Labor throws up wall of silence around Gunner’s mystery trip

LABOR has thrown up a wall of silence around a mystery trip the Chief Minister has taken this weekend and a possible $1400-a-head fundraising nosh-up with interstate businessmen

NT Labor has thrown up a wall of silence around a mystery trip Chief Minister Michael Gunner has taken

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LABOR has thrown up a wall of silence around a mystery trip the Chief Minister has taken this weekend and a possible $1400-a-head fundraising nosh-up with interstate businessmen. Questions were raised when Mr Gunner disappeared from Darwin on Thursday straight after 2019’s last day of Parliament.

The NT News received a tip the Chief Minister would be in Sydney on Monday for an exclusive $1400-a-head luncheon to build up a war chest to go towards Mr Gunner’s re-election in his seat of Fannie Bay.

A copy of an invite purportedly sent to potential luncheon guests reads: “There is a fundraising lunch for NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner, in the Sydney CBD on Monday 2 December, 2019. Cost is $1400 pp, however we can always do a deal.”

A spokesman for Mr Gunner confirmed that the Chief Minister had indeed left the Territory – but had flown to Melbourne.

“The Chief Minister is in Melbourne for meetings, at personal expense,” the spokesman said. “He will return on Sunday evening.”

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When asked if the Chief Minister would also be flying to Sydney for a $1400-a-head luncheon, the NT News was advised that the question should be directed to the Labor Party.

Comment was sought from Labor’s NT secretary Anthony Brereton.

The Chief Minister’s spokesman said Mr Gunner would definitely be back in Darwin Sunday night but could not confirm if the Chief Minister was returning via Sydney.

Independent MP for Araluen Robyn Lambley said Mr Gunner must reveal whether a $1400-a-head luncheon had been planned for Sydney and whether it was a secret fundraiser for him. “With so many dark clouds hanging over the Chief Minister he is not delivering on the trust he promised Territorians,” Ms Lambley said.

“If there was a luncheon, what was being offered to the interstate business people to attend?

“The integrity and honesty Mr Gunner promised Territorians is not evident in his government.”

Territory Alliance Party leader and MP for Blain Terry Mills echoed Ms Lambley’s sentiments.

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“The Chief Minister has told us that we need to have a new era of transparency in election donations, so what is this about?” Mr Mills said.

“What obligations would flow from a $1400 a head luncheon is something we all have a reasonable expectation of knowing.

“This is not the time for secrecy.”