CREDIBILITY PUT TO TEST

THE best part of two parliament sitting days have been consumed with debate over the competence of Human Services and Housing Minister Roger Jaensch. The beleaguered minister first came under attack when he was accused of deliberately misleading parliament.

Mr Jaensch was asked by Greens leader Cassy O’Connor whether he was aware of a cabinet decision to amend tenancy laws to allow evictions without “genuine or just” cause.

He said: “I am not aware of any changes proposed or undertaken regarding making it more difficult … I don’t know what decision Ms O’Connor might be referring to.”

She then produced a leaked cabinet minute that showed a decision to that effect was overturned by cabinet on August 24.

On Tuesday, Mr Jaensch was the subject of a no- confidence motion after being accused of misleading parliament. It was defeated.

Yesterday, much of parliament revolved around the controversial $ 274,000- a- year Brahminy program after the Mercury revealed footage of a youth from the Northern Territory tough- love camp.

“I just stole it. F... ing Toyota Troopy. Cops come, I’m chasing it. Woooo,” the child, who was videoing himself while driving at speeds of up to 100km/ h, said.

Mr Jaensch tried to downplay the video, claiming it was a “joy ride” and not a theft and suggesting the media was somehow at fault for publicising it.

He was unable to answer a straightforward question about when he had seen the video for the first time. He eventually admitted he knew about the September 21 incident for a week.

He seemingly left the Premier out of the loop and Peter Gutwein earlier this week defended the program and insisted the children involved were safe and progressing well.

The minister faced two debates of noconfidence in state parliament on Wednesday — one thwarted and one which went to a vote. Mr Gutwein fiercely stood by his minister but his patience must be wearing thin.

Mr Gutwein implored the Opposition to listen to a briefing from experts on the ground in the NT and was adamant his government was acting in the best interests of the children.

“The easy, political thing to do would be for a kneejerk reaction and to bring those kids home,” he said – and it’s a fair point.

But his government’s credibility suffers when a minister – like Mr Jaensch has done in the past few weeks – seems to, at best, struggle with his memory or, at worst, struggle with the truth.

His colleagues insist Mr Jaensch is a decent, hardworking politician and we’ve no real reason to doubt that.

But none of that excuses his latest slipups which undoubtedly erode trust and cannot go unchecked by his own party.