Labor’s Arafura candidate Manuel Brown speaks out about fatal crash conviction
Labor’s candidate for Arafura has revealed harrowing details about a fatal crash for which he was convicted of driving without care. Read how he’s ‘reliving’ the tragedy weeks out from the by-election.
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Territory Labor’s candidate for the upcoming Arafura by-election has revealed “demons” continue to haunt him almost 14 years on from a fatal crash.
Manuel Brown, the Fyles government’s contender for the Tiwi Islands and West Arnhem seat, has released a statement on his involvement in a multi-vehicle crash that killed a woman in Katherine.
Court records show Mr Brown, who was 26 at the time, was charged with drive motor vehicle cause harm or death, not stop at stop sign – intersection, and drive without due care.
About eight months after the collision in 2009 the first two charges were dismissed but Mr Brown was released on a good behaviour bond for 12 months on the charge of drive without due care.
His statement on the tragedy comes less than two weeks out from the by-election, triggered after the death of the former Arafura MLA Lawrence Costa in December.
“In 2009, I was involved in a multi-vehicle collision in Katherine,” Mr Brown’s statement read.
“I was 26 years old at the time and was in my third year of social science studies.
“I pulled over, called emergency services and began rendering first aid to a woman at the scene.
“She was taken to Katherine Hospital, however, tragically passed away later that evening.”
Mr Brown said the “pain” he carried from the incident continued to impact him every day.
“When I was asked to run for the seat of Arafura, the first thing that entered my mind was knowing I would have to relive this tragic accident,” he said.
“But I cannot let my demons that have stayed with me from that day continue to dictate my future, or what I’m capable of achieving for my people.
“I’m a good man, a community man who is incredibly passionate about improving the lives of Aboriginal Territorians.
“I want to be a role model to those around me and help empower Indigenous youth to be the best people that they can be.
“Since that day I’ve completed my studies and dedicated my life to bettering the lives of those people who need it most, through my work in a number of government agencies, community service providers and Aboriginal organisations.
“I have big shoes to fill, but I know I’ll be a strong voice for the constituents of Arafura.”
The statement comes a day after the state funeral of the former Arafura MLA, which Mr Brown and his CLP opponent Leslie Tungatalum both attended.
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said Mr Brown declared the incident when he was nominated but she was not aware of the full details until speaking to him “in depth” on Wednesday.
“It was a tragic incident and you can see from the statement from Manuel that he’s been nothing but truthful and open about this and remorseful for the last 14 years,” she said.
“He’s never hidden away from it.
“Manuel has used this to drive him to ensure that he works hard for his community, that he has had an education and that he continually gives back.”
Ms Fyles said the Labor party had processes to “disclose a basic level of information”.
“Our party has a process, the party goes through a number of formal steps before people’s nominations are accepted,” she said.
“In terms of defining that type of disclosure, you know, it’s a difficult threshold question, but he’s never shied away from this as an issue in his life.”
Mr Brown, a Takaringuwi man, has been living and working in Maningrida with his wife and three children since 2015.
He has worked with the Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation, Malala Health and Northern Land Council, among other organisations.
The Arafura by-election will be held on March 18.
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