Former Gunner chief-of-staff Alf Leonardi leaves public service after explosive Darwin Turf Club report
Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s former right-hand man Alf Leonardi has resigned from the Department of Education.
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CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner’s former right-hand man Alf Leonardi has resigned from the Department of Education.
Alf Leonardi, who served as Mr Gunner’s chief-of-staff for years, was found to have committed misconduct by the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) for helping facilitate the tender process of the $12m Darwin Turf Club grandstand.
When asked by Mr Gunner on Friday whether Mr Leonardi was still employed, the Chief Minister said he believed he had resigned.
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“I believe so,” he said.
It was revealed recently that Mr Leonardi was working within the NT public service since leaving the Chief Minister’s office in late 2019.
The Education Department spokeswoman on Friday confirmed Mr Leonardi had resigned.
Mr Gunner said he was not aware of any further board members from the Turf Club resigning, after all but three handed in their notice last week.
“I made it very clear what our position was, that you should all resign.”
Mr Gunner has maintained he was not aware of Mr Leonardi’s actions during the grandstand saga, since a bombshell ICAC report was released in late June.
He also has repeatedly insisted the ICAC had cleared both him and all government ministers of any wrongdoing or involvement in the saga.
The report found Mr Leonardi had lobbied “on behalf of (Brett) Dixon, advising him what to write … what to include, where to send his proposal and providing his own personal assistance in several ways.”
Mr Dixon was at the time chairing the Turf Club’s board, while his company Jaytex was vying to win a $12m contract to construct the grandstand.
Mr Gunner on Friday said he was comfortable with some members of the board renominating themselves to their positions, so long as they had no history in relation to the incident.
Deputy opposition leader Gerard Maley said Mr Leonardi’s decision to resign was “appropriate”.
Mr Maley called on the government to explain why it had only taken 12 hours for cabinet to approve the development.
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