It’s astounding how two elected male leaders could get it so wrong in one week
TWO male political leaders failed their colleagues and constituents they represent in a big way last week
Opinion
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- ’He has lost my trust’: Gunner kicks MLA out of caucus
- Blain MLA Mark Turner wanted woman to make false statement: text messages
TWO male political leaders failed their colleagues and constituents they represent in a big way last week.
In our own backyard, Chief Minister Michael Gunner failed to address what he called “Internet rumours” about a sitting male MLA’s involvement in a ‘cocaine sex’ scandal that reportedly occurred on election night last year.
A few borders over, Prime Minister Scott Morrison addressed a rape allegation by a former staff member by saying he had taken advice from his wife, who advised him to treat the allegation as though the victim was one of his daughters, on how to deal with it.
The actions of these male leaders have left many shaking their heads in disbelief.
How can two elected leaders have got it so wrong?
Mr Gunner’s response to the serious allegations against an MLA were all levelled at Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro, who called on the Chief Minister to address the claims.
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He never addressed the allegations, didn’t deny them and certainly didn’t reassure voters they were being looked in to.
That Mr Gunner dismissed the allegations against Blain MLA Mark Turner for three days as “Internet rumours” before the married father of five admitted to an extramarital affair stinks of a boys club within the NT Labor government.
And those boys are behaving badly and covering for each other.
Then it all came undone last Thursday when Mr Gunner finally dumped Mr Turner from the Labor caucus.
The six female Labor ministers were forced to toe the party line and dismiss the claims when questioned at press conferences in the days following the NT News breaking the story, which led to the downfall of a sitting MLA and one of his staff members.
If only to be on the fly on the wall when those female ministers talked candidly to family and friends.
There’s no doubt Mr Gunner’s failure to reveal the truth and call to protect Mr Turner will become a long-held regret.
Over in the Federal ranks, the Prime Minister fronted the media to address allegations from a former Liberal staffer she was allegedly raped in Parliament by a colleague.
Former media adviser Brittany Higgins alleges she was raped on a couch in the office of Defence Minister Linda Reynolds in 2019.
After announcing there would be a review of the workplace culture, Mr Morrison said it had come following a discussion with his wife Jenny the previous night and after he considered how he, as a father, would want his daughters to be treated.
“Jenny and I spoke last night and she said to me, you have to think about this as a father. What would you want to happen if it were our girls?” he said as stunned reporters watched on.
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“Jenny has a way of clarifying things. Always has. And so, as I’ve reflected on that overnight and listened to Brittany and what she had to say.”
His poorly thought out words led to #NotJustADaughter trending on Twitter.
Politicians are public figures trusted to act ethically and morally.
A Chief Minister shouldn’t be protecting a cheating husband and a Prime Minister shouldn’t have to consult his wife to reach a decision to review his workplace after a young employee makes serious allegations against a colleague.
Mr Gunner needs to ban the term “Internet rumour” from being used on the fifth floor and address every serious allegation that comes across his desk.
The integrity of he, his fellow ministers and the entire Labor party depends on it.
Meanwhile, Mr Morrison needs to take rape allegations seriously, without having to consult his wife first.
Denise Cahill is the Head of News at the NT News
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