Labor government holding crisis meeting over cocaine sex scandal after revelations police are investigating

Territory Labor is holding a crisis caucus meeting this morning as it seeks to deal with the fallout of the ‘cocaine sex scandal’.

Mr Mark Turner. Photograph: Che Chorley

TERRITORY Labor is holding a crisis caucus meeting this morning as it seeks to deal with the fallout of the ‘cocaine sex scandal’.

It comes after the NT News revealed an elite team of police officers tasked with handling sensitive political matters had been investigating the alleged cocaine sex scandal implicating Territory Labor members for the past two months.

Senior party sources have told the NT News Chief Minister Michael Gunner will move to have Blain MLA Mark Turner disendorsed as deputy speaker following revelations of his involvement in the scandal.

But he is not expected to be kicked out of the caucus.

Nicole Manison, Chief Minister Michael Gunner and Natasha Fyles take their seats on the first sitting day of parliament in 2021. Photograph: Che Chorley

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Several Ministers cancelled scheduled media events this morning as Labor seeks to deal with the fallout over the revelations.

Mr Gunner cancelled his regular Thursday appearance on Hot 100, while Tourism Minister Natasha Fyles withdrew from a scheduled event with the Gold Coast Suns.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Selena Uibo also cancelled a scheduled interview on Mix 104.9FM.

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

The NT News has confirmed detectives from NT Police’s Special References Unit began investigating the situation before Christmas.

It comes as Blain MLA Mark Turner, in a late night speech to parliament, revealed himself as the politician implicated in the scandal and that he had carried out an extramarital affair.

He admitted his “friendship” with the woman at the centre of the scandal but said any suggestion he had been involved in illegal activity was “categorically untrue”.

“I am deeply embarrassed by all of this, and if that was the Leader of the Opposition’s goal – she has succeeded,” he said.

Mr Turner, a married father of five children who is a regular at church on Sundays and a former police officer, confirmed he had been in a “friendship” with the woman and had “exchanged general conversation” including “intimate conversation”.

“I do not recall the details of every conversation,” he said.

“I accept that there were aspects of our friendship in the past that were not appropriate, because they were too intimate. “It was not illegal, it was consensual, it was respectful, but not appropriate.”

It is understood text messages sent between Mr Turner and the woman at the centre of the alleged tryst have been obtained by police as part of the investigation.