Blain MLA Mark Turner expresses sympathy for former Labor staffer Harvie Stiller after snorting video

Blain MLA Mark Turner has accused the CLP of using an 18-year-old’s mistake for ‘political pointscoring’. The teen and former Labor staffer was seen snorting a white powder in a shock video.

BLAIN MLA Mark Turner has hit out at the CLP after video emerged of a former Labor staffer snorting a white powder at his 18th birthday, accusing the Opposition of “destroying a Territory teenager’s life”.

NT Young Labor president Harvie Stiller resigned from federal MP Luke Gosling’s office after the vision emerged. It is still not known what the substance was.

The CLP have claimed the incident is further evidence of a toxic culture within Territory Labor, calling on Chief Minister Michael Gunner to release a report on the culture on the Fifth Floor.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro on Wednesday moved a motion in parliament to have all politicians and their staff submit themselves to drug screens, which was voted down by the government.

Mark Turner has expressed sympathy for the teen at the centre of the saga. Picture GLENN CAMPBELL

Speaking exclusively to the NT News, Mr Turner expressed displeasure with the way the saga had played out.

“Considering the myriad of the issues we’ve got in the NT, the CLP destroying a Territory teenager’s life by demonising (Mr Stiller) for political pointscoring is not worthy of the parliament,” he said.

“Ordinary parents know their teenagers will make mistakes, some more serious than others.

“The CLP’s actions show how out of touch their born-to-rule elitism is with the rest of the population.”

Mr Turner said he wanted the Territory to pursue “evidence-based harm minimisation practices” to reduce substance misuse.

NT Young Labor president Harvie Stiller resigned from Luke Gosling’s office on Monday over the incident.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro pushed for parliamentarians and their staff to be drug tested after Mr Stiller’s resignation. Picture: Che Chorley

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro responded to Mr Turner’s comments, saying his stance was “not surprising”.

“The MLA at the centre of the Labor ‘cocaine sex’ scandal is supporting the person at the centre of the Labor ‘snorting’ scandal – given the fact he helped the Member for Blain campaign during the August 2020 election,” Ms Finocchiaro said.

Mr Turner was kicked out of the Labor caucus a year ago in the aftermath of the cocaine sex scandal. Mr Gunner at the time said the Member for Blain had not been “completely forthcoming” about his involvement in the saga.

There is no suggestion Mr Turner took any illicit substance.

Following Mr Stiller’s resignation, federal MP Luke Gosling released a statement saying: “the alleged incident took place almost 18 months ago, and predates the part-time staffer’s employment in the Solomon electorate”.

The NT News has repeatedly sought to verify and been assured Mr Stiller was not a member of Territory Labor at the time of the alleged incident, despite unfounded media reports claiming otherwise.

It is understood he remains the president of NT Young Labor.

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