ATTORNEY-GENERAL John Elferink dumped as ambassador for White Ribbon anti-violence campaign for telling female MLA he wanted to “give her a slap”

ATTORNEY-GENERAL John Elferink dumped as ambassador for White Ribbon anti-violence campaign for telling female MLA he wanted to “give her a slap”

Minister for Health John Elfernick talks to the media about the release of the governments strategy action plan to address the alarming suicide figures in the NT. Picture by Barry Skipsey

ATTORNEY-GENERAL John Elferink has been dumped as an ambassador with the White Ribbon anti-violence campaign for telling Labor MLA Natasha Fyles he wanted to “give her a slap”.

The White Ribbon campaign was started as a male-led initiative to prevent violence against women in all forms.

CEO Libby Davies told the NT News Mr Elferink had to go because he broke his pledge to the group.

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“His comments were a breach of his responsibilities as a White Ribbon ambassador and demonstrated a complete lack of understanding,” she told the NT News.

Mr Elferink did offer an apology to Ms Fyles after remarking during a heated debate Wednesday night, “I am really tempted to give her a slap right now — figuratively speaking”.

He also thumped his desk and reportedly threw his glasses while debating with deputy Labor leader Lynne Walker.

Ms Walker described the actions as “bullying and intimidation”.

Ms Davies said the apology was appropriate but that the damage had already been done.

“We appreciate that he made an apology, however (the comments) were a very serious breach of his responsibilities. As such we would not enable him to continue in that role.”

John Elferink, left, and anti-violence campaigner Charlie King in their roles as ambassadors for White Ribbon Day. Mr King says Mr Elferink’s apology for his actions is not enough and has called on Chief Minister Adam Giles to take action against his Minister. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

Mr Elferink has come under intense pressure to resign as Attorney-General and Minister for Children and Families, including from nine of 11 female parliamentarians who said if he doesn’t resign or is not sacked, they will continue to protest.

Ms Davies said the White Ribbon campaign takes Mr Elferink’s comments “very seriously” and said not taking action against Mr Elferink would send the wrong message.

“The hard work of other White Ribbon ambassadors cannot be compromised by the actions of others,” Ms Davies said.

She added that in time, Mr Elferink can reapply to be an ambassador with the campaign but that he would have to go through a “recommittal process” so he can “fully understand and appreciate the role of language in the perpetuation of violence against women”.

Current White Ribbon ambassador and anti-violence campaigner Charlie King said the apology was not enough and called on Chief Minister Adam Giles to take action against Mr Elferink.

“That’s where people get away with this,” he told ABC Radio. “We can’t be bystanders in these sorts of matters. When people make those sorts of comments, we can’t just sit back and say nothing. We’ve got to call them out on it and giving an apology after you’ve said something like that is still not acceptable in my book. He needs to be taken aside. I hope that the Chief Minister does this.”

Mr Giles has not publicly condemned the remarks and instead said in Parliament yesterday that he supports “everybody on this side of the chamber in everything they do or say”. He said he considers the matter closed with the apology.

When the NT News asked Mr Elferink’s office about the Minister’s dumping today a spokeswoman said he had “regrettfully resigned” as an ambassador for the White Ribbon anti-violence campaign.