No press conferences from NT government amid fresh revelations of Chief Minister’s role in cabinet
No ministers are planned to front the press on Friday, amid growing questions over the Chief Minister’s decision to walk the Turf Club submission into cabinet in 2019.
Northern Territory
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GOVERNMENT ministers have gone to ground after a damaging week for Chief Minister Michael Gunner.
The NT News understands there will be no press conferences from any government figures on Friday, after public statements by two ministers earlier in the week embarrassed the leader.
All of this comes as tourism operators are seeing their once-bumper dry season thrown into chaos by Covid-19 outbreaks in their two largest markets: Sydney and Melbourne.
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Racing Minister Natasha Fyles on Thursday said Mr Gunner walked the submission for the Turf Club into cabinet, placing fresh scrutiny over the affair onto the Chief.
Mr Gunner had previously refused to say who had taken the submission into cabinet, at one point dodging the question five times in one minute in an interview with Mix 104.9FM’s Katie Woolf.
His then-chief of staff Alf Leonardi was among five people by the ICAC found to have engaged in improper conduct.
Ms Fyles’ comments came the day after Environment Minister Eva Lawler pinned the decision to put Cracker Night at the height of fire season squarely on Mr Gunner.
That choice has caused alarm from bushfire experts and volunteer firefighters.
Ms Lawler recognised those concerns and said the government was continuing to consult about the decision, undermining Mr Gunner’s very public enthusiasm for the August 29 date.
On Thursday, Mr Gunner reiterated that the ICAC report had cleared all ministers of any wrongdoing in relation to the $12m grandstand saga.
National cabinet is expected to meet on Friday afternoon to discuss a range of issues, including outbreaks in Sydney and Melbourne.
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