Darwin Turf Club defends $12 million grandstand, releases statement

The Darwin Turf Club has said it could not comment on whether the Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s then chief of staff Alf Leonardi drafting a letter the turf club used to lobby ministers for a grandstand was “appropriate or not” despite his conduct being refered to ICAC.

The Darwin Turf Club has defended the controversial grandstand, which is under construction using a government grant of $12 million. Picture: Che Chorley

THE Darwin Turf Club has released a statement addressing the involvement of Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s chief of staff in helping them draft a letter to ministers asking for taxpayer’s cash to build a grandstand.

A Freedom of Information request from the ABC revealed Michael Gunner’s former chief of staff Alf Leonardi helped draft a letter the turf club used to lobby ministers for the grandstand.

Mr Leonardi exchanged several emails with club chairman Brett Dixon in January last year, six months before Cabinet approved the grant.

Mr Gunner said Mr Leonardi’s actions were “inappropriate” and denied knowing anything about what he had done before the FOI request was made last month.

Mr Dixon and a trio of other Darwin businessmen donated $100,000 to Labor ahead of the 2016 election through the companies Berrminah North Developments and Darwin Corporate Park.

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The statement in full:

The Darwin Turf Club cannot comment on whether the advice Mr Leonardi provided from within his position is appropriate or not.

The DTC believed that a project of this kind would deliver a real return for the Territory

economy, both through the construction phase and once completed.

It could not have been done without Government assistance.

The Chair of the DTC raised the idea with Ministers, Ministerial Staff and Departmental staff at every possible opportunity. 

DTC and its Chairman had no reason to doubt the course suggested to it by Mr Leonardi to

get the submission process going.

Once the letters had been sent, DTC management were directed to Department of Trade and Business staff to provide submissions, business plans, and further consultation, which we did. 

The detailed proposal then had to be assessed and approved by Cabinet who made the final

decision.

The project is well underway and the grandstand is already 75 per cent booked, mainly to

visitors that will spend millions in the community over Cup Week. 

This is the proof in the pudding that reinforces our belief that the NTG investing and expanding in successful existing events is the way forward in the recovery of Tourism and the improvement of the Territory’s economic conditions.

The Board and management are always trying to improve the product and facilities associated with the Darwin Cup Carnival that has become so important to the community each and every year.