THURSDAY APRIL 16 2015 NEWS 05 Territory politics a matter of trust LABOR CONTEST LOOMING Leadership race on POLITICAL ARENA IN TURMOIL after Delia digs in HOW WILL THE CHRISTOPHER WALSH president requesting a leader- ship spill. FOUNDATION 51 LABOR LEADERSHIP THE NT Labor Party is now Ms Lawrie did not address BALLOT WORK? headed to a potentially bitter the clear divisions in caucus INVESTIGATION and acrimonious leadership later in the day. She said that 2009: Foundation 51 brochure solicits The Territory Labor Party will now go contest after leader Delia Law- Labor members across the Ter- memberships worth up to $22,000 a year. through a month-long ballot to determine rie refused to resign yesterday ritory wanted her to stay on. leadership. despite being called on by five “I’m not resigning,” Ms The brochure says the foundation is a of her seven caucus colleagues Lawrie said. “I’m standing subscription-based service providing access This has to happen under new rules to step down. strong. I have a lot to offer Ter- to research by Liberal pollsters Crosby introduced by Territory Labor last year to Instead, Ms Lawrie will take ritorians in terms of holding Textor. give party members a say on leadership the party through a five-week the CLP Government to ac- matters. leadership campaign against count ... I also have a lot to offer May 2014: Alison Anderson mentions Fannie Bay MP Michael in terms of leading a capable Foundation 51 in NT Parliament. Emails are The votes of 250 Territory Labor members Gunner. government. leaked to the NT News revealing Foundation will be weighted at 50 per cent and the Mr Gunner, who an- “What I’m hearing is that 51 made a significant contribution to the remaining 50 per cent will be based on the nounced his leadership bid people want me to stay on as CLP’s Blain by-election campaign. vote of the parliamentary caucus. yesterday afternoon, said Ms leader and I’m going to em- Lawrie could no longer prop- brace a democratic process and It is also revealed that Foundation 51 This gives the rank-and-file members erly lead the party after the Su- respect the outcome.” directors include CLP fundraiser Graeme collectively an equal say to the caucus. preme Court decision earlier Mr Gunner said he hoped to Lewis and then-Magistrate Peter Maley. Mr This postal ballot process will take one this month that she knowingly avoid the “circus” a leadership Lewis denies Foundation 51 is an associated withdrew from the Stella Maris spill brings saying: “We’ve got entity of the CLP and says it only provided month from the closing of nominations, inquiry so she could sue its to do our best to avoid that and during which time contenders for Labor the party access to its research. commissioner based on false our best to avoid distractions.” Leader will seek support from party statements. Ms Lawrie said she expect- Mr Maley quits the CLP and says he will members. “We have lost confidence in ed the leadership contest to be have no further role with Foundation 51. The members’ ballot will then be counted her ability and our ability to respectful. “We’re all good and provide a point of difference to civil people and it won’t be a NT Electoral Commission launches an and weighted with the Caucus votes at the CLP at the next Northern terrible process at all,” she said. investigation. which point the new Labor Leader will be Territory election as a result of “It really is about settling August 2014: It is revealed that Foundation announced. the negative findings of the this issue once and for all, giv- 51 paid $200,000 on activities in the lead-up Supreme Court,” Mr Gunner ing anyone who sees them- to the 2012 election that was not disclosed. said. “We believe that Delia selves as a potential leader the needs to resign as Labor Party opportunity to nominate and October 2014: The CLP moves to scrap leader so we can provide a put it to the people.” a political inquiry — which it mistakenly credible alternative to the Mr Gunner finds himself at allowed to pass through Parliament — into CLP.” a disadvantage in the Labor political donations including Foundation 51. A letter demanding Ms leadership race already. Ms Lawrie’s resignation was pro- Lawrie will be using the money Foundation 51 lodges an overdue political vided at an early morning se- and resources of the Leader of disclosure form. The disclosure is a belated "No Territory political party cret meeting in Nicole the Opposition’s Office to visit acknowledgment the