Opposition Leader Selena Uibo last night referred “potential fraud and gross conflicts of interest” at the Darwin Waterfront Corporation involving the Chief Minister’s husband to Parliament’s public accounts committee, citing “serious allegations involving significant sums of public money”, which followed an independent MLA’s blocked attempt to introduce a motion calling for increased measures to prevent unchecked corruption from continuing.
Ms Uibo told Parliament that Territorians are deeply concerned about what transpired at the Waterfront Corporation, involving jobs for mates, non-compliance with public service recruitment processes and the potential misuse of taxpayer funds to pay Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro’s husband Sam Burke an estimated $400,000 in “higher duties allowance” for questionable extra jobs over six years.
She also acknowledged the previous Labor government’s role in the alleged misconduct, stating that the matter needed to be investigated regardless of party lines.
“Since this CLP Government continues to refuse calls for an independent investigation, I am compelled to act,” Ms Uibo said during her parliamentary adjournment speech.
“These allegations are serious. They involve significant sums of public money and they cannot be allowed to quietly fade into the background.
“For a government that claims 2025 is its ‘year of action and certainty’, turning a blind eye to serious allegations and sweeping them under the rug is the exact opposite of action – and the opposite of certainty.”
Ms Uibo said her concerns with the Waterfront scandal included the creation of a “made-up, part-time job” for Mr Burke that was unadvertised and led to a $60,000 higher duties allowance that continued for six years, as well as public service recruitment rules being breached by failing to advertise jobs and bypassing merit-based reviews, with “job evaluation processes ignored for the benefit of certain individuals”.
Internal memos previously revealed by the NT Independent that showed public funds were being moved between taxpayer-funded entities – AustralAsia Railway Corporation and the DWC – to pay Mr Burke, also raised “concerns of potential fraud and gross conflicts of interest”, Ms Uibo said.
Concerns were also raised over Mr Burke’s current contract as deputy chief executive at the Darwin Waterfront, that saw him promoted to a higher salary band of $259,824 plus benefits in 2023 for a role that was never publicly advertised, not subject to a proper Job Evaluation System review and mysteriously signed six months before his previous contract expired.
“I acknowledge that much of this occurred under the former Labor government,” Ms Uibo said. “But that does not – and will not – deter me from demanding accountability.
“This is not about party lines, it’s about public trust. It’s about integrity. It’s about ensuring taxpayer dollars are not misused behind closed doors for the benefit of a select few.”
Ms Finocchiaro has continually refused to answer the NT Independent’s questions about the waterfront scandal, but Tourism Minister and Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby claimed an internal “review” by the Waterfront board – including chief executive Alastair Shields – and Department of Chief Minister & Cabinet chief executive Luccio Cercarelli, had not discovered any governance issues at the Waterfront Corporation.
Ms Boothby has repeatedly refused however to publicly release the internal review, and claimed in Parliament last week the issues around the Waterfront, which were backed up by internal documents, had “no substance”.
“Which is why I went to the CEO [of DCM&C] and also the CEO of the Darwin Waterfront, who did consult with that board, and based on this process, I am satisfied that those allegations don’t warrant any further investigation,” Mr Boothby said.
The internal review was completed before Sam Burke’s questionable contract and ongoing higher duties allowance was made public.
Meanwhile, independent MLA Justine Davis unsuccessfully attempted to introduce a motion in Parliament on Wednesday to address “widespread concerns about corruption, misconduct, and a lack of trust in the Northern Territory’s public service and government institutions”.
“We must restore public trust by implementing key reforms, including the creation of a Parliamentary Integrity and Oversight Committee, a Public Register of Interests for senior officials, and stronger protections for whistleblowers,” Ms Davis said about her proposed motion.
“Additionally, we need to ensure the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption is truly independent and holding those in power accountable effectively.”
However, the CLP ran down the clock in Parliament last night, amid debate on a motion by Mulka MLA Yingiya Guyula to eradicate racism in the Northern Territory.
“Every week, non-government members only get four hours to bring issues to Parliament,” Ms Davis said last night after her motion failed to get up.
“We used that limited time to debate an incredibly important motion brought by the Member for Mulka on addressing racism in the NT – a conversation that cannot wait and must be heard.”
