Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has refused to publicly release the official rules around the use of the taxpayer-funded white car chauffeur service while revealing on Monday that Education Minister Jo Hersey has now paid back taxpayers for misusing the service, which she previously refused to do, while also telling the public to have “confidence” that the secret rules are being followed.

The white car scandal continued Monday morning with no end in sight, with Ms Finocchiaro taking to radio to say that while the secret rules are “very clear” around forbidding the use of the service for personal events, they will not be released and no investigation conducted.

It follows one minister’s office calling a reporter at night last week and cryptically warning them not to “bring family into” the ongoing scandal that has cost ministers interstate their jobs.

“I’m not really sure [why the misuse is occurring],” Ms Finocchiaro said on Mix 104.9.

“Of course, we’ve reinforced to everybody what those clear rules are – you can’t use it for party political activities, and you can’t use it for personal activities like going to birthday parties and doctors appointments, so that’s very clear.”

But her refusal to publicly release the guidelines comes as several questions remain unanswered over a CLP political dinner at a local pizzeria that involved members using the white car service – including Ms Finocchiaro – as well as Ms Hersey’s other mysterious chauffeur service trips, including to the casino on Valentine’s Day night and a trip to a Greek restaurant that her office refuses to explain, as well as medical appointments.

Labor Opposition Leader Selena Uibo was the first caught up in the growing scandal that started when the ABC filed an FOI application seeking costs and travel logs for all ministers and the Opposition Leader between February and March of this year. Ms Uibo admitted she used the white car service for improper personal purposes, including dinner at Moorish and another Darwin restaurant, as well as to attend medical appointments and her own 40th birthday celebration, paying back taxpayers $655.

Ms Finocchiaro and the CLP have been far less forthcoming with details around their use of the taxpayer-funded chauffeur service, repeatedly refusing to explain the nature of all of their ministers’ trips.

Ms Hersey first claimed she used the car service to go to Casuarina for a personal purpose, but refused to pay back the cost of the trip because she claimed she took a bus back to the city.

She later confusingly claimed it only cost $1.50 to use the white car service, while also inexplicably claiming she could have charged taxpayers $30 to take an Uber from Parliament to Casuarina for the personal errand.

Ms Finocchiaro said on Mix on Monday that Ms Hersey has now paid back $45 for that trip, but did not explain any of the other questionable jaunts or how the costs were calculated.

She denied misusing the car service herself, but provided no explanation for the CLP pizza party at Fannie Bay Super Pizza on February 12, that records show she used to go from Parliament to the restaurant around the time Parliament concluded for the day. Questions have also been raised around a visit to a golf club Ms Finocchiaro took on another Wednesday night during sittings.

“People make mistakes, but at the end of the day, there’s a very high expectation on the use of public resources,” Ms Finocchiaro said about the other politicians’ trips, while denying she misused the service.

“And so you know, we’re very confident that this is all being done in accordance with the rules.

“But people can be confident in the use of the service and that people have put their hand up, said ‘yep, I stuffed up, I paid it back, I’m really sorry and it won’t be done again’.”

Only Ms Uibo has done that to date and left key details out of the full nature of her trips that the NT Independent filled in for her. Ms Finocchiaro has refused to explain her own trip to the pizzeria, telling a press conference on Thursday that “I don’t know what you’re talking about” when questioned by the ABC.

“It’s all in accordance with the rules,” Ms Finocchiaro said on Mix on Monday. “So is the rest of the team’s and look, it’s unfortunate it’s happened. And you know what? Everyone’s pulled up their socks and we just plough on.”

Hersey media adviser cryptically references ‘family’ on phone, says not to be brought in to political scandal

Ms Hersey’s media adviser Zac Webster refused last week to respond to emailed questions about Ms Hersey’s trip to the Mindil Beach Casino on the evening of Friday, February 14, and other perceived personal trips, instead repeatedly calling and texting this reporter last Wednesday evening to suggest the NT Independent “watch out” about “bringing family into this”.

Mr Webster was assured the only intent of emailed questions was to seek an answer as to why the Minister went to the casino on Valentine’s Day evening, which made no reference to family members.

“Many events have been held at the Casino, including an MXGP event there a couple weeks ago,” Mr Webster said on the phone.

He refused to explain at that point what official event the Minister attended on February 14 at the casino that necessitated the use of the white car service. He ended the call by again warning not to “bring family into this”.

Ms Hersey’s office has also refused to explain the medical appointments, the trip to a Telstra shop and other unusual visits to different places around Darwin, including the botanical gardens.

CLP wing meeting at Fannie Bay Super Pizza on February 12, 2025. (Pic: Steve Edgington Facebook page)

On Friday, Business Minister Robyn Cahill said on Mix 104.9 that she had no knowledge of the CLP pizza party at Fannie Bay Super Pizza, and that she “never actually attended a CLP party wing at any event”.

Her office declined to comment when sent a picture from Health Minister Steve Edgington’s Facebook page, showing Ms Cahill at the restaurant the day that Ms Finocchiaro and Environment Minister Josh Burgoyne used the white car service to attend the CLP meeting.

Ministers in other states have resigned after being caught using taxpayer-funded chauffeur trips for personal purposes, including former NSW Transport minister Jo Haylen earlier this year, after it was revealed she used the service for trips to wineries and weekend sporting events.

The Centre for Public Integrity told the ABC last week that the CLP Government’s refusal to explain their trips or release the guidelines “shows that they don’t want to be scrutinised”.

“When they won’t answer questions or reveal full details of the trips, it’s clear that they’re covering up,” said Anthony Whealy, chair of the Centre for Public Integrity.

“It’s scrutiny that’s absolutely essential in a situation like this, because it’s very clear that there’s a number of ministers who are not acceding to those guidelines, and that’s why they don’t want to hand them over.”