NT Govt and chief minister’s hold on leadership in deep crisis

LEAKED messages have plunged the Gunner Government and Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s hold on the leadership into another deep crisis today with one MLA saying, ‘I am not going down with the ship’

Alice Springs Labor MLA Chancey Paech said in a leaked message that he did not want to go down with the Labor ship. Picture: Justin Kennedy

LEAKED messages have plunged the Gunner Government and Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s hold on the leadership into another deep crisis today.

The shock leaking of the damaging correspondence reveal that another two Northern Territory Labor backbenchers have broken strict caucus rules and ridiculed the chief minister and their own government.

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The messages from the backbenchers make claims of being lied to in caucus, the Chief Minister’s leadership is questioned and that “we’re f***ked” and fears of “going down with the ship”.

The damaging messages were exchanged between the Member for Katherine, Sandra Nelson, and the Member for Namatjira, Chansey Paech, two Northern Territory Labor backbenchers.

The correspondence ridiculed their own government’s economic management and criticised the spin used to sell the Gunner Government’s fiscal strategies.

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Ms Nelson revealed she did not intend to contest her seat of Katherine at the next election in 2020.

The two have broken the same rules that resulted in the sacking of three other Labor caucus members, former Minister Ken Vowles, and former Labor MLAs Jeff Collins and Scott McConnell.

The bombshell revelations are a further challenge to the leadership of Chief Minister Michael Gunner.

In a personal statement Sandra Nelson has slammed the leak of private Facebook conversations in which she was critical of NTG’s economic strategy. She says it was an “act of betrayal”. #NTpol @TheNTNews

— Hayley Sorensen (@HayleySorensen) March 20, 2019

The highly-critical comments were made in a secret Facebook message group set up with former Labor MLAs Jeff Collins and Scott McConnell in December last year.

Ms Nelson confirmed her decision not to stand with a personal explanation in Territory Parliament today.

“Madam speaker I have decided I won’t be recontesting the seat of Katherine at the 2020 election,” she told NT Parliament.

“I had a private conversation via Facebook messenger with four people I trusted and had considered as friends, not only as colleagues. I feel naïve to not have thought about the possibility that one of those trusted friends betrayed my friendship for his own political and personal agenda.

It's a fiery QT, but @CPaech is uncharacteristically quiet, after his private Facebook messages criticising his own government were leaked to media. #NTpol

— Hayley Sorensen (@HayleySorensen) March 20, 2019

“There was nothing said by me in that personal conversation that I haven’t resolved with my caucus colleagues and particularly with my leadership team.”

“I believe in having my say within caucus and with my caucus colleagues, not just via the media, and that’s what I’ve always done.

“I am loyal friend to many and this act of betrayal is the reason why so many people lose faith in politics and politicians.

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The damaging messages show the deep divide that exists between senior cabinet ministers and the Labor backbenchers.

“God damn I am sick and tired of being lied to in Caucus about our economic future and in this cause [sic] the future that we’ll all have to try and salvage,” Mr Paech wrote in one message.

In his attack on Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s leadership Mr Paech wrote: “It’s a pity Gunner can’t be bother [sic] to reach out to his time [sic] now when there is a crisis. That’s real leadership lol.”

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Ms Nelson expressed her anger writing: “It seems that nobody has the fortitude to say, “we’re f***ed, and this is what we’re going to do to not go bankrupt (fill in the blanks).”

In damning correspondence to the Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison, Ms Nelson pleaded for honesty from Cabinet colleagues.

“Yes, I get it, we’re all on the same team, we’re in this together, toe the party line etc — but just as I am expected to be supportive of the team, I expect the same level of support, complete honesty and candour from my leadership team,” she wrote.

After reading the email that Ms Nelson shared to the private Facebook group, Mr Paech said: “Great email Sandra! Sharp, concise, clear and well reflected of many backbenchers views.”

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Mr Paech also told the group: “I am not going down with the ship … I want to be here post 2020 and they [sic] way we are handling the budget in public is not good … the lines are stale.”