Ms Davis’s motion will now come back to Parliament during the next full sittings in July, with Ms Davis pledging to continue to raise integrity issues “inside and outside Parliament” before then.
Ms Uibo’s referral of the Waterfront Corporation to the public accounts committee will need to be approved by chair and CLP MLA Clinton Howe before being formally accepted and investigated. The PAC is managed by the CLP, with three members on the committee, compared to Labor with one and Ms Davis as the independent member.
Darwin Waterfront Corporation board chair Pat Bellot, who was appointed by Ms Boothby last December, issued a statement on Thursday morning stating that the board “operates with transparency and integrity”, adding that the corporation is subject to annual audits by the Auditor General which have “consistently found no evidence to support any finding of financial or governance misconduct”.
“The Darwin Waterfront Corporation categorically denies any wrongdoing and welcomes the opportunity to respond to any matters raised by participating in any inquiry,” Mr Bellot said in the statement.
“The DWC will fully cooperate with the Public Accounts Committee, in accordance with the Darwin Waterfront Corporation Act and all other applicable legislative and other requirements.”
Note: This story was updated to include Mr Bellot’s comments.
We need an urgent intervention. There are too many issues and no one here can be trusted to rectify these matters with any integrity.
Even you are scared to say it: We need prosecutions, in public. We need to see people charged and in court for what they’ve done.
And we want all that money, obtained fraudulently, paid back to the public account.
Yep and start in chronological order, do you think any Labor figures will survive?
Selena Uibo, stepped up to the plate!
Good on her!
ALP only acted after many months of pushing this issue by NT Independent. To maintain any degree of credibility, she should of acted much sooner than now.
it happened under the three previous ALP governments she has done absolutely nothing
You may find the current remnants of the ALP where ironically not the Labor decision makers!
Fyles, Manison, Lawler, Lord Genuis Gunner, and a unnamed advisor made the decisions! Pretty much like now with all decisions coming from the world’s most fabulously photographed chief minister making every micro managing decision for the CLP while 16 CLP MLA’s just do media photos all day.
Lets see how CLP MLA Clinton Howe reputation, in this town, progresses, as he handles this very painfull Hot Potato!
Will it reach Boothby depths?
Are the CLP MLA’s not counting numbers for a career saving Roll The Boss? Surely they can clearly see their own doom and lifelong embarrassment?
Take it from Certified Genius former Chief Minister Michael “$11 Billion” Gunner as well as the current Fabulously Photographed Chief Minister, them feral Territorians are very vocal and boisterous in cafes, voting locations, shopping centres and strip clubs.
Don’t accept this political sleight of hand trick. The corrupt investigating the corrupt, a bit like how ICAC has been set up to dysfunction.
Selena Uibo is just using this to score political points. She could have made her move a long time ago but she’s jumping on the community accountability bandwagon to try to keep herself relevant.
Why is no one, except our household, advocating for criminal charges for fraud, corruption and abuse of office, amongst other things?
Prosecute them and all who assist in the cover up, that includes you Boothby. And anyone in the Government at that time who helped push this all through.
Parliamentary investigations run by the CLP? FFS.
That’s all you’ve got? Seriously?
Send the Police into the Government email system, it’s all still in there.
Serve search warrants on Alastair Shields, his phone and his work and personal email accounts. Same for Andrew Kirkman and Sam Burke.
Let’s see who knew what and when and who else was involved because we would bet our family home on the fact that this isn’t the only time these fraudsters and their mates have done this.
The angel on Jim Jefferies left shoulder( long name)! I’m on your team old mate, you are dead right!
The reality sadly is :
(1) Boothby will say “ No issue here”!
(2) Those frightened gutless MLA’s will as usual stay silent- the little darlings!
To my fellow Territorians l offer the following.
A comedian, after delivery of each joke that left the audience in raptures use to end each joke with the saying “ Write it down, write it down!
So with regard to this CLPALP SHITSHOW and the most useless MLA’s GOD ever imagined l suggest you all “ write each moment down!” Si we can reflect back on these little darlings when the next election comes around!!
Keep great and safe
Darren Nugent
Right, l have a minute while the bbq heats up!
