Gunner attacks Giles over 'slush fund'

LETTER TO THE EDITOR
 
Sir – Adam Giles continues to deny links between the CLP Government and slush fund Foundation 51 despite the mounting evidence, including leaked emails, to the contrary.
 
[Media] revelations expose that Foundation 51 Director, Graeme Lewis, has recently lodged an electoral return disclosing contributions to the CLP’s election campaigns and admitted Foundation 51 was an associated entity of the CLP.
 
Mr Lewis also admitted to a conflict of interest in being, until recently, the CLP’s treasurer and Chair of the Land Development Corporation: “In retrospect … I would probably have to answer that there was a conflict of interest,” Mr Lewis was reported as saying.
 
In a leaked email from Adam Giles to Graeme Lewis the Chief Minister writes: “Graeme. Let’s have a chat when you get back … I want to ensure there was no real or perceived conflict of interest with any dealing you may or may not have”.
 
In reply, Mr Lewis emailed to Adam Giles: “I really need to talk one to one with you about all this … The real issue is that, given all that is happening in the CLP, even before this last fiasco, it’s clear my time is up”.
 
In May this year Foundation 51 director Graeme Lewis was running a draft press release past Chief Minister Adam Giles for his vetting.
 
Former Treasurer Dave Tollner has admitted that political donations ‘will open my door’ and when asked isn’t that paying for political favours, Dave Tollner’s response was “you could put it that way I suppose”.
 
Territorians deserve assurance that the CLP Government is operating in an accountable and transparent manner.
 
Only an independent inquiry into political donations can provide that assurance – what have they got to hide?
 
Michael Gunner (pictured)
Shadow Attorney-General