Outback Wrangler Matt Wright, Kaia Wright in NTCAT over Development Consent Authority dispute
A development fight over one of Outback Wrangler Matt Wright’s properties has dragged the reality TV star back into fresh legal woes.
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An Outback Wrangler’s development dispute could “prejudice” the ongoing investigation into an alleged chopper crash conspiracy, a civil tribunal has heard.
Matt Wright and his wife Kaia have been caught up in fresh legal woes, with a Development Consent Authority dispute before the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The Wrights’ lawyer David De Silva appeared before NT CAT president Mark O’Reilly on Friday to fight any public disclosure of documents relating to an alleged development dispute at one of the Wright’s properties.
The reality television star and his writer, model and insta-famous wife did not attend the tribunal hearing, but the consultant and advisor Sam Nixon was there in person.
Mr De Silva told the hearing the release of evidence to the public, particularly the DCA file and hearing briefs, could be “dangerous” and prejudicial both to the contested development and Mr Wright’s criminal trial.
“The documents themselves are reasonably innocuous,” Mr De Silva said.
However, he said the release of “untested, contested material” should not be released “as they’re likely to change throughout the hearing”.
“It would be dangerous, in our submission, to allow early access at this point,” he said.
Mr Wright faces seven charges in relation to the helicopter crash that claimed the life of his friend and father-of-two Chris “Willow” Wilson on February 28, 2022.
Police have alleged in the wake of the crash Wight, and his co-accused Remote Helicopters Australia owner Michael Keith Burbidge and former acting Senior Sergeant Neil Ryan Mellon all conspired to destroy evidence and made false declarations in an attempt to pervert the course of justice.
Burbidge and Wright were also accused of attempting to fabricate evidence.
The Outback Wrangler star was also charged with unlawfully entering a building and a dwelling, and making threats or reprisals involving a criminal investigation.
A DCA senior compliance and enforcement officer Richard Lloyd appeared in the Casuarina hearing room, supported by the department’s legal representative Jon Bortoli.
The DCA said applicants could apply to NTCAT to review its decisions or conditions imposed, with the latest annual report finding there were five applications lodged in 2021-22.
The property involved in the dispute was not revealed, however Mr O’Reilly indicated the original application and any responses could be released.
The Wrights have properties across the Top End, with Mr Wright’s businesses including the Bynoe-based Top End Safari Camp, Tiwi Island Retreat on Bathurst Island and their luxury accommodation business Freshwater Retreat at Jingili.
It is understood the family home is at Howard Springs.
Mr O’Reilly said there had been some action taken by the Wrights which could “resolve the issue”, and asked both the enforcement body and the Wrights’ lawyers to have informal discussions outside the tribunal.
A compulsory NTCAT conference will be held on February 22, with a potential hearing date to be decided after that.
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Originally published as Outback Wrangler Matt Wright, Kaia Wright in NTCAT over Development Consent Authority dispute
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