Northern Territory's ICAC Recommends Greater Scrutiny on Politicians' Travel Expenses During Campaigns
The Northern Territory's Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) has released a report recommending greater scrutiny on politicians' travel expenses during election campaigns. This follows an investigation into the territory's Labor government charging taxpayers nearly $15,000 for flights to remote communities that coincided with visits from mobile polling stations during the 2020 election.
The ICAC commissioner, Michael Riches, noted that while the flights served a "dual purpose" of political campaigning and public engagement, the dominant motivation was political. He recommended that all politicians keep a record of any travel taken during a caretaker period, when travel is partially or fully expensed to the public purse.
Additionally, Riches recommended that all staff within a politician's office complete time sheets leading up to general elections, identifying times spent either on public duties or on political activities. He also expressed concerns about the alleged use of public resources within the chief minister's office to advance Territory Labor during the 2020 election. This issue will be addressed in a separate report to be completed by June 30.
Chief Minister Eva Lawler acknowledged the lack of clarity in previous guidelines and confirmed that new guidelines have been implemented. However, she declined to comment on whether the flights were an appropriate use of taxpayer funds, stating that those were questions for Michael Gunner or the ICAC commissioner.
Independent MLA Robyn Lambley expressed disappointment with the lack of findings of misconduct by the ICAC, arguing that the report clearly showed the flights were politically motivated. She plans to push for an inquiry after the upcoming NT election to examine whether the ICAC needs to be overhauled to better carry out its functions.
Opposition Deputy Leader Gerard Maley emphasized the need for clear guidelines to ensure that public funds are used for governing the Northern Territory, not for political campaigning. He believes the government knew they were using public funds inappropriately.
The ICAC's recommendations and the ongoing debate highlight the importance of transparency and accountability in the use of public funds, particularly during election campaigns.