Action for Alice’s Darren Clark apologises to minister Kate Worden over ‘untrue claims’

Police Minister Kate Worden has confirmed she retained legal counsel regarding a post on the Action for Alice Facebook page that has since been deleted.

The administrator of the Action for Alice Facebook page has apologised following a legal stoush over “untrue claims” he made about a cabinet minister.

Police Minister Kate Worden confirmed she had retained legal counsel regarding a Facebook post by Darren Clark in April after a meeting between the pair that has since been deleted.

Ms Worden said she had been “the subject of untrue claims” posted on the Action For Alice Facebook page — which has more than 70,000 followers and 53,000 likes — and her reputation had suffered for it.

“Unfortunately, the popularity of this page meant the claims have been viewed widely,” she said.

“They have tarnished my reputation in my electorate, where I socialise, where I shop, as well as across the broader NT community.

“I could not let these unfounded statements sit in the public domain, I had to take action to correct the public record.”

Sanderson MLA Kate Worden said her reputation had been tarnished by Darren Clark’s post on Facebook. Picture: Amanda Parkinson

Mr Clark apologised unreservedly to Worden in a follow up post on Tuesday.

“I am informed that Minister Worden denies the statements attributed to her, I accept that our recollections of the meeting may be different,” he wrote.

“In the circumstances, I retract the statements attributed to Minister Worden and provide an unreserved apology for any embarrassment caused to her as a result of the post.”

Mr Clark was contacted but said he could not make any further comment as the matter had been settled.

Action For Alice Facebook page administrator Darren Clark apologised to Minister Worden in a Facebook post on Tuesday. Photo: EMMA MURRAY

In response to a question from Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley in Estimates on Thursday about whether legal action against Mr Clark would be paid for by the government, Ms Worden simply said “No”.

Ms Lambley said it was “a bit sad” to see “two people that are fighting, presumably for the same thing, end up in a petty legal dispute”.

“Darren Clark and the Minister for Territory Families are both well-intended,” she said.

“We’re all trying to achieve the same sort of outcome, to give Territorians a happy, safe, comfortable lifestyle.”

Independent MLA Robyn Lambley said it was “sad” to see two people who were pushing for the same outcomes ’end up in a petty legal dispute’. Picture: Che Chorley

Ms Lambley praised Mr Clark’s efforts to bring attention to crime and anti-social behaviour in Alice Springs.

“If it wasn’t for Darren Clark, we wouldn’t have attracted the attention of the Prime Minister,” she said.

“If it wasn’t for Darren Clark and his Facebook page advocacy we may still be facing the crime carnage we were experiencing in January.”

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