Disgraced Blain MLA Mark Turner receives warning over conduct, won’t be expelled from Labor

THE fate of disgraced Blain MLA Mark Turner within NT Labor has been decided, with the party refusing to sack the former caucus member

DISGRACED Blain MLA Mark Turner will remain a member of the Labor Party, the executive have decided.

But they have warned his position in the party is tenuous, should further information come to light.

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Mr Mark Turner on the first sitting day of Parliament in 2021. Photograph: Che Chorley

Mr Turner was ejected from Labor caucus in February after revelations he had lied to the Chief Minister and the rest of the party’s parliamentary team about his consensual affair with a woman.

The married father-of-five and first term MLA now sits in parliament as a non-caucus Labor backbencher.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner wrote to the Labor executive asking them to consider expelling Mr Turner from the party proper.

The Labor executive, headed by president Erina Early, held a meeting on Monday evening.

In a statement, the executive confirmed Mr Turner would remain a member of the Labor Party although his conduct was “disappointing”.

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“He will be warned that behaviour like this in the future will not be tolerated, noting serious sanctions already imposed by the parliamentary wing,” Ms Early said.

“Should further information come to light about the Member for Blain’s conduct the Administrative Committee of the party may consider further action which may result in expulsion.”

The move keeps Labor on 14 seats in Territory parliament. Had he been kicked out, Labor would have had 13 seats — only one seat short of a minority government.

The CLP has eight MLAs and there are three independents.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro described the decision by Labor as “weak”.

“Labor is sending a disturbing message that the Member for Blain’s disgraceful behaviour is tolerated and even accepted by the party,” she said.

“Labor’s failure to boot out the Member for Blain for his scandalous and unparliamentary behaviour is not only weak but again proves Michael Gunner has lost all control of his party.”