NT News editorial: Gunner Government must live up to ‘open and transparent’ promise
OPEN and transparent — it’s the promise burned in our minds since the Gunner government was first elected in 2016. Now there’s been another total disregard of this promise since a cocaine sex scandal has embroiled their own Labor Party.
Opinion
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WHO can forget the major promise of the Gunner government when they were first elected in 2016 was for them to be open and transparent with Territorians.
Their ‘Restoring Integrity To Government’ paper, tabled in parliament on November 30, 2016 and signed by Chief Minister Michael Gunner, has “commitment to open, accountable and transparent government” at No.1.
Next to a photograph of Mr Gunner are the words: “Territorians want and deserve a government they can trust. An open, accountable and transparent government is essential for this trust to exist”.
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It continues: “Not only is open government the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do.”
Turn the page and it says: “Restoring integrity to government requires leadership at the highest level of government through actions, not words.”
Under the title “The case for urgent and comprehensive action” on Page 4, it further states: “Over the last three years Territorians have witnessed a series of events that has seen trust and confidence in public officials and government in the Northern Territory hit an all-time low.
“The actions of the CLP Government have shown a complete disregard for the right of Territorians to open and transparent government,” it states.
“They have also shown a complete lack of understanding of the crucial role trust and integrity plays in good Government which delivers for the whole community.”
Given Mr Gunner and his government’s handling of the alleged cocaine sex scandal so far, one could argue they all need to read this document again … and again … and again.
A majority of our readers are rightly flabbergasted by the government’s response to these “serious allegations” raised by Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro.
Even the president of the Labor Party in the Northern Territory, Erina Early, is demanding answers on what has allegedly occurred.
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Everyone in the Labor Party — ministers included — is tainted by these allegations until the government displays the integrity they first promised five years ago.
The public has a right to know these allegations are being thoroughly investigated by the government.
Right now, it is Mr Gunner and his government who are showing a complete disregard for the right of Territorians to open and transparent government.
It is something they said would never happen.
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