YOU would be most misinformed in judgement thinking that Labor has finally awakened and spoken up!
Labor could have done this a long time ago but the fact is that all this BS occurred and was sanctioned under Labor’s governance! LiaR Finnochiaro all this time was apparently quite happy with the financial benefits and chose to keep quiet, presenting this vision of a lovely butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth persona to the Territory people!
By association LiaR shares the crime and in doing so, she my opinion again has excelled in less than piss poor performance in her leadership to date, she has satisfactorily achieved “ Putrid” status!
Labor have only now pulled their heads from out of the rectum of guilt because the wider Territory public have finally become noisy!
This is a most disturbing aspect of how Labor present themselves to the people, a low balling, cunning deceitful bully and they should be judged harshly for this trait by Territorians!
Write it down write it down!
So we can all show Labor and the CLP the door and not let the door hit them on the arse as they exit, come the next Territory election !
Further, most of these people are on the Role of Legal Practitioners, as such the Law Society could (and should) investigate their conduct to determine whether they are fit and proper people to continue to be on the Role!
Good point
Alastair Shields has been forced to release a statement, he calls it “cost sharing”.
Ahhhh, that’s fine then, sorry Alastair, we all got it wrong, all the public, all the politicians, all the media, all looking at this and not one person worked out that it was a simple “cost sharing” manoeuvre. Silly us. Guess we’re collectively not as smart as you.
Hey Alastair, any update on your defamation threat you sent to the NTI before they published the first story? How is that coming along?
And now that all this pressure has forced you into finally releasing a statement, to attempt to quell the angry mob, why didn’t you explain it away like this right at the beginning then if it was a commonly done financial move?
Why won’t Boothby release her ‘review’ to fend off hungry media?
Why no statement from Sam Burke about how he got his new job, why he got it and why his mate cost shared him HDA for 6 years?
Done any other cost sharing that we should all know about Alastair, while you’re on a statement roll?
Don’t forget Andrew Kirkman people, he jumped from the sinking ship to excuse himself from this current spotlight but we’re sure he’s up to his neck in other cost sharings.
Watching this space with such monumental enthusiasm.
We wonder if the CLP stacked Public Accounts Committee has the balls to bury this like Boothby was told to.
Keep up the pressure and good work everyone. Someone will break ranks when the possibility of prison time gets too close to them.
Report this kind of stuff to the NT Police, let their investigative branch take it over. And chuck in Stuart Knowles, his wife/Kirkman’s sister’s friend and colleague and his mates’ helping him ‘escape prosecution’ as per the Criminal Code Act (accessory after the fact) while you’re at it.
If you want truly open Government in the future, neither the ALP or the CLP is going to give you that.
‘Change For Better’ will.
These lies and continual cover up nonsense wouldn’t have happened on our watch. No chance.
Fish rots from the head a the NT is getting very smelly at the top.
Palmerston Council Employment Dispute settled quietly in the Fair work Commission.Lets see what happens with the General Protections Case involving Andrew Kirkman before Judge Mansini in the Federal Circuit Court next month!
Question for Minister Boothby
Can the Minister please confirm whether in addition his not insignificant salary for his job at the Waterfront does Mr Shields also submit ABN invoices for services to various NT Government Agencies. If so is this consistent with ATO OCPE and Remuneration Tribunal requirements?
Do any other NT Government Agencies or employees thereof have similar payment arrangements?
FOI request?
So the current Labor party has just dobbed themselves in to the NT Public Accounts Committee for something they have been hiding since 2016 which is roughly 9 years & 3 different labor chief ministers
@Lady Darwinian:
The hits just keep on coming….
Alastair Shields is also the Chairman of LEGAL PRACTITIONERS’ DISCIPLINARY TRIBUNAL AT DARWIN.
See here for details: https://agd.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/1326873/calabro-v-law-society-nt-and-farmer.pdf
Still think The Game is not rigged, people?
Not one political group or wannabe political group and not one individual has advocated for prosecutions of this current crop of TICKS as well as previous ALP ones who committed criminal offences while in public office. Not one.
You’ve all skirted around the proper consequences, throwing euphemisms around like we’re not all adults in the room, and again not one person or group has called this position for Alastair out publicly either.
