NT opposition whip Josh Burgoyne ‘likely’ to be charged over car crash

Country Liberal Party MLA Josh Burgoyne was involved in a car accident in Alice Springs last year.

Braitling MLA Josh Burgoyne. Picture: Fia Walsh

The Northern Territory’s opposition whip is expected to be charged in relation to a traffic accident in Alice Springs last year, with the territory’s government questioning why the public wasn’t notified about the incident earlier.

Country Liberal Party MLA Josh Burgoyne, who holds the seat of Braitling, was contacted by police this week advising he would “likely” be charged over the incident, which happened on August 26.

In a statement on Friday morning, NT Country Liberal Party opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro said she was informed of the crash at the time of the incident.

“He informed me at the time and my immediate concern was for the safety of all those involved, particularly his heavily pregnant wife who was in the car. I was told police and ambulance attended the accident as per the usual processes,” Ms Finocchiaro said.

“For the first time, traffic police contacted Josh this week indicating that he would likely be charged in relation to the accident. He immediately informed me.

NT Police Minister Brent Potter on Friday morning said Burgoyne was facing charges that carry a prison sentence.

“The leader of the opposition needs to come out front the media and answer questions, these are serious allegations and alleged criminal offending, driving dangerously causing harm does and can carry a prison sentence,” Mr Potter said.

“The member for Braitling has known about this for over six months and they’ve deliberately not told Territorians. The leader of the opposition had an opportunity to come out on Facebook, (she could have made a) media statement, a personal statement on the floor of the house in November and in December, and chose not to do it,” he said.

“So that actually raises questions about her integrity as a leader and Josh’s integrity to be able to come out and tell Territorians what actually happened.”

It is yet another scandal in Territory politics, after it was revealed this week that NT Attorney-General Chansey Paech purchased shares in a wholesale company that supplies alcohol to bottle shops in the NT, just months before his Labor government failed to renew Intervention-era grog bans on remote communities in 2022.

Deputy chief minister Chansey Paech purchased an unknown number of shares in the ASX-listed company Metcash in May 2022, according to parliamentary disclosure records, before divesting them in December 2023 – just two days after then chief minister Natasha Fyles was forced to resign over undisclosed shares in a mining company.

Mr Potter said the Burgoyne’s traffic incident and Paech’s share incident were “two different issues”.

“You have a conflict of interest that was declared two years ago ... the other side, which is what has happened to Josh Burgoyne, is alleged criminal behaviour that may make him a criminal or potentially see him in prison if it goes to court.

“I understand for Territorians it raises the bigger question around our politicians and the political system and trust, (Finocchiaro) has known for six months, whereas Chansey’s declared shares have been on there for two years.”