NT Labor staff caught out in KKK Facebook post controversy

STAFF of Labor Member Luke Gosling set up a Facebook page which posted a meme falsely insinuating Mr Gosling’s CLP rival for the seat of Solomon Kathy Ganley was a supporter of the Ku Klux Klan

The offensive post on the Labor-linked Facebook page

STAFF of Labor Member Luke Gosling set up a Facebook page which posted a meme falsely insinuating Mr Gosling’s CLP rival for the seat of Solomon Kathy Ganley was a supporter of the Ku Klux Klan.

Dozens of Territory Labor staffers and members, including some high ranking fifth floor advisers, were active on the now-deleted Facebook page, Territory Memes for Statehood Teens.

Before its deletion, it posted dozens of memes promoting Labor members and denigrating the Country Liberal Party.

Tony Sievers and Shlok Sharma with Emma Stevens

Mr Gosling had liked the page from his personal Facebook account but said he was unaware of any “offensive content” including the post about Ms Ganley, before it was brought to his attention by the NT News.

He said the post was “in poor taste” and called on those responsible to apologise.

Among the page’s former administrators was Mr Gosling’s adviser and Fong Lim preselection hopeful Shlok Sharma.

The offensive post directly referenced CLP candidate for Solmon, Kathy Ganley

Mr Sharma told the NT News he had been made an administrator of the page shortly after its creation, but that he removed himself in mid-January as he “found some of the posts to be inappropriate”.

He said the post about Ms Ganley was “distasteful” and that he had not used work time or resources to run the page.

Recent administrators of the page, who have associations with Labor MPs and the union movement, didn’t respond to numerous phone calls, messages or emails from the NT News.

Member for Brennan Tony Sievers’ part-time assistant electorate officer Emma Stevens admitted to being an administrator of the page but had ceased that role in January.

A Facebook profile in her name was active on the page until the day before its deletion.

She conceded her involvement in the page was inappropriate given her job, which is supposed to be apolitical.

Ms Stevens said she had never posted to the page using work time or resources.

Her boss said he had no idea about Ms Stevens’ involvement.

“This post is absolutely appalling and is not endorsed by me in any way,” Mr Sievers said. Both Mr Sharma and Ms Stevens have received warnings for their involvement in the page.

Labor secretary Anthony Brereton said the party was “investigating” and would take “appropriate action”.

“Any post insinuating Kathy Ganley is a KKK supporter is disgraceful,” he said.

Ms Ganley said it was “offensive and “downright wrong” to insinuate she was racist or in any way affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan.

The CLP has requested a public apology to Ms Ganley from those responsible for the post.