Delia Lawrie resigns as leader of Labor NT, will focus on legal battles

MICHAEL Gunner will take the reins from Delia Lawrie after she resigned as Labor leader.

DELIA Lawrie has announced her resignation as Labor leader as she faces a serious police investigation and possible further legal action.

Ms Lawrie said she decided to resign as she wouldn’t have the time to dedicate to the party leadership.

“I’ve had a great two-and-a-half years working as leader but now is the time to focus on what I need to do, which is the legal challenge confronting me,” she told reporters on Sunday.

“Right now, what I want to do is spend time, spend time with my solicitors and many barristers and work through the legal issues.

READ: DELIA’S CONDUCT UNDER INVESTIGATION

“I made a personal decision based on what’s best for myself and my family.”

Member for Fannie Bay Michael Gunner will now be anointed leader of NT Labor.

When asked if she would endorse Mr Gunner as leader, Ms Lawrie said: “He’s going to be leader of the team, I’m part of the team, I’m going to be providing my full support to the team, there’s no issue there.”

Delia Lawrie announces her resignation at a press conference in Karama. Picture: Patrina Malone

Ms Lawrie maintains that she had overwhelming support.

At a press conference after the resignation, Mr Gunner thanked Ms Lawrie for her “dignified conduct over recent days”.

In a media release, Mr Gunner said it was a privilege to lead Labor and he will be “getting on with the job immediately”.

“In opposition we have two key duties to Territorians — to hold a bad CLP government to account and to prove Labor is a credible alternative which will deliver a Government committed to investing in jobs, health and education,” he said in a statement.

“I want to lead Labor into Government in 2016 because Territorians are currently faced with the worst Government in the Territory’s history.

“I am completely committed to open and transparent Government.”

Ms Lawrie hastened a leadership race against challenger Fannie Bay MLA Michael Gunner on Wednesday, after refusing to resign despite the demand from five caucus colleagues that she step down.

Insiders said her credibility was in tatters after NT Supreme Court Justice Stephen Southwood found that she deliberately misled the Stella Maris public inquiry so she could sue its commissioner John Lawler under false pretences.

READ: MICHAEL GUNNER PUTS HAND UP FOR LEADER

The inquiry found that Ms Lawrie acted with “bias over many years” in relation to the $3 million Darwin CBD Stella Maris site, which the former Labor Government handed rent-free to Unions NT.

Attorney-General John Elferink asked police to investigate Ms Lawrie’s actions, suggesting in a letter obtained by the NT News that Ms Lawrie knowingly gave false testimony and attempted to “obstruct, prevent, pervert or defeat the course of justice” through her legal action against Mr Lawler.

NT Police Commander Peter Bravos will handle the case.