Some former Turf Club board members expected to put hands up for re-election at August general meeting

It’s expected that some former Darwin Turf Club board members, who resigned at the demand of Chief Minister Michael Gunner, will put their hand up for re-election at next month’s special general meeting.

Michael Gunner had asked for Darwin Turf Club board members, including chairman Brett Dixon, to resign following the ICAC’s investigation findings.

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IT’S expected that some former Darwin Turf Club (DTC) board members, who handed in their resignations at the demand of Chief Minister Michael Gunner following the ICAC report, will put their hand up for re-election when board positions are spilled at next month’s special general meeting.

The DTC spill of all positions will be held on August 9 as a result of the resignation of the majority of the board.

Former board members have told the NT News they’ve been “scapegoated” by the NT government and want to let the membership decide whether they have their support.

DTC chairman Brett Dixon, who has taken a leave of absence, said in an 11-page statement released on Monday that the NT government had no power to dismiss or discipline board members of any sporting club.

“The Northern Territory government has no power to dismiss or discipline me or any other member of the board, just as the government has no power to dismiss or take any disciplinary action against members of the board of any sporting club,” he said.

Darwin Turf Club chairman Brett Dixon. Picture: Che Chorley

“On the very day the ICAC report was released, the Chief Minister demanded my resignation and the resignation of every other board member and threatened to introduce legislation to remove us if we did not comply with his demand.

“Of course the Chief Minister’s recognition that he could not remove us without introducing legislation only serves to make good the proposition that the findings of ‘corrupt conduct’ and ‘misconduct’ against me made by the ICAC are wrong.

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“Moreover, the findings ignore that even on the incorrect factual basis on which they were made, I cannot be suggested to have breached the only laws that govern my position as the member of a board of an incorporated association – the Associations Act.”

Mr Dixon said he and fellow board members had complied with relevant obligations imposed under the Associations Act. The ICAC report stated the DTC’s conduct under the current board had been “improper” in the circumstances surrounding the construction of a new grandstand, partially funded by the NT government through a $12m grant.