Think of how many people know he is also the Chairman of LEGAL PRACTITIONERS’ DISCIPLINARY TRIBUNAL AT DARWIN and involved in this current DWC scandal too and the accepting corporate hospitality from the gambling industry while regulating them scandal and yet they say nothing about those glaring and outrageous conflicts.
How can all the legal practitioners in the NT accept him to be the Chairman of this Tribunal?
Where are all the solicitors and barristers complaining about this? How can any of you think outsiders will take you seriously if you remain silent on this?
None of you can criticise Clockwork Orange Marie-Clare if you continue allowing Alastair Shields to tell other legal people they’re not fit and proper to be lawyers like him. You F**king Hypocrites.
Can you not all see how this almost perfect example of incongruence and absurdity damages the whole of the NT to not only the rest of the country but to the rest of the world as well?
Don’t you give a f**k? Even a little bit?
In true Kafkaesque fashion, maybe Alastair should refer himself as a practising lawyer to his own disciplinary tribunal?
The same as asking the CLP controlled Public Accounts Committee to investigate their boss’s husband and their mates.
Why not refer it to the NT Police instead Selena? Or directly to the DPP?
Because you know it’s going to go nowhere, locked in the dark recesses of NT Parliament, then you can blame that on the CLP, tell anyone who’s listening that it was YOU who referred them and what an accountability warrior you are (*sounds trumpets with horse hooves clapping) then continue on with your irrelevant political charades, pulling in the big bucks while doing so.
Still think The Game is not rigged, people?
The collective wilful blindness is quite astonishing to be honest.
How many politicians have you seen or heard calling for Greg Shamahan and Naomi Loudon to be removed from ICAC to ensure their Donald Trump level conflicts of interest are no more?
NONE. Because they all benefit from the NT Government control of that body. The classic Quid Pro Quo set up.
Still think The Game is not rigged, people?
The same for Shields.
The same for LiaR Finocchiaro and her family benefitting directly from her husband’s fake job salary for years.
Did they buy their house with that money perhaps? Would that be a proceed of crime if he’s found guilty of complicity in this fake job scheme?
How may people have called her out personally in public for this, for this potential connection?
Or for her assistance in helping others escape prosecution, like Stuart Knowles, like those racist lying Police officers?
NONE.
Still think The Game is not rigged, people?
No wait, one group has and will continue to do so: ‘Change For Better’ Party.
The only serious group who actually wants things to Change, knows how to do it and isn’t scared to take on the NT political upper echelons and their lackeys.
Selena Uibo, you’re embarrassing. The ALP are totally redundant at best; politically and personally just as guilty at worst.
The only serious group to offer practical and legislative solutions to rid the NT of these openly corrupt TICKS is ‘Change For Better’.
Think about this over the weekend with these words from our eminent Attorney Dummy Boothby or maybe that should read Boofby:
“That’s our government.”
You can now add to that:
“That’s our legal profession.”
If you agree that The Game is rigged yet you only want to tinker round the edges and don’t want to change The Game itself then you are taking up valuable space for people who do.
Step aside please and hold the door open for real Change Agents to enter the building.
Then you’ll really see what a functioning, transparent, accountable Government looks like.
It’s there, within your grasp, if you want it to be.
If not, then keep accepting this rubbish for generations to come while Alastair cost shares all your money to his mates and their wives and families. Cha-ching!
As was said before: Think Big or Forever Remain Small.
@ jimjeff: Actually, he would be required to step aside if the complaint is about him. You rant too much nonsense 🙄
Wonder if alistair sought permission to engage in outside employment?
ABN detailshelp
Entity name: SHIELDS, ALASTAIR
ABN status: Active from 07 Aug 2018
Entity type: Individual/Sole Trader
Goods & Services Tax (GST): Registered from 07 Nov 2018
Main business location:
NT 0820
ABN last updated: 07 Nov 2018Record extracted: 24 May 2025
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@Darwin Kid
You completely missed the joke, the analogy to ICAC and you need to read some Franz Kafka books or just watch: The Trial.
We award you a C+ for effort though, which is generous as our Year 8 daughter says you should only get a D.