The NT Independent has been investigating and reporting on the Darwin Turf Club grandstand scandal for close to a year in a special series. Secret documents initially showed significant safety issues with the grandstand and Silks that were covered up by the club and the NT Government. Then leaked internal documents broke the whole grandstand scandal apart. Here are the major stories in the one place.
Bombshell ICAC report into grandstand scandal released: ‘Corruption, misconduct and breaches of public trust’
The ICAC has delivered an explosive report into the Gunner Government’s $12 million grandstand grant to the Darwin Turf Club, with findings of “corruption, misconduct, breaches of public trust and mismanagement of public resources”, implicating senior public servants, local businessmen and Darwin Turf Club members.
ICAC: Darwin Turf Club grandstand scandal – A chronology of corruption
The ICAC has delivered an explosive report into the Gunner Government’s $12 million grandstand grant to the Darwin Turf Club, with findings of “corruption, misconduct, breaches of public trust and mismanagement of public resources”, implicating senior public servants, local businessmen and Darwin Turf Club members. Here is the chronology of events.
Doubt cast on Gunner Government’s 2019 investigation into Darwin Turf Club grandstand scandal, more conflicts raised
Serious questions have been raised over how an NT Government investigation ordered by Chief Minister Michael Gunner into the $12 million Darwin Turf Club grandstand scandal did not turn up any instances of suspicious conduct or raise any alarm bells, given the material reported in the NT Independent’s recent special investigation series.
Dixon and Darwin Turf Club board sought more money from taxpayers as costs piled up, more potential conflicts emerge: Documents
EXCLUSIVE: Darwin Turf Club chairman Brett Dixon advised his board to seek money from Thoroughbred Racing NT – another taxpayer-funded body he is the chair of – to cover an increase in costs of the Silks lounge, a project his construction company was carrying out works on, internal Turf Club documents obtained by the NT Independent reveal.
Darwin Turf Club grandstand scandal: Conflicts of interest rife on Turf Club board, Jaytex’s bank voted for company to win contract
EXCLUSIVE: The Darwin Turf Club’s major players, including those who sat on the panel that selected Jaytex as the winning contractor for the $12 million grandstand project, had serious conflicts of interest, some of which do not appear to have been disclosed, the NT Independent can reveal.
‘It will go to ICAC’: Darwin Turf Club board unanimously approved grandstand contract for chairman’s company despite uncertainty
EXCLUSIVE: The majority of the Darwin Turf Club’s board of directors were nervous about public backlash, and some feared a corruption investigation, but they unanimously approved giving chairman Brett Dixon’s company the $12 million taxpayer-funded grandstand contract anyway, internal club records obtained by the NT Independent show.
NT building controller, Minister not concerned about public entering uncertified buildings: Estimates hearings
The NT Government’s chief building inspector says he has no concerns that the Darwin Turf Club knowingly allowed people to enter a building that was not certified, had failed two fire safety audits and ultimately suffered an electrical fire in an area that had hosted family fun days.
Darwin Turf Club grandstand scandal: Records contradict Dixon’s claims he was not involved in discussions about grandstand
EXCLUSIVE: Darwin Turf Club chairman and businessman Brett Dixon was personally involved in discussions with the board about the $12 million taxpayer-funded grandstand project while it was at the open tender stage, despite publicly claiming he had removed himself from all discussions, internal documents obtained by the NT Independent reveal.
Darwin Turf Club grandstand scandal: Brett Dixon lobbied Gunner Government for $12M grant without board’s knowledge, records show
EXCLUSIVE: The Darwin Turf Club’s board of directors was not aware chairman Brett Dixon was lobbying the Gunner Government for a $12 million grant to build a new grandstand until he disclosed that he had secured the taxpayer money in June 2019 – less than three months before his company was awarded the contract to build it – internal Turf Club documents obtained by the NT Independent reveal.
Darwin Turf Club fire: NT WorkSafe confirms investigation underway
NT WorkSafe has launched an investigation into an unreported electrical fire at the Darwin Turf Club’s Ted Bailey grandstand, the workplace investigator has confirmed.
Fire at the grandstand: Darwin Turf Cub did not report blaze at non-compliant premise that hosted ‘family fun days’
EXCLUSIVE: The Darwin Turf Club failed to report a fire that broke out earlier this year in its uncertified Ted Bailey grandstand – a building the club was aware had failed two fire safety inspections and does not have an occupancy permit, the NT Independent can reveal.
Documents show a Darwin Turf Club grandstand failed fire safety inspections twice, not certified
EXCLUSIVE: The Darwin Turf Club knowingly allowed people to enter a building that does not have an occupancy permit and which twice failed safety inspections for “critical fire safety non-compliances”, the NT Independent can reveal.
FOI documents contradict NT building controller’s statement on Turf Club’s Silks venue
EXCLUSIVE: Internal government documents show the Darwin Turf Club ordered emergency rectification works on its Silks lounge ahead of last year’s Cup Carnival after a formal complaint alleged the building was “unsafe and unsuitable to occupy” – which contradicts official statements by the NT Government.
‘The matter has been investigated’: NT Government dismisses Silks Club safety allegations
The NT Government has dropped an investigation into allegations of serious safety and building non-compliance issues with the Silks Club bar, according to a brief, four-sentence letter by the NT’s director of building control addressed to Darwin Turf Club chairman Brett Dixon.
‘This should have been stopped’: Darwin Turf Club’s grandstand safety concerns raised
EXCLUSIVE: A day after serious allegations were levelled at the Darwin Turf Club for alleged building non-compliance issues with its Silk’s Club bar, new documents have surfaced that raise questions about the safety of the controversial $12 million publicly-funded grandstand.
‘Perfect storm’: Turf Club’s Silks bar construction raises serious safety concerns
EXCLUSIVE: The Darwin Turf Club’s newly constructed Silks Club is alleged to be “unsafe and not suitable to occupy”, according to a whistleblower who has lodged a formal complaint with Northern Territory authorities over several alleged building non-compliance issues that “could put lives at risk”.
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