Syd Stirling hits out at ICAC naming in Turf Club report

Former deputy chief minister Syd Stirling has questioned why he was not given warning that his name would be included in the ICAC’s report on the $12m Darwin Turf Club grandstand grant.

Counsel assisting the Coroner, Ken Fleming QC, leaving after attending the inquest into the Dreamworld disaster at the Southport Courthouse on the Gold Coast, Monday, November 19, 2018. Cindy Low, Kate Goodchild, her brother Luke Dorsett and his partner Roozi Araghi all died when Dreamworld's Thunder River Rapids ride malfunctioned in October 2016. (AAP Image/Regi Varghese) NO ARCHIVING

FORMER deputy chief minister Syd Stirling has questioned why he was not given warning that his name would be included in the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption’s report into the NT government’s awarding of a $12m grandstand grant to the Darwin Turf Club.

Mr Stirling, who last night became the acting chairman of Thoroughbred Racing NT, had no findings of wrongdoing made against him and said ICAC Commissioner Ken Fleming should have made contact to advise him that his name was going to be included in the report.

“If you’re mentioned in the report, this isn’t a great report to have your name in,” Mr Stirling said.

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“They never contacted me, they never said I was under investigation, they haven’t called me in for an interview, they never told me that my name would be in this report.”

Mr Stirling said there was nothing wrong with him being a supporter of the Darwin Turf Club grandstand project.

“I’m the deputy chair of Territory Racing, why wouldn’t I be supportive, it’s my job to be a supporter,” Mr Stirling said. He also took issue with the mention he received regarding an email from Brett Dixon.

“Brett Dixon’s the chairman of TRNT, I’m the deputy chairman, what would be surprising or shocking about that, there’s no detail as to what the email was about, there’s no response from me,” Mr Stirling said.

“What right have they got to go putting names in there that have no material impact on the findings? If you’re going to be named in a report like that you should at least be advised and the context you’re name will appear and afforded an opportunity to put a case.”

A spokeswoman for Mr Fleming said there were no findings against Mr Stirling.

“Natural justice procedures apply to those with findings or adverse comments,” she said. “Mr Stirling is welcome to engage with us directly to discuss the matter.”