Chief Minister speaks at $5000-a-head interstate election fundraiser
The Chief Minister Michael Gunner spoke at a secret $5000-a-head interstate fundraising lunch for Labor’s Northern Territory branch, which the Premier of that state was slated to also speak at but pulled out of.
Palmerston and Beyond
Don't miss out on the headlines from Palmerston and Beyond. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Gunner Government needs nothing short of a miracle
- NTPA’s no confidence in Gunner
- Vowles may be gone, but Gunner’s problems will continue
- Vowles: NT Labor must dump Michael Gunner
Chief Minister Michael Gunner flew to Melbourne straight after the last parliamentary sittings of the year for a secret $5000-a-head fundraising lunch for Labor’s Northern Territory branch, the NT News can reveal.
An invitation for the event, leaked to the NT News, shows the luncheon was held on Friday at the exclusive Collins Quarter restaurant and was originally set to be attended by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.
The NT News have since been informed that Mr Andrews did not attend.
OTHER POLITICAL NEWS
NT’S NET debt to soar to more than $8.3bn
PUBLIC service staff blowout blamed on Palmo Hospital
‘IT’S abhorrent’: Govt rejects call for remote policing probe
The invitation states: “The proceeds will go towards the election of a Labor led Northern Territory Legislative Assembly.”
It gave invitees to the “exclusive leaders’ dinner” the chance to “hear directly about the Northern Territory’s policy direction.”
The NT News first put questions to Mr Gunner’s office on Friday about his whereabouts and why he flew out of Darwin so abruptly after parliament on Thursday night.
His office only responded that Mr Gunner flew to Melbourne at personal expense for “meetings” and that he would return last night.
When asked on Friday about him attending an interstate NT Labor-fundraising event, his office referred questions to the party.
Labor’s NT branch secretary Anthony Brereton also did not respond to questions about a fundraiser.
The decision by Mr Gunner, who has been vocal about the need for political parties to be more open and transparent about political donations, to attend the dinner under a veil of secrecy will raise further questions about his leadership and integrity.
It will also be met with fury from taxpayers who were last week told by Labor they were facing an unprecedented $8.3 billion debt within four years.
Independent MLA Robyn Lambley and Territory Alliance leader Terry Mills both questioned Mr Gunner holding secret fundraisers interstate.
“If there was a luncheon, what was being offered to interstate business people to attend,” Ms Lambley said on Friday.
When questioned yesterday about the $5000-a-head Melbourne luncheon, Mr Gunner’s office once again directed questions to the Labor Party.
Mr Brereton did not disclose how much money was raised at the luncheon and who attended, but said a return would be lodged.
“The Labor Party holds fundraisers like all political parties. Donations to the Labor Party are declared in strict accordance with our electoral laws,” he said.
“The Labor Party will lodge a return with the NT Electoral Commission as provided by law.
“In September 2019 the Northern Territory Labor Government established a cap on election expenditure and shortened the reporting time periods to increase transparency.”
DRU 2024-25: Top performers and point scorers of round named
The NT News sport team has run the rule over the DRU grade competition, compiling a list of the top performers and point scorers from Round 12. See who made it from your club.
‘Exciting milestone’: Stingers depart Darwin for Kuala Lumpur
A sense of responsibility and pride and an update on the future of Marrara’s turf fields were the talking points as the Stingers officially departed for Malaysia.