A senior NT public servant’s internal email to department heads claiming the US Embassy in Canberra asked the NT Government to come up with “creative ways” for the Territory to celebrate the US July 4 Independence Day holiday has been called into question, after the Embassy refused to confirm it made the unusual request.

The NT Independent revealed on Monday that Defence NT general manager Jimmy Kiploks sent an email to NT Government department heads this month claiming the US Embassy had requested Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro and the NT Government consider holding events to celebrate the US’ 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but told them any events would have to be covered “from within existing resources” – meaning NT taxpayers would have to pay for any celebratory activities.

“The US Embassy in Australia has asked the Chief Minister and Northern Territory Government to consider creative ways to mark this important milestone in the community and as the Northern Territory Government,” he wrote in the internal email obtained by the NT Independent.

Mr Kiploks also unusually claimed the US Embassy may kick in “some small funding” if an event was of “particular note to the US”. He also claimed the “US Marine Corps” stationed in Darwin could contribute “in-kind support” to events the NT Government hosts.

Asked if Mr Kiploks was authorised to make those claims on behalf of the US Embassy or the US Marines, US Embassy head of media and strategic communications in Australia Sarah Talalay told the NT Independent in a phone conversation the Embassy had “no comment”.

Ms Talalay provided the same response when asked if the US Embassy had requested Ms Finocchiaro and the NT Government celebrate July 4 here, as Mr Kiploks claimed in his email to department heads.

The NT Independent is not aware of the US Embassy requesting any other Australian jurisdiction hold July 4 celebrations.

Searches of planned US ‘semiquincentennial’ events – the marking of the 250th year of the US’ independence – in Australia shows only sanctioned events by the Embassy and the US consulates, as well as planned academic discussions.

Mr Kiploks claimed in his email to NT public servants that “we are keen for the Chief Minister to be able to present a rich and comprehensive proposal to the Embassy, which demonstrates [our shared history] and our commitment to the United States at the Territory level” in response to the alleged request.

He suggested the NT could hold fireworks displays on July 4, or light up NTG buildings in red, white and blue, while also suggesting “educational and cultural activities” could be held or the “rebadging of existing initiatives to include reference to America 250”.

All of it would have to be paid out of departmental budgets, he warned. He also suggested that public servants should “leverage your relationship with US companies operating in the NT for potential support and partnerships”.

Mr Kiploks did not respond to the NT Independent’s questions yesterday, including if Ms Finocchiaro was aware of the email to department heads before he sent it and if he had discussed claiming the US Embassy requested that events be held with her.

He also declined to share any “creative” ideas the department heads offered on how best to celebrate July 4 in the Territory and also refused to say if he had lied to those public servants by claiming the Embassy asked for the celebration ideas.

Ms Finocchiaro’s office also refused to comment on the embarrassment the matter has caused the Northern Territory with the United States, or if Mr Kiploks should be terminated for potentially lying to public servants about the US Embassy and making unsubstantiated claims it would kick in some money for events that pleased it.

It is unclear if she still intends to take the “rich and comprehensive proposal” of the NT’s July 4 events to the Embassy.

Mr Kiploks was hired by Ms Finocchiaro as general manager of Defence NT in August 2025. He previously worked for Lockheed Martin and was an adviser to former prime minister Scott Morrison.

NT News reporter Gary Shipway claimed in an article last year that Mr Kiploks was the lead player in the “development and delivery of the AUKUS trilateral security partnership” on behalf of Morrison. The $368 billion deal has since been widely criticised as a massive diversion of money for Australia that could also impact national sovereignty, while concerns remain about the US and UK’s ability to deliver the submarines on schedule, creating a “capability gap” for the Australian military.

Mr Kiploks’ job with Defence NT is reportedly to “build strategic relationships with Defence, industry and international partners”.