Ken Vowles, Jeff Collins and Scott McConnell sacked by Chief Minister Michael Gunner

THE Northern Territory Government is in turmoil with three ministers sacked over their criticism of budget management and leadership

■ VOWLES repeatedly refuses to back Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s leadership

■ OUR MOST POWERFUL LIST: Ken Vowles named at No. 3

BREAKING: The Northern Territory Government is in turmoil with three ministers sacked over their criticism of budget management and leadership.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner has given the boot to resources and Aboriginal Affairs minister Ken Vowles, as well as assistant ministers Jeff Collins and Scott McConnell.

The NT News understands Minister Vowles was marched out of the fifth floor after he was stood down after a caucus meeting this morning which he was not invited to.

The trio are expected to sit as independents in the NT assembly.

Mr Vowles was brought to tears after he addressed the media outside of his electrotate office today and received a comforting embrace from his mother.

“This is a sad day for politics,” Mr Vowles said.

“I’ve been informed by Jeff Collins, that in a Caucus meeting it was voted on to kick myself out, to kick Jeff out and to kick Scott McConnell out.

“I think this is an absolute bloody disgrace.

“You don’t have that choice — the people who elected us have that choice.

“Since those leaked emails went out and since we’ve stood up and talked about the disgusting situation, the dire situation we’re in with our budget, I’ve been personally attacked Caucus members, by Cabinet members and it’s not good enough.

“People don’t want us talking about ourselves, they want to know our plans for the Territory and right now there are no plans for the Territory in regards to fiscal management.”

Minister Ken Vowles is seen hugging his wife and mother after a presser today. Picture: Keri Megelus

Mr Vowles said he predicted that Mr Collins, Mr McConnell and himself would soon be booted out of the Labor Party.

“If that happens democracy has lost the plot and the Territory Labor Party has lost the plot,” he said.

“I remain partly with maybe one foot still in the tent of the Labor.

“I will continue to be the Member for Johnston, regardless of what Michael Gunner, Nicole Manison, Natasha Fyles — who have made personal attacks on me — say.”

Mr Gunner, who is on holidays, is understood to be planning to hold a media conference on Saturday.

Asked in a Mix 104.9 radio interview on Thursday whether Mr Gunner had his confidence, Mr Vowles said, “The chief minister is the chief minister.”

The NT News on Wednesday published a leaked email in which he likened the government to a business that was “trading insolvent”.

“Our commitments need to be revisited, our public service growth must stop, a real freeze on new positions, the business (class) trips, the chartered flights and spending needs to stop,” Mr Vowles wrote.

“We need to re-evaluate every announcement, every commitment because we need to make the hard decisions for the future of the Territory, not decisions to enhance our re-election prospects.” He said the NT’s debt levels were “ridiculous”.

On Friday, NT Treasurer Nicole Manison described Mr Vowles’ comments as “unhelpful” and said she had spoken with her colleague.

Mr Collins told ABC radio in Darwin on Friday there was “no diversity of conversation” in the Labor caucus.

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A government spokeswoman from the Chief Minister’s office confirmed the dismissal Friday afternoon.

“I can confirm the Chief Minister has dismissed Minister Vowles,” she said.

“That’s all I can say at the moment and a statement will be issued shortly.”

It is understood Chief Minister Gunner will be returning early from his holiday in New Zealand to deal with the issue.

Mr Gunner said he dismissed MR Vowlesfrom the Cabinet for breaking Cabinet

He said Mr Vowles, Mr Collins and Mr McConnell were dismissed for breaking the Caucus values and standards signed up to at the beginning of our term.

“When the Territory Labor Government was elected in 2016 we promised to put Territorians first by delivering jobs, putting kids at the centre of government and restoring trust.

Unity of purpose is vital to Government achieving these aims,” he said.

“Territorians expect and deserve Government to be solely focused on their concerns and making their lives better.

“The Government has made these decisions because now more than ever the Territory cannot afford distractions from the challenging tasks at hand — to deliver jobs, to repair the budget, to deliver for Territorians in the bush and to create a brighter future for all Territorians.”

MORE TO COME …