McConnell on the outer as parliament resumes

UPDATE: Scott McConnell and Jeff Collins have given emotional speeches to parliament in the first sitting week since they were expelled from the Labor caucus with Mr McConnell telling the house he intended to sit as an independent in the chamber while retaining his Labor Party membership

NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner looks across the floor during he first sitting of the 2019 Parlimentary year kicked off on Tuesday at the NT parliament Building. Picture: Justin Kennedy

UPDATE: SCOTT McConnell and Jeff Collins have given emotional speeches to parliament in the first sitting week since they were expelled from the Labor caucus.

Speaking first, Mr Collins, who last week resigned from the party, said he was confident his expulsion was unlawful, but chose not to challenge it.

“I wasn’t prepared to fight to be back in a room of people who didn’t want me there,” he said.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner stared at his hands as Mr Collins unloaded on him, accusing him of “making a mockery of Labor values”.

“Chief Minister, you wouldn’t recognise fairness and due process if it walked up and slapped you in the face,” he said.

“And I’m fairly confident you wouldn’t recognise Labor values if they stood in line behind fairness and due process.”

Mr McConnell stood next, telling the house he intended to sit as an independent in the chamber while retaining his Labor Party membership.

To take direction on how to vote from Government whip Kate Worden or Leader of Government Business Natasha Fyles while expelled from caucus would be “diametrically opposed” to his Labor values as it would mean his constituents voice wouldn’t be heard, he said.

“I will not cross the floor out of spite. But I will consider every vote and I will make my own decisions,” he said.

In strange scenes, Mr McConnell’s chair collapsed after he gave his speech.

Ken Vowles worked with tabling office staff to find him a new, functional chair as the remaining members ignored the sideshow and bickered over the proper process for the tabling of a petition for the “rights of vapers”.

Mr McConnell then sat in the parliamentary cafe where he was joined by Mr Collins, Mr Vowles, Labor backbencher Lawrence Costa and briefly, Education Minister Selena Uibo.

Mr Vowles, the other member of the exiled trio, didn’t give a statement to the house and has indicated he may choose to abstain from voting so as not to contravene Labor rules and force his expulsion from the party itself.

EARLIER

THE opening of the Territory parliamentary year by Darwin’s Chung Wah Society lion dancing troupe is supposed to banish bad luck from the chamber and bring good cheer.

Members bring their families to watch them feed the lions money in red paper envelopes to the deafening clash of drums and symbols.

Ousted Labor member Scott McConnell chose not to take his seat on the floor during the festivities this morning, opting to watch the spectacle from above in public gallery.

This week is the first parliamentary sittings since Mr McConnell, former minister Ken Vowles and backbencher Jeff Collins were banished from caucus by Chief Minister Michael Gunner.

Outside the house, Mr McConnell said he wasn’t feeling the good cheer, made to feel unwelcome by his former caucus colleagues.

It’s expected the outcast member for Stuart will give a personal statement to the house today slamming the “farcical” division and infighting which has enveloped the parliamentary Labor Party for months and announcing his intention of sitting as an “independent Labor member” not beholden to caucus voting rules.

Labor’s internal bickering forced a reshuffle of the seating arrangements on the floor — Mr Vowles has shifted into newly elevated party whip Kate Worden’s spot on the edge of the Labor contingent while Jeff Collins, who quit the party last week, is sitting on the far side of the chamber with allied independents Terry Mills, Robyn Lambley and Yingiya Guyula.

While most Labor members ignored the exiled trio, backbencher Lawrence Costa warmly embraced Mr Vowles when the dancing came to an end.

Parliament will resume shortly.