry Mills’ former staffer’s employment is the subject of a preliminary examination by ICAC. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

THE Territory’s corruption watchdog is conducting a preliminary inquiry into the circumstances around Territory Alliance leader Terry Mills’ employment of a former staffer while he was Opposition Leader.

A former parliamentary staffer turned whistleblower told the NT News the probe was looking at the circumstances of a staffer’s employment in Mr Mills’ office and an alleged payout when he left the role.

Mr Mills, however, has strongly refuted the claims made in the complaint.

The whistleblower alleges Mr Mills subsequently rehired the staffer in a consultancy role and he later overheard former deputy chief minister Dave Tollner complaining about the decision to other senior ministers on the fifth floor.

He said Mr Tollner later reiterated the claims prior to the ex-staffer taking his concerns to the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption last year.

The NT News is not suggesting the allegations concerning Mr Mills and the staffer are true, only that they are under investigation by ICAC.

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A spokeswoman for Mr Mills told the NT News: “(The staffer) left (Mr Mills’) employment when Opposition Leader more than 10 years ago in 2010 and took up a position in the NT public service.”

“At no stage was (the staffer) terminated, at no stage was he hired under a consultancy contract,” she said.

“(The staffer) returned to assist (Mr Mills) as the then Chief Minister during (his) first parliamentary sitting week in government in 2012 and was provided on loan from the Victorian Government for this period which was about two weeks.”

The staffer was “not employed by Territory Alliance”.

The spokeswoman asked for questions for the staffer to be directed to her.

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A letter from delegate for ICAC Commissioner Ken Fleming, Anna Collins, seen by the NT News reveals the matter has progressed to the “preliminary inquiry” stage.

“After consideration of the information provided with your report, the ICAC has determined that your report will be progressed to a preliminary inquiry as per section 24 of the Act,” it reads.

“The purpose of a preliminary inquiry is to collect information from additional sources to determine if further action needs to be taken.

“This action could include referring the matter for investigation, making recommendations or publishing a report or statement on the findings of the inquiry.”

The letter states that ICAC is only able to investigate “a very small number of matters” and prioritises “the most serious, systemic, sensitive and contemporary improper conduct including serious corrupt conduct and anti-democratic conduct”.

Mr Tollner was contacted for comment.