Adam Giles silent on magistrate’s exit

CHIEF Minister Adam Giles has refused to discuss the reasons why a politically connected Northern Territory magistrate quit.

CHIEF Minister Adam Giles has refused to discuss whether a politically connected Northern Territory magistrate resigned to protect the ruling Country Liberal Party from embarrassment, amid swirling allegations about donations for favours and claims of a party-linked “slush fund”.

Mr Giles also faces mounting pressure to appoint a new deputy, after his close friend Dave Tollner was forced to relinquish the role for making perceived homophobic remarks towards a gay staff member.

The Australian has been told Mr Tollner has since threatened to resign from parliament altogether if he is not reinstated as Deputy Chief Minister, which would plunge the government into minority. Mr Tollner did not respond to questions last night.

The Giles government has been rocked by successive crises in the 18 months since Mr Giles took over as leader in a partyroom coup just seven months into the CLP’s first term.

The latest crisis erupted late on Monday when magistrate Peter Maley, a former CLP MP and close friend of Attorney-General John Elferink, abruptly quit the bench just 11 months after being appointed. Mr Maley said he had resigned to resume private practice. He had been under pressure from the Labor opposition and the NT Bar Association for his failure to cut political ties immediately upon becoming a magistrate.

At the time of his appointment, Mr Maley was still an active CLP member and director of the research firm Foundation 51, which the opposition claims is a CLP “slush fund”.

Government ministers including Mr Giles, Mr Elferink and Mr Tollner said they had no problem with members of the judiciary being active in politics, prompting allegations they did not understand the separation of powers central to democracy.

During question time yesterday, Mr Giles repeatedly refused to be drawn on the circumstances leading to Mr Maley’s resignation.

Mr Elferink, who received a $5000 campaign donation from Mr Maley, accused Labor members of rumour-mongering.