NT industry heads back Ken Vowles after Gunner sacks him

THE Territory’s peak industry bodies have reacted with shock and dismay and rallied behind sacked Resources Minister Ken Vowles

Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, Michael Gunner. (AAP Image/Kelly Barnes)

■ IF THIS Government was a business we’d be bankrupt’: Vowles’ blistering email

■ REVEALED: Who is No. 1 on our Most Powerful list: OUR complete 2018 list

THE Territory’s peak industry bodies have reacted with shock and dismay and rallied behind sacked Resources Minister Ken Vowles.

All expressed concerns about the Territory’s financial crisis and the key role Minister Vowles was set to play in leading a recovery.

Minerals Council NT chief executive Drew Wagner said Mr Vowles would be sorely missed by the mining and resource sector.

“He was a strong advocate for us and doing a great job and it is extremely disappointing that he has been sacked, given he has only been saying what the community has been saying.

“We are at a critical junction. There is seven resource projects with Major Project status that the Territory economy is depending on.

“We are in the midst of a financial crisis and changing the Minister at this critical time is dangerous to the Territory economy, the resource projects critical to it, and jobs associated with new projects.”

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

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

Manufacturers Council NT head Owen Pike also said the sacking sends a message of instability and volatility to all stakeholders in our economy.

“Ken Vowles was only challenging the cabinet to be more accountable and deliver a stronger economy and to be sacked for this, only communicates to all ministers to fall in line behind weak leadership and don’t challenge each other to do their best by the NT,” Mr Pike said.

“Ken Vowles’ sacking is for the benefit of the NT Labor Party only and is at a cost to the NT people. Mining and Resources is the sector the NT is most seeking investment.

“To send such a conflicted strong message of instability to potential investors is at the height of political stupidity.”

Masters Builders NT chief executive Dave Malone also said the Territory needs stability. “The risk is, and history shows this, that this will now bring prolonged instability,” he said. Chamber of Commerce acting chief executive Brian O’Gallagher said Mr Vowles’ sacking was a backward step.

“Don’t shoot the messenger … he was conveying a message that everyone in the business community has been saying,” Mr O’Gallagher said.

“We cannot afford to lose the momentum in the resource and agri sectors that Mr Vowles had built up.

“Territorians are being told the government is broke and their help is needed with plans to fix things, yet a Minister who was to play a key role has now been sacked.”