1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,200 Speaker 1: Yesterday the COVID nineteen vaccine arrived in the territory. As 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: I mentioned, the first batch of one thousand doses of 3 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:11,040 Speaker 1: that coronavirus vaccine landed safely at the International airport. Joining 4 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:13,399 Speaker 1: me in the studio is the Chief Minister, Michael Gunner. 5 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: Good morning, good day, how are you going good? Thank you, 6 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:18,479 Speaker 1: Chief Minister, who's going to receive the vaccine first. 7 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:22,280 Speaker 2: So in phase one, a priority is those people who 8 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 2: are at most at risk. Now, we've obviously had a 9 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 2: gold standard quarantine facilities, never had a breach. But as 10 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 2: we've seen around the country, the people most at risk 11 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 2: of developing COVID nineteen and maybe taking to the community 12 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 2: are those who work in quarantine facilities. So essentially the 13 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 2: frontline workers are the ones that will be vaccinating first. 14 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:43,880 Speaker 2: The COMWORPH government we're doing vaccinations in this first one 15 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 2: A tranch as well, and they're focused on the aged 16 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 2: and disability sectors who are very vulnerable obviously as we've 17 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 2: seen nationally two. But for me, the priority is about 18 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 2: making sure that we reduce risk even further at our 19 00:00:57,400 --> 00:01:00,080 Speaker 2: quarantine facility. So the frontline workers and when can. 20 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 1: Those sort of regular territorians I guess you know, I, 21 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 1: like myself, expect to receive that vaccine. 22 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:08,120 Speaker 2: So I'd say the majority of Territorians will receive their 23 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 2: vaccines in the second half of this year. Will be free. 24 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:15,319 Speaker 2: It's voluntary, it's effective. We will go through the tranches. 25 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 2: There's a lot of the logistics here, so we will 26 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:20,000 Speaker 2: be updating territories as we get to each tranch. So 27 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 2: we'll give you more detail about your stage when we 28 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 2: get there. 29 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 3: There's just a lot of moving parts here. 30 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:27,039 Speaker 2: I want to make sure we get it right and 31 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 2: we focus on each tranch as it comes. 32 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 1: All right, let's move along because scandal has plagued the 33 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: Gunner government last week an extra maaritial affair allegations of 34 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:38,759 Speaker 1: drug use by a staffer who works on the fifth 35 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: floor of Parliament House MLA, Mark Turner ousted from the 36 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: Labor caucus. One of your staff has resigned. But questions 37 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 1: still very much remain unanswered, Chief Finister, when did you 38 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:53,040 Speaker 1: first become aware of these allegations? 39 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 2: So for me, senior staff advised me of the rumors 40 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 2: around the start of the week of February. A a 41 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 2: camerent exactly which day it was, but somewhere around there 42 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 2: at that point in time we'd heard of rumors, we 43 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:06,760 Speaker 2: double checked it back in with them Empa Bay who 44 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 2: strongly denied them, and so I was told as much 45 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:14,919 Speaker 2: as FYI as anything at that point time. We seems 46 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:17,400 Speaker 2: in hindsight, I will tell you that time that they 47 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:18,639 Speaker 2: were rumours now strongly denied. 48 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:22,119 Speaker 1: So did your staff know about this eighteen days ago? 49 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 1: And the verocity of it eighteen days ago? 50 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 3: So came to our attention around Feb two. 51 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 2: It took a little time to get hold of the 52 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:33,359 Speaker 2: men for Blain and others to ask them what was 53 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 2: going on, and it was strongly denied. 54 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: So these allegations are incredibly serious. Why did you treat 55 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:43,080 Speaker 1: them only as rumor and internet gossip when it seemed 56 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 1: clear to everyone besides you that they weren't so. 57 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 2: Wearing a couple of things here, I think it's not 58 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 2: controversial to say an allegation who our evidence is gossip. 59 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:55,920 Speaker 2: And I still believe talking about whether someone is isn't 60 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 2: having affair is gossip. And I think there's a lot 61 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 2: of rumors out there and extremely careful about taking things 62 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 2: from gossip to public debate, and that's still going to 63 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 2: be a principle of me. For me, what was extremely 64 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 2: disappointing here was the lack of early honesty in about 65 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:17,800 Speaker 2: what was going on, And even today, I think I'd 66 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 2: struggle to accurately describe what has happened between the member 67 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 2: for playing and a private season apart from the fact 68 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:26,919 Speaker 2: that we all know something has happened and there was 69 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 2: There was absolutely a relationship and that relationship was inappropriate. 