Ousted Labor MLA Ken Vowles stunning Darwin Show snub

OUSTED Labor MLA Ken Vowles says he is ‘very disappointed‘ that he is still being publicly snubbed by his colleagues, more than half a year after he was booted from caucus

Sacked former Labor minister Ken Vowles looks on at Chief Minister Michael Gunner

OUSTED Labor MLA Ken Vowles says he is “very disappointed” that he still seems to be getting publicly snubbed by his colleagues, more than half a year after he was booted from caucus.

The Member for Johnston said he was not happy that he was noticeably missing from NT Labor’s Royal Darwin Show advertisement in the NT News on Wednesday.

“Every single Labor member has their picture in except me – it’s obviously disappointing,” he said.

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“I’ve been down at the show ... as well and noticed my corflutes are not up at the Labor stand either.

“I should have it up here because I’m still a loyal member of the Labor Party.

“My electorate voted me in as Labor and I’m going to continue to stand as one.”

Mr Vowles and former Labor backbenchers Jeff Collins and Scott McConnell were kicked out of the Labor caucus in December after speaking out publicly about the Government’s handling of the Northern Territory’s economic crisis.

Mr Vowles was the only one who chose to remain in the party, with both Mr Collins and Mr McConnell turning independent.

Territory Labor secretary Anthony Brereton confirmed that Mr Vowles was still a member of the Labor Party.

He said he wasn’t sure why he had been excluded from the show advertisement.

Labor’s caucus secretary Kate Worden explained the decision.

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“The Darwin Show advertisement is paid for by caucus members themselves each year,” she said.

“Given Ken is not a member of caucus he was not in the advertisement.”