company is an can present a mature front to Manison’s office in Leanyer. It all regions of the NT where she “associated entity” of the CLP. was signed by Ms Manison, is expected to campaign party elevate the Territory above , Lynne Walker, members while conducting of- January 2015: Mr Lewis says he gave “old the mess and no Territory and Mr Gunner. ficial business. Mr Gunner said friend” Nathan Barrett a $10,000 loan before Only Ms Lawrie, Natasha he will be running his cam- the Blain by-election. Mr Barrett says he’d leader can command the Fyles and deputy leader Gerry paign out of his own pocket. never met Mr Lewis until he turned up and faith of their party" McCarthy did not endorse her Ms Lawrie refused again offered the cash. resignation. Ken Vowles, who yesterday to indicate if she hinted he would run for the plans to appeal Justice South- April 2015: Investigation by NTEC confirms EDITORIAL >> P12 leadership on Tuesday, has in- wood’s decision or what would stead thrown his support be- happen if she is suspended possible breach of electoral law and refers Michael Foundation 51 to police. graeme lewis GUnner hind Mr Gunner. from Parliament over her fail- Ms Lawrie, her supporters ed court action. The Labor and the five dissenters all leadership vote is expected to signed a letter to the party take place May 22. Solo skippers at helm as caucus crews desert

at the last minute to throw off cumbent – to discourage The significance of the past is widely popular. And both, for only party members, who the hungry media pack. When leadership aspirants from un- few weeks is not that Ms Law- their flaws, are regarded as might take a dim view of MLAs walked through the dermining the party. It was rie lost support, but rather it capable public servants. brawling. For Ms Lawrie’s part, door of ’s working, up to a point. has come to the nuclear option. There are certainly a lot of she kept coming back to the Leanyer office, they were told Mr Gunner challenged in There are plenty of Labor similarities between Ms Lawrie notion of democracy. to hand over their phones. late 2013 and the vote was tied figures who believe Ms Lawrie and Mr Giles – though both She wouldn’t entertain sug- But there was no need for four-four. But a year later, after can fight on. The Territory cer- would fiercely object to the gestions that contesting a vote ANALYSIS secrecy. The showdown had the rule change, Labor sources tainly has a track record of pol- comparison – and that appears would harm the party. already happened. were reporting the lack of itical redemption. Dave to be a problem for Labor. “It’s a fair process, it’s a THE Territory has two politi- Ms Lawrie has now signed a appetite for any change Tollner’s penance was 172 days Mr Gunner said: “We have democratic process. I look for- cal leaders who cannot win a document effectively remov- Mr Gunner had made no out of Cabinet. And we didn’t lost confidence in her ability ... ward to having a conversation caucus vote. ing herself as Opposition moves until the past week. need the Supreme Court to tell to provide a point of difference with Labor Party members.” Delia Lawrie lost the num- Leader. Though she refused to Even though there were on- us that politicians are schem- to the CLP at the next North- bers in the Labor wing, two admit it publicly, she is now a going tensions, the rules acted ing liars. Ms Lawrie clearly be- ern Territory election as a re- FOR THE LATEST weeks ago. She knew last week lame duck leader. The leader- as a sort of leadership prophy- lieves she can lead without sult of the negative findings of ON THE TERRITORY’S that five MLAs wanted her to ship vote – and the NT Su- lactic. Getting the numbers to majority support. After all, the Supreme Court”. POLITICAL resign. And Ms Lawrie had preme Court judgment – will roll Ms Lawrie was one thing. Adam Giles survived in Febru- Both Mr Gunner and Ms DRAMAS GO TO made it perfectly clear she ain’t hang over every statement she Finding five caucus members ary, despite nine of the CLP Lawrie were careful not to the quitting kind. makes for the next five weeks. willing to drag the party caucus signing a letter calling sling any serious dirt in the The venue for yesterday’s Labor changed its leader- through a membership vote for his resignation. media yesterday. caucus meeting was changed ship rules to protect the in- was another. Neither of the party leaders They’re campaigning to

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