70 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 1: But you've seen those text messages now and obviously you 71 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:35,240 Speaker 1: wouldn't describe that as a friendship. 72 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 2: No, no, okatie, I would not. And having seen those 73 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 2: the alleged messages yesterday, I think it would be also 74 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 2: fair to say that you shouldn't be able to deny 75 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 2: remembering them or what the general contents or nature of 76 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 2: them was, and you should certainly be able to define 77 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 2: what your relationship essentially was, or you would know how 78 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 2: to define your relationship. So for me, basse only as 79 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 2: a ledge messages, there was no excuse for their not 80 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 2: being early honesty and receiving those text messages now that 81 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 2: now that I have received them yesterday, it's one of 82 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 2: those ones, I what do I do with these now 83 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 2: that these aren't pleasant reading? So I've sent them on 84 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 2: to the i CAC for their information. Now, I don't 85 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 2: know if the I can I can't do anything in 86 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:20,719 Speaker 2: this space. I'm not sure there's actually been a breach 87 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:22,599 Speaker 2: of the i CAAC Act, but thought give it to 88 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 2: them for their information. I think as a as a government, 89 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 2: we've done the things that we need to do in 90 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 2: terms of them. For Blaine, he's been removed from office 91 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 2: fareer positions and he's no longer welcome in the in. 92 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:36,120 Speaker 3: Our party room. But yeah, i'd be fair to say, so. 93 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:38,839 Speaker 1: When did you see these messages? When did you When 94 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:40,479 Speaker 1: did you first see these messages? 95 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 3: So the only yesterday basically was the. 96 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:45,799 Speaker 1: First time did your staff first see these messages? 97 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 3: Yesday? 98 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:49,600 Speaker 1: So you're telling me that at no point your staff 99 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 1: had seen any of the content of these messages up 100 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:54,359 Speaker 1: until yesterday. 101 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 3: Yeah. 102 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 2: I think there's a couple of important points I want 103 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:59,600 Speaker 2: to clarify here because there's been some allegations around. Yes, 104 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:02,839 Speaker 2: there was the first time we received the messages as 105 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 2: screenshots as basically printed off the originals, and we saw 106 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:09,719 Speaker 2: them all. We've seen the ones that have been published 107 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 2: in the paper, which was you know, be fair to 108 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 2: say say, maybe pretty angry. I'm reading these things in 109 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 2: the paper, and that was the first time I'm reading it. 110 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 1: But my understanding is that the content of some of 111 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 1: this had been put to your staff several days ago. 112 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 2: I'm happy to get to that. Yeah, I'm haapy to 113 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 2: get to that. So I've got to that yesday in 114 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 2: the press conference too. So Empty Independent emailed us to 115 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:35,520 Speaker 2: their credit. I think it was about three sh on 116 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 2: a Monday. Now, for some reason, their server and my 117 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:39,800 Speaker 2: servant this is a bit relevant some ways. It came 118 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 2: into us about noon on Tuesday. Says prior to QT 119 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 2: that message, that email didn't attach any text messages or 120 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:49,040 Speaker 2: didn't attach any screen shots. The body of the email 121 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:51,360 Speaker 2: claimed to quote text messages. 122 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 3: We took that. 123 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:55,359 Speaker 2: Down to the member Blaine and said these are alleged 124 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 2: text messages, you know the in quotation marks, and he 125 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 2: denied those text messages. 126 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:03,160 Speaker 1: Didn't you at that point think to yourself, these are 127 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:06,600 Speaker 1: really serious, these text messages, though they may be alleged. 128 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 1: I should actually conduct some further questioning and some further 129 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 1: investigating in this space because it runs the risk of 130 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 1: making us look incredibly bad this week. 131 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:19,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, so we had the same HR powers place powers 132 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:24,159 Speaker 2: as any other employer, the I was reliant on honesty here, really, 133 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 2: so we had no access to the text messages. 134 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 3: I couldn't go look at text messages. 