Sacked minister Ken Vowles warns Chief Minister Michael Gunner to watch his back

SACKED NT Resources Minister Ken Vowles says Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s hold on the Labor leadership will remain shaky because the people who really want his job are still in his ministry

Sacked minister Ken Vowles looks on at Chief Minister Michael Gunner. Picture: Michale Franchi

SACKED NT Resources Minister Ken Vowles says Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s hold on the Labor leadership will remain shaky because the people who really want his job are still in his ministry.

“He may think that getting rid of me because I was honest and spoke up, will solve his problem but he is wrong,” Mr Vowles said.

“He will have to watch his back. It is the ones who have been complaining to me about him and are still there he needs to worry about.

“The economy is buggered and there is more pain to come. His leadership will be questioned with every announcement.”

When asked how many other of his Labour parliamentary colleagues have complained about Mr Gunner’s leadership, Mr Vowles said: “Most of them apart from Nicole (Manison) and Natasha (Fyles).”

Mr Vowles questioned Mr Gunner’s behaviour by banning him from attending the Labor caucus meeting that was called to decide his fate.

He said claims in the NT News on Friday by Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison that he had an opportunity to attend the caucus meeting were not true.

“I had no opportunity to attend the meeting to defend myself to my colleagues. Michael Gunner banned me from attending an hour before.

“The fair and proper thing for the Chief Minister to do would have been to give me the opportunity to defend myself,” he said.

“It says a lot about him and a lot about his leadership.”

Mr Vowles has received a flood of public support following his sacking.

“I’ve had enormous support from rank and file members of the Labor Party … enormous support from the community … I thank them and I am truly humbled,” he said.

“I have met with the NT Labor president and been advised that there has been no contact about expelling me from the Party.

“At this stage it is my” intention to continue to sit in Parliament as the elected Labor Party member for Johnston.”