Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro attends $1000-a-head fundraiser in Sydney CBD boardroom

Lia Finocchiaro was the guest of honour at a boardroom luncheon in Sydney on Wednesday, the NT News can reveal.

OPPOSITION leader Lia Finocchiaro flew to Sydney for a $1000-a-head Liberal Party fundraiser on Wednesday, the NT News can reveal.

But the CLP leader has downplayed the revelations, claiming she was “delighted to be invited”.

An invitation flyer promotes Ms Finocchiaro as the guest of honour “at a private Sydney CBD boardroom location”.

Federal Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor was also spruiked as co-host to talk about a mysterious “Cabinet commitment”.

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“This is a rare Sydney opportunity to discuss the high potential development opportunities available in transport & tourism, agribusiness, infrastructure, and the resources sector in our North,” the flyer said.

The event’s theme was an insight into “Developing Australia’s Top End”.

A seat at the event was priced at $1000, or $1500 for two, with proceeds from the event flowing into the NSW Liberal Party’s Hume Forum.

No mention of the trip was made to the media.

In response to questions, Ms Finocchiaro said she was “delighted to be invited by the Hume Forum to talk up the Territory”.

Opposition Leader Mrs Lia Finocchiaro travelled to Sydney to be the star speaker at a Sydney Liberal fundraiser. Picture: Che Chorley

“It was a well-attended lunch and I’m proud to have been able to put the Territory first,” she said.

Ms Finocchiaro said all travel expenses were paid for by the Country Liberal Party.

“I travelled economy class return to Sydney on Qantas, using the late Tuesday afternoon flight down and back late Wednesday night on the red eye,” she said.

“I arrived back in Darwin very early this morning.”

Ms Finocchiaro refused to say who attended the luncheon. It’s not the first time Territory politicians have been caught out attending swanky interstate luncheons.

It was revealed Chief Minister Michael Gunner attended a $5000-a-head Melbourne fundraiser in late 2019.

At the time, Mr Gunner’s office explained his departure was a personal trip for meetings and then refused to provide details as to who attended the luncheon.

“The party is responsible for the invitations, the donations and the declarations and we will do all of that according to the law,” Mr Gunner told Mix 104.9 at the time.

“All of that will be publicly disclosed on the record in the first quarter next year,” he said. Mr Gunner said he flew south and back at his own expense.

“All parties have to raise money, we’re about to go into election season and there’s going to be two elections next year now,” he said.

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