LABOR AT WAR
• Gunner back in Darwin • Blames Vowles for sacking • Public turns on Chief Minister
TERRITORY Chief Minister Michael Gunner claims he was left with no choice but to sack three ministers after they deliberately tried to undermine him this week.
Despite the political disarray facing his Government, Mr Gunner had a smile on his face as he touched down in Darwin yesterday.
He abruptly ended his New Zealand holiday to return and give a press conference at par- liament, outlining the reasons why he sacked Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Ken Vowles and eject Labor backbenchers Jeff Collins and Scott McConnell from caucus.
“Over recent days, Ken, Jeff and Scott have lost my trust,” Mr Gunner said.
“It should come as no surprise to anyone that if you can’t support the leader, if you undermine the deputy and question her ability to do her job, if you walk away from caucus and Cabinet solidarity and those caucus values that we share – that you are no longer part of our government team.
He rejected claims that his colleagues were not listened to during internal discussions, insisting they were just deliberately trying “to destabilise the Government.”
“I accept this was not a good week,” he said.
“I do apologise to Territorians, but I am not responsible for the actions of those three people.”
Member for Port Darwin Paul Kirby, who collected Mr Gunner from the airport yesterday, told the NT News he “absolutely backs” the Chief’s decision to sack Mr Vowles but he refused to say if he would take over his portfolios.
It is understood Treasurer Nicole Manison will oversee Aboriginal Affairs, Primary Industry and Resources and Arafura Games portfolios until a replacement is elected at the end of January.
Mr Gunner said he had “not given mind to” stripping the sacked trio of their Labor membership as well and said it would be a decision for the party to take.
Mr Gunner said the Government would soon conduct a “root and branch” examination of its expenditure to address the economic crisis.
“It will be leading into tough conversations and big decisions early next year, as we prepare for our Budget,” he said.
“These are huge issues fac- ing us and we have to be able to have those conversations internally in a room where everyone trusts each other.”
Opposition Leader Gary Higgins said the decision to punish Mr Vowles for having the “courage to speak the truth” was not only unfair but childish.
“He has exposed they have no plan and Labor have cannibalised him,” he said. “At least Ken Vowles had the guts to stand by his convictions.”
CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner’s pre-emptive move to sack Ken Vowles has comprehensively blown up in his face — at least for the short term.
There is no doubt he has suffered a brutal blow to his leadership but whether it will become fatal is as yet unknown. The weight of public opinion has undoubtedly turned against Gunner and he has made a martyr of his Labor rival. His argument that, upon induction, his Caucus signed an agreement not to publicly snipe each other justifies the move in his mind but it doesn’t pass the public sniff test.
The electorate don’t care about some private ministerial agreement that has been broken. All they see is the reality in front of them and how much they are struggling. They see a minister axed for being honest with the public about how dire our economy is. Vowles was the only minister to command unequivocal support across key NT industry associations, yet those who have been borderline incompetent remain in Cabinet. Gunner was elected on a platform of establishing an “open and transparent government” yet he has sacked a minister for being exactly that. This is what the public sees. It will be a tough job to change the perception.