The NT's corruption watchdog says greater scrutiny should be applied on political campaigning following former chief minister Michael Gunner's flights to remote communities before the 2020 NT election, which cost taxpayers $14,000.
NT Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Michael Riches also recommended political staffers keep a record of when they were campaigning, to ensure they were not being paid by the NT government for time spent undertaking political activities. Mr Riches detailed in his report that Mr Gunner attended remote communities on three separate trips in mid-August 2020 via charter plane.During his time in these communities, the ICAC noted, Mr Gunner recorded Territory Labor promotional videos and attended polling booths but then also engaged with community members about COVID-19.
Mr Riches also noted concerns that public resources within the chief minister's office had allegedly been used to advance Territory Labor during the 2020 election.