135 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 2: I had no ability to go look at primary source 136 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:31,760 Speaker 2: materials I was relying on. 137 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 1: It was in that email. 138 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:36,080 Speaker 3: It was alleged in quotation marks, it wasn't attached. 139 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 2: So why I've now received on Sunday is the actual 140 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:40,919 Speaker 2: print ounce of the screenshots. 141 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:43,599 Speaker 1: And upon seeing those, you've deen them so serious that 142 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:45,720 Speaker 1: they need to be passed on to the IKAK. So 143 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 1: why would they not deem that serious a week ago? 144 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 2: Well that there's an important distinction here. A week ago 145 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 2: they came in alleged like they weren't attached. I think 146 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:57,160 Speaker 2: the significant difference here. It was in a body of 147 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:00,600 Speaker 2: an email with some of the alleged someone who has anyway, 148 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 2: they came in the body of an email in quotation marks, 149 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:05,719 Speaker 2: alleged to be the text messages, and they were denied 150 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 2: I had, And so I was reliant at that point 151 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 2: on And let's be clear, Member Blaine comes across for 152 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 2: incredibly and he's an ex police officer, and he was saying, no, 153 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 2: those messages are not true. 154 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 3: And so I was in a position of. 155 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 2: Trusting my colleague and teammate or trusting someone who sent 156 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 2: me an email claiming that these are messages but not 157 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 2: attaching And why wouldn't you not attaching the original messages? 158 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:29,600 Speaker 1: All right? Now, I believe that really there are two 159 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 1: parts to this scandal, the aspect which involves an MLA 160 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 1: having an extramarital affair, and the one which involves the 161 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 1: alleged uice of illicit substances by one of your staff. 162 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 1: Now you're incredibly critical of the former Chief Minister Adam 163 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 1: Giles when an MLA in his team sent a lude 164 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 1: video to a woman who wasn't his wife. How's this different? 165 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 3: So there's a couple of things here. 166 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 2: First of all, let's be clear, I do genuinely believe 167 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 2: that you shouldn't be having affairs that I think we 168 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 2: can all we can all agree on that point, and 169 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 2: you should and if asked about it, you should be 170 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 2: honest with me, and so I know what I'm dealing 171 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 2: with as a staff member, be upfront. The difference between 172 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 2: the two incidents, and that there are some and they 173 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:18,920 Speaker 2: are important, is when the former member Blaine's incident became 174 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 2: public is because of a complaint from a woman who 175 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 2: identify herself as a victim, and it came attached with 176 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 2: the evidence, and so we had everything in front of 177 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 2: us immediately. In this instance, the promatism still hasn't identified 178 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 2: ourself as a as a victim here, so we're not 179 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:35,280 Speaker 2: dealing with a victim. And I still haven't seen some 180 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 2: of the evidence in that. In that instance, I've seen 181 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:41,679 Speaker 2: the messages from the member for Blaine have been provided 182 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 2: to me anonymously, but I haven't seen those other messages. 183 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 2: But what we made clear to that former staff member 184 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:51,680 Speaker 2: is that we do expect honesty, and we weren't receiving 185 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 2: honesty all right. 186 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:56,560 Speaker 1: After the woman at the center of the labor scandal 187 00:08:56,920 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: spoke to me and the ABC on a last week, 188 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 1: text messages were reportedly exchanged between her and MLA Mark Turner. 189 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 1: Now Turner reportedly asked her to make a public statement 190 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:13,960 Speaker 1: and say, I'm annoyed my words have been twisted this morning. 191 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:17,080 Speaker 1: I'm not in a relationship with anyone. I have and 192 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 1: have had friends who are MLAs, and I'm not in 193 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:23,200 Speaker 1: a relationship with any of them. I've not been in 194 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 1: a sexual relationship with any of them. Regardless of how 195 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 1: anyone tries to twist it. Did Mark Turner get the 196 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 1: proposed statement checked by anyone on the fifth floor of Parliament? 197 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 2: Thank you for asking this question, Katie. I can categorically 198 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:44,880 Speaker 2: deny that we ever saw or were party to any 199 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 2: of these text messages. I am incredibly angry about the 200 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 2: fact that Member Blaine did this has been confirmed by 201 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:56,600 Speaker 2: the private citizen. It'd be fair to say I was 202 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:00,320 Speaker 2: furious on the Thursday when I learned of this interac action. 