CLP calls for Chief to ‘clear the air’ on $12m Darwin Turf Club grandstand by releasing cabinet papers

The Chief Minister has been challenged to clear the air and release all the cabinet documents upon which his ministers decided to grant $12m to the Darwin Turf Club to build a new grandstand.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner has been challenged to clear the air and release all the cabinet documents upon which his ministers decided to grant $12m to the Darwin Turf Club to build a new grandstand. Picture: Che Chorley

• BOMBSHELL LETTER: Lawyer claims Leonardi ‘actively encouraged’ grandstand grant application
• Darwin Turf Club chair Brett Dixon steps away, refuses to resign
• Darwin Turf Club board to resign or be sacked over ICAC report: Gunner
• ICAC finds corruption in $12m grandstand probe

THE Chief Minister has been challenged to clear the air and release all the cabinet documents upon which his ministers decided to grant $12m to the Darwin Turf Club to build a new grandstand.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition Gerard Maley said releasing the cabinet documents would let Territorians know why Mr Gunner’s government rubber stamped the $12m grant.

“For Michael Gunner to claim he had no knowledge of the inner workings of the deal, when his then chief-of-staff and closest adviser had been orchestrating the proposal is absolutely farcical,” Mr Maley said.

“The buck stops with the Chief Minister and his cabinet ministers, who handed over $12m of taxpayers’ funds.

“Territorians deserve to know how that decision was made and why cabinet approved a proposal that was only submitted the day before.

MORE TOP NEWS

FREEDOM AT LAST: Lockdowns lifted after Territory’s dance with Delta brought under control

Interstate buyer snaps up Darwin rural area mall Coolalinga Central for $80m

Booming Darwin dwelling prices, rents set new annual growth records, CoreLogic data shows

“Since the ICAC handed down its report, we have said that excuse is completely implausible – and the revelations from Darwin Turf Club chairman Brett Dixon’s lawyer that Michael Gunner ‘enthusiastically supported’ the construction of the $12m grandstand ahead of the 2020 election, provides further proof of that.”

Mr Dixon’s lawyer sent Mr Gunner a letter that also alleged one of the reasons the grandstand was championed by former chief-of-staff Alf Leonardi was because it needed to be finished before the 2020 Darwin Cup Carnival to ensure the Gunner government received kudos for the project in the lead-up to the 2020 Northern Territory election.

“Contrary to what Michael Gunner has told media – the ICAC report absolutely did not clear the Chief Minister and his cabinet of wrongdoing,” Mr Maley said.

“And trying to sell this to Territorians after hiding behind ‘cabinet in confidence’ is shameful and deceptive.

“The ICAC cannot look at matters that are ‘cabinet in confidence’.”

Punters watch a race from the $12m grandstand at the Darwin Turf Club. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Mr Gunner confirmed he was an enthusiastic supporter of the $12m grandstand being built.

“I supported the grandstand,” Mr Gunner said.

He denied that he championed the project to ensure his government got the kudos for the project in the lead-up to the 2020 Territory election.

“But we were very keen for the work to happen as quickly as possible in terms of a construction project,” he said.

“It wasn’t a timing thing. We needed the jobs because that was a point in time that we were very keen to create as many construction jobs as possible post the Inpex cliff.”