Drug tests for fifth floor staffers ‘unnecessary’, says Chief Minister Michael Gunner
CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner has ruled out introducing drug tests for public servants working in parliament
Northern Territory
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Chief Minister Michael Gunner has ruled out introducing drug tests for public servants working in parliament despite recent allegations of drug taking by fifth floor staffers.
Mr Gunner said he was firmly against the idea of bringing in drug tests for public servants despite being aware of allegations of drug taking by fifth floor staffers.
He said there has never been any proof to substantiate the “rumours”.
“I have a general view against drug testing, full stop,” he told Mix 104.9 on Monday.
“I just don’t think it’s necessary.
“I think it’s costly, I just think it’s time wasting.”
Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro said the CLP would welcome drug testing.
“The Chief Minister has twice now said that he does not support drug testing of staffers in Parliament House,” she said.
“I can’t understand why any leader would take that position if they didn’t have something to hide.”
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A fifth floor staff meeting will be held on Monday to reinforce the Chief Minister’s zero tolerance on drug taking.
During the interview, Mr Gunner also revealed that he sat down with the Member for Blain “repeatedly” last Wednesday to help him go over a prepared statement Mr Turner was to deliver in parliament that night.
He claimed at that stage Mr Turner had not been completely honest with him about the extent and nature of his relationship with the woman at the centre of the scandal.
“I said mate you need to make a statement now, and based off everything you’ve been telling me all the way through this, you need to deny,” he told Mix 104.9.
“We worked with him around the denial.
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“Just before we went into the chamber to give the statement, he made what in my opinion were material changes to the statement that took out some very important denials.”
“It think he made those changes to the statement on Wednesday night to try and avoid misleading parliament.”
Originally published as Drug tests for fifth floor staffers ‘unnecessary’, says Chief Minister Michael Gunner
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