Conflict of interest questions over ICAC contractor referred to investigation
An ICAC worker who helped prepare the Darwin Turf Club grandstand report was involved in a bitter dispute with the club in the past, it can be revealed.
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AN independent Commissioner Against Corruption worker who helped prepare the Darwin Turf Club grandstand report was involved in a bitter dispute with the club in the past, it can be revealed.
New ICAC Commissioner Michael Riches has referred information relating to contractor Dr Robyn Smith to ICAC Inspector Bruce McClintock, who is investigating the matter.
On Friday, an ICAC spokeswoman confirmed that Dr Smith was involved in “supporting the former Commissioner (Ken Fleming) in the preparation of the Darwin Turf Club report”.
“Dr Smith is contracted to provide research services to the office,” she said.
“In light of matters raised in your correspondence, Commissioner (Michael) Riches has spoken to the ICAC Inspector, who has determined to investigate the matter further.”
The spokeswoman was unable to say if Dr Smith had declared a conflict of interest.
Internal turf club documents reveal Dr Smith had a dispute with the club in 2013 involving “accusations of deception, fraud and professional misconduct” after she was engaged by the club to write about its history.
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An email from former turf club chief executive Philip Neck to Dr Smith on March 6, 2013 stated: “To date for work already completed we have paid the $10,000 and recently your invoice dated 7th January 2013 for $4545.”
“However, your report attached to this invoice states you have researched into the 1930s meaning you have 83 years still to go !!!!! (sic)” Mr Neck wrote.
Dr Smith eventually replied on March 27, 2013 saying: “I didn’t respond to your last email because I won’t dignify accusations of deception, fraud and professional misconduct with a response.”
“I am, however, happy to meet with your chairman (Brett Dixon) to discuss the matter. Parliament is sitting at present and I am unavailable for the remainder of the business week,” she wrote.
Dr Smith wrote to the turf club in April 2013 acknowledging the board were disappointed that work she had promised remained “incomplete” and “the chairman (Mr Dixon) made it clear that the committee’s understanding was that there would be a finished product in the order of $10,000”.
Both parties ultimately signed a contractual agreement in October 2013 where it was agreed Dr Smith would be paid an “agreed fee” of $21,640, inclusive of GST and all disbursements.
The agreement stated that Dr Smith had to deliver a full manuscript of the work by no later than June 30, 2014, which she did.
The NT News confirmed on Friday that Dr Smith’s work was never published.
Mr McClintock did not respond to a request for comment before Friday night’s deadline.
Dr Smith is a Conjoint Fellow at the University of Newcastle who has a PhD in political history.
She has had work published by various organisations, including Charles Darwin University and the NT Independent website.
Dr Smith, who previously worked for the Department of Legislative Assembly, declined to comment.
The ICAC report, published last month, found Mr Dixon had engaged in corrupt conduct over the awarding of a $12m grant to the turf club, which was later built by one of the companies he part-owns.
Mr Dixon has launched Supreme Court action to have the report quashed.
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