NT Attorney-General Chansey Paech referred to ICAC over alcohol policy decisions

The Territory’s top legal officer and a key figure behind Labor’s decision to lift alcohol bans has been referred to the corruption watchdog, however he labels the accusations as “baseless”.

The Territory’s top legal officer has been referred to the corruption watchdog for allegedly failing to declare a conflict of interest on alcohol policy decisions.

Attorney-General Chansey Paech has been accused of acting unfairly on advice of Tangentyere Council, “the only vocal Aboriginal organisation” in support of lifting alcohol bans last July.

Independent Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley confirmed on Thursday she had referred Mr Paech to ICAC.

“I think he’s got a conflict of interest with Tangentyere Council, which he has failed to declare,” she said on Katie Woolf’s Mix 104.9 on Wednesday.

Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley has referred Attorney-General Chansey Paech to ICAC. Picture: Floss Adams

Mr Paech denied he held a conflict of interest with Tangentyere Council.

“Ms Lambley’s allegations about me are baseless, and she knows it,” he said.

“The ICAC was not established to be used as a tool for political point-scoring.

“While Ms Lambley continues to be self-serving and disruptive, my Territory Labor government colleagues and I are getting on with doing what’s best for Territorians.”

Tangentyere Council, which represents 16 Central Australian Town Camp Housing Associations, last week addressed a senate committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs.

It was heard all town camps chose to allow alcohol to freely return, after Territory and federal bereaucrats did not act on previously submitted community-developed alcohol management plans.

“We’ve lived through 15 years of these draconian and deplorable measures and legislation that were imposed on us at the stroke of a pen,” President Geoff Shaw said.

It comes as the Fyles government reverses its position on lifting blanket alcohol bans in Territory communities and town camps.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles and Attorney-General Chansey Paech were in Canberra for the handover of Dorelle Anderson’s report. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Ellen Ransley

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has promised to pass legislation in parliament next week that would have bans reinstated based on the findings of a report by newly-appointed regional controller Dorelle Anderson, ordered by the Prime Minister last month.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said the referral was not something Ms Lambley “would have taken lightly”.

Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro indicates she will call for a vote of no confidence in the Fyles government. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

“Territorians have lost trust in the Fyles, Labor government,” she said.

“It’s incredibly important that we have that level of integrity Territorians expect in us.”

“The fact that he was so influential in his caucus and in the Cabinet over this decision, this crazy, insane, irresponsible decision to lift the grog bans, despite the advice from reputable people, Aboriginal people across the Northern Territory, they charged on,” Ms Lambley said.

“They didn’t listen to anyone. They’ve made a very, very bad decision and it’s come back to bite them.”

The ICAC office would not comment on the matter.

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