Adam Giles says no to NT poll after MP walks out

The leader of the Northern ­Territory’s Country Liberal government last night rejected calls for an early election.

The leader of the Northern ­Territory’s crisis and scandal-plagued Country Liberal government last night rejected calls for an early election and denied ­voters faced months of parliamentary paralysis after his ­administration lost its one-seat majority.

Chief Minister Adam Giles said he and his 11 remaining CLP colleagues would govern in minority after Speaker Kezia Purick joined three other former CLP MPs and one longstanding independent on the crossbenches.

They would pass legislation by negotiating with the disgruntled independents, he said. The Country Liberals now have just 12 members in the Territory’s 25-seat unicameral parliament. Ms Purick is likely to stay on as Speaker, with a casting vote.

“I’m open to discussion and negotiation,” Mr Giles said. “We’re not going to go through 12 months of paralysis, I can guarantee that … we will be going full term.”

Ms Purick announced her long-expected departure from the CLP yesterday morning, ­citing poor accountability and communication within government, and Mr Giles’s persistent refusal to establish an ICAC-style anti-corruption body amid a series of damaging allegations.

She said her constituents could no longer support her as a member of the CLP. “They are genuinely upset with this government,” she said. “They are solid, strong, conservative voters and they come to me saying, ‘We want to vote for you, we want to keep you there, but we cannot bring ourselves to vote for this government’.’’

Mr Giles has repeatedly ­rejected calls for an ICAC-style body and instead instigated a web of often overlapping or contradictory investigations that some business leaders say do not provide the transparency or confidence investors need.

When pressed yesterday, Mr Giles acknowledged that no one from his government had ­seriously looked at the possibility of setting up an ICAC.

The revelation will only stoke fears that Mr Giles has failed to learn from mistakes that led nine colleagues to try to oust him as leader earlier this year.

Coup plotter and sacked former health minister Robyn ­Lambley moved to the crossbenches last month, saying the CLP had been “taken over by a dark, unpleasant, amoral cabal”.

Labor leader ­Michael Gunner yesterday said the CLP had failed to deliver stable government in majority and would be unable to do so in minority.

“Unfortunately, today is ­another CLP bombshell. We will be back here again,” he said.

Ms Purick yesterday ruled out supporting no-confidence motions to force an election, meaning a vote is unlikely soon. The next poll is due in 2016 under the Territory’s fixed four-year terms.

John Lawrence, a former president of the Criminal Lawyers’ Association NT, said the rest of Australia was paying for what he described as chaos that ­“deserves an ICAC”. Over 80 per cent of the Territory government’s revenue comes from the commonwealth, mainly as GST.

Mr Giles pledged to occupy the post of Chief Minister through to the next election, and to serve a full term if returned.