Privileges Committee clear Mark Turner of allegations he misled NT parliament

The powerful Privileges Committee has released its findings into comments made by Mark Turner on the cocaine sex scandal. SEE WHAT THE FOUND.

THE powerful Privileges Committee has cleared Blain MLA Mark Turner of having misled the Assembly over key details of the cocaine sex scandal.

Mr Turner had previously been revealed as the Labor MLA at the centre of a cocaine-fuelled sex party on election night in August last year and was banished to the crossbench.

The scandal came to light in February this year, with the Blain MLA eventually revealing he was the parliamentarian at the centre of the “rumour and gossip”.

In a statement to parliament, Mr Turner revealed he had a “friendship” with a woman at the party and had exchanged “intimate conversation” with her.

Mr Mark Turner in Parliament. Photograph: Che Chorley

He denied participating in any illegal activity and said he had the support of Labor leaders.
There is no suggestion that Mr Turner took illicit substances.

“I’ve been speaking to the Chief Minister this week, and I’m grateful to him, and my caucus colleagues for their support for their view that untrue rumours should not be given public credibility,” Mr Turner told parliament.

He was then booted from the Labor caucus and referred to the Privileges Committee after the extent of his extramarital affair and activities came to light.

In a report released on Thursday, the Privileges Committee ruled it had “decided to discontinue its inquiry and report to the Assembly that the allegations do not warrant further consideration”.

Leader of Government Business Natasha Fyles is chair of the Privileges Committee. Picture: Floss Adams.

“Having considered the details of the allegations made against the Member, and the elements required to be proved for an offence of deliberately misleading the Assembly to be made out,

the Committee determined that the allegations were not capable of amounting to an offence against the Assembly,” the report concluded.

The report considered three allegations:

that Mr Turner misled the parliament by saying he “did not condone illegal activity”;

that Mr Turner misled the Assembly by stating only that “we exchanged general conversation, banter, jokes and some intimate conversation”, but failing to disclose a physical relationship; and

that Mr Turner misled the Assembly by saying “I have the Chief Minister’s support in making this statement.

On all three counts, the Privileges Committee said the comments did not meet the threshold of being an offence in misleading the Legislative Assembly.

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