Former Corrections Minister John Elferink lies low as pressure mounts on CLP

FORMER Corrections Minister John Elferink went to ground yesterday as a former CLP Chief Minister broke ranks and joined calls for Adam Giles and his government to be sacked

Attorney-General and former Corrections Minister John Elferink has gone to ground since the Don Dale abuse scandal broke. PICTURE: Michael Franchi

FORMER Corrections Minister John Elferink went to ground yesterday as a former CLP Chief Minister broke ranks and joined calls for Adam Giles and his government to be sacked.

Mr Elferink is under increasing pressure. Lawyers, media commentators, indigenous groups and the Opposition have called for his resignation or removal from key portfolios including Attorney-General and Children and Families Minister.

But on radio yesterday Mr Giles backed his under-fire minister and said Mr Elferink should be “applauded” for reforms to corrections.

Former Chief Minister Ian Tuxworth told the NT News there should be an immediate election. “Somebody’s got to do something about this,” Mr Tuxworth said.

“Some would say this is worst event in the 30 years of self-government that we’ve ever had to deal with. It’s a serious problem if the Commonwealth comes in.

“The CLP should resign and go to the Administrator tomorrow for the election.”

Internal pressures within the party are mounting, sources say. Not one Minister contacted by the NT News yesterday responded to questions about whether they support keeping Mr Elferink in Cabinet.

The political fallout continued yesterday, following shocking footage of juveniles, including prisoner Dylan Voller, being tear-gassed, stripped naked and strapped to mechanical chairs that has caused international outrage.

Mr Elferink’s reforms to corrections included passing legislation to legalise strapping children detainees to mechanical chairs. The NT News understands the practice had been in use since at least 2014.

Mr Giles said yesterday he would suspend the use of the chairs, approved by Parliament in May, pending a review. Mr Elferink told the ABC that he had seen footage of abuse, but has still not said why he did not report it to police or act on it.

Some of the footage shown on the ABC this week was taken from 2010, when the previous Labor Government was in power. The NT News attempted to contact former Labor Chief Minister Paul Henderson for comment but he did not return calls.

Labor Government Accountability spokeswoman Natasha Fyles reiterated previous remarks that they accept responsibility in the abuse scandal during their previous Government and are committed to real reforms. “It’s appalling when the Chief Minister comes out to thank John Elferink and applaud his efforts when there has been a complete failure within ... our youth justice system,” she said.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s office said the Royal Commission would get answers. “It will be focused on both mistreatment of juveniles in that system, failings in the system and also how it was that these failings were not brought to light earlier, or if they were brought to light, why action was not taken.”

Mr Elferink did not return calls for comment.