Lia Finocchiaro slams Chief Minister over handling of ICAC report, threats to sack Turf Club

Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro has claimed it’s ‘completely implausible’ that the Chief Minister didn’t know about the actions of his chief of staff.

• ICAC finds corruption in $12m grandstand probe
• Darwin Turf Club board to resign or be sacked over ICAC report: Gunner

CLP leader Lia Finocchiaro has claimed it was “completely implausible” for Chief Minister Michael Gunner not to have known the actions of his former chief of staff Alf Leonardi.

In a tense press conference on Friday morning, Mr Gunner repeatedly insisted he had no knowledge of any of the workings of the deal while it was being made.

The Independent Commissioner Against Corruption found Darwin Turf Club’s chairman Brett Dixon failed to manage conflicts of interest in the process of securing a contract for one of his companies – Jaytex Pty Ltd – to build the $12m grandstand.

While acting as Mr Gunner’s chief of staff, Mr Leonardi was “involved throughout the process, lobbying on behalf of Mr Dixon”.

Opposition Leader Mrs Lia Finocchiaro. Picture: Che Chorley

Ms Finocchiaro said on Friday that the idea the Chief Minister didn’t know about the deal “didn’t pass the pub test”.

“It’s completely implausible that for three years, the chief minister was not aware of any of the activities of his chief of staff,” she said.

Ms Finocchiaro also claimed any suggestion the government could sack the board of the Darwin Turf Club was “nebulous”.

Mr Gunner on Friday repeatedly denied any suggestion he knew details about Mr Leonardi’s lobbying.

“The ICAC has looked extensively at this and has made no findings against any Minister or the cabinet, and has made it clear that there were a number of individuals who behaved in a manner that breaches the ICAC act,” he said.

The Chief Minister also said the government had accepted the ICAC’s 18 recommendations in-principle and would also work to reclaim $12m in funding from the deal through reductions in NT government grants to the Darwin Turf Club.

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