Media Release from the Leader of the Opposition Lia Finocchiaro:
Deputy Chief Minister, Chansey Paech, has refused to come clean about how much Territory taxpayers will have to pay for a riot at the Darwin Correctional Facility in 2020.
In Question Time today, Opposition Leader, Lia Finocchiaro revealed this year’s Labor Budget contained a “once-off insurance reimbursement” of $10.27 Million for “works at the Darwin Correctional Centre.”
No further information was provided.
Under questions from Mrs Finocchiaro, Mr Paech admitted:
“Yes, that is a result of an insurance payout.”
However, when asked three times what the total damage bill for the riot was and how much Territory taxpayers would have to pay on top of the $10.27 million insurance payout, Mr Paech refused to answer.
Instead, the Deputy Chief Minister passed the buck to the Department.
“These are operational matters for the Northern Territory Correctional Services Commissioner,” he said.
“This was a significant riot that is estimated to have caused $40 million damage but the government has never revealed what the final cost to Territorians is,” said Mrs Finocchiaro.
“Why does the Deputy Chief Minister continue to hide the true cost?”
“The Deputy Chief Minister continues to show he can’t be trusted.”
