Status - Terms of Reference - Submissions - Public Briefing - Media Statement - Contact

Status

Inquiry established 27 May 2025
Public Briefing  2.30 - 4.30 pm, Tuesday 3 June 2025

Terms of Reference

Pursuant to clause (1)(e) of its Terms of Reference, on 27 May 2025 the Public Accounts Committee resolved to inquire into and determine the appropriateness of the use of taxpayer funds and conflict of interest management at the Darwin Waterfront Corporation with a focus on the claims asserted by the Leader of the Opposition in Hansard Wednesday 21 May, specifically:

• Alleged creation of a made-up part-time job, reportedly unadvertised and resulting in a $60,000 salary increase via a temporary higher duties allowance;
• The higher duties allowance allegedly continued for up to six years, long after the temporary role ended;
• claims of funds being moved between the Darwin Waterfront Corporation and the AustralAsia Railway Corporation and their appropriateness;
• Signing of a new four year executive contract that was not advertised, not subject to the required job evaluation system review and signed six months before the previous one expired; and
• Any other information relevant to the above.

A copy of the Inquiry Terms of Reference can be found here.

Submissions

Submission No. 1 - Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment
Submission No. 2 - Darwin Waterfront Corporation
Submission No. 3 - AustralAsia Railway Corporation
Submission No. 4 - Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet

Public Briefing

Public Briefing - 2.30 - 4.30 pm, Tuesday 3 June 2025
Transcript - Public Briefing - 3 June 2025 

Media Statement

3 June 2025:
Following receipt of submissions and a public briefing, the Public Accounts Committee has unanimously decided that none of the allegations as set out in the inquiry Terms of Reference are substantiated. A full report to the Legislative Assembly will follow in due course.

Contact

Julia Knight
Committee Secretary 
GPO Box 3721
Darwin NT 0801 
Telephone: (08) 8901 4149
Email: Julia.Knight@nt.gov.au