Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s sacking broke Labor rules: MLAs say

LABOR broke the rules of its own constitution when it expelled three members from the caucus late last year, those MLAs say.

The trio of Labor MLAs, Jeff Collins, Ken Vowles and Scott McConnell, who were booted out the NT Labor caucus.

LABOR broke the rules of its own constitution when it expelled three members from the caucus late last year.

The NT Parliamentary Labor Party Constitution and Rules state an MLA must be given written notice and an opportunity to explain their actions before they can be suspended or expelled from the caucus.

Ken Vowles, Jeff Collins and Scott McConnell all say no such notice or opportunity to speak was given before they were kicked out of the caucus in a meeting via phone hook-up on December 21 last year.

Mr Collins says he only learned of the meeting through a phone call from Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison 20 minutes before it began.

“I rang into the caucus meeting and the Chief Minister moved to expel the three of us because we breached the code of conduct we’d agreed to,” he said.

“That was put to a vote in the meeting without debate, I wasn’t addressed in the meeting, by the time I was asked for my opinion the majority of people had voted in favour of the motion so I didn’t bother.”

Section 26 of the NTPLP Constitution and Rules say a vote to expel a caucus member can only happen after they have had an opportunity to explain their actions.

“Notice of intention to deal with same must be given to the Members concerned in writing,” it says.

During an interview on Mix FM on Friday Leader of Government Business Natasha Fyles — who played a key role in the expulsion of the three men — repeatedly refused to directly answer questions about whether the banned trio had been given written notice of plans to ban them from caucus.

She would only say that “the proper process has been followed”.

Caucus chair Sandra Nelson gave the same response when asked if the written notice had been given, as per the NTPLP rules.

“I can assure you that proper process was followed,” she said.

But Ms Nelson refused to provide a copy of any written notice given to the three men.

“I can’t give you that, it’s caucus only correspondence,” she said.

Mr Collins said no such correspondence existed.

He provided the Sunday Territorian a copy of a letter he sent to Ms Nelson last month, asking for details of the constitutional provisions the caucus had relied on when expelling the three MLAs.

He also asked for a copy of the minutes from the caucus meeting at which they were expelled.

Ms Nelson is yet to provide any of the documents requested.

In parliament last week Mr Collins lamented the fact none of his caucus colleagues had stood up to the “unjust” manner in which he was expelled.

But former members of the Martin and Henderson Labor Governments have expressed their dismay at his treatment.

“They betrayed him,” former Labor leader Delia Lawrie said on Facebook.

“A fait accompli motion with no debate and no opportunity to look at discussions and merit. Seriously?

“Not the way caucus operated in the four terms I was a Labor Member. Under (Chief Minister Michael) Gunner they tore up the rule book to block my preselection and deny rank-and-file members their rights to preselect.

“Now under Gunner they’ve torn up the caucus conventions. Territorians have totally lost trust and faith in Gunner and little wonder. It’s been appalling.”

Former deputy chief minister Marion Scrymgour posted a message on Mr Collins’ Facebook page that said: “I know how you feel”.

Several other ministers from the Martin and Henderson Governments have also expressed their frustration at the state of the current government.

“They’re destroying our legacy,” one said.