203 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 2: I think it was highly inappropriate and it went again 204 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:12,080 Speaker 2: to the extent and nature of this relationship not being 205 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 2: honestly told to me or my team. 206 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:17,600 Speaker 1: Who do you think then he had to get the 207 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:18,559 Speaker 1: statement checked. 208 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 3: By I don't know. 209 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:21,680 Speaker 2: I don't know, to be honest, Katie, but it wasn't 210 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 2: with us, and I think it was a bloody dumb 211 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 2: thing to do that. 212 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 1: He's reportedly told the woman that he would get advice, 213 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 1: and the advice was not to say anything if he 214 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:35,520 Speaker 1: didn't seek advice from you or anybody on the fifth 215 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 1: floor of Parliament. Was it someone from the Labor Party? 216 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 2: I honestly don't know, Katie. We were obviously providing him 217 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:44,199 Speaker 2: support through this periods. He would any member of our team, 218 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 2: but our support would not go to this. 219 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:48,079 Speaker 3: This was dumb. 220 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 1: Okay, did any member of your staff provide advice to 221 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:55,200 Speaker 1: the woman at the center of the scandal through Mark 222 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:56,679 Speaker 1: Turner at any point? 223 00:10:56,720 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 2: No? 224 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 1: Okay? Who wrote Mark Turner's speech that he delivered in parliament? 225 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:03,439 Speaker 2: So we work remark on that. So we provided support 226 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:05,719 Speaker 2: to the men for Blaine about the. 227 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:08,800 Speaker 1: Statement of sex. So despite I know that we've obviously 228 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 1: you and I see it differently in terms of when 229 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:13,680 Speaker 1: you first saw those text messages and the verocity of 230 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 1: those But despite that, then you guys worked with him 231 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:22,400 Speaker 1: on that statement, which you know realistically said that there 232 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:24,319 Speaker 1: was nothing to see here, that he just set a friendship. 233 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:26,240 Speaker 2: Let me build into that, Katie, because this is a 234 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 2: very important moment in time. So obviously strongly denied all 235 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:32,720 Speaker 2: the way through this by the Memphi blame. We helped 236 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:35,319 Speaker 2: him with a statement. So I sat down with him 237 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 2: on the Wednesday afternoon and said, there's now an allegation 238 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:42,080 Speaker 2: that a labor MLA had a sexual relationship with a 239 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 2: private citisen that's now been articulated. At that point that 240 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:48,440 Speaker 2: allegation hadn't been actually articulated. I said, mate, you need 241 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:50,959 Speaker 2: to make a statement now and based of everything you've 242 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 2: been telling me all the way through their you need 243 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:54,679 Speaker 2: to deny that. That's the device that you're giving me. 244 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:58,840 Speaker 2: We sat down that night and about well, i'm going 245 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:00,440 Speaker 2: to say about half hour before he went and delivered 246 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 2: the statement. 247 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 3: He made some changes to the statement. 248 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 1: So you sat down with him. 249 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:08,319 Speaker 2: Copeatedly that day and I said to him, Katie, the 250 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 2: only way through this mempher baying is brutal honesty, like 251 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:15,440 Speaker 2: embarrassing honestly. You have to be completely upfront and you're 252 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:17,720 Speaker 2: going to go on the floor of Parliament. You cannot 253 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:21,560 Speaker 2: mislead the floor of Parliament. So you've denied this to 254 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:23,079 Speaker 2: me up to this point in time. You now need 255 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:25,840 Speaker 2: a publicly deny it. There's now been an articulated allegation. 256 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 2: You need to deny based of what you've told me. 257 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:33,960 Speaker 2: We worked with him around the denial. Just before we 258 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:36,600 Speaker 2: went into the chamber to give the statement, he made 259 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 2: what in my opinion were material changes to the statement 260 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:43,079 Speaker 2: that took out some very important denials. 261 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 1: So you reckon he's changed it. After speaking to you. 262 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 2: I physically saw it the changes I know, like the 263 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:52,680 Speaker 2: statement that I saw and then the statement that he gave. 264 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 3: Please let me get through this, Katie. 265 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:57,120 Speaker 2: The statement I saw, then the statement he gave, and 266 00:12:57,160 --> 00:13:00,839 Speaker 2: he made a material change. That was late on the 267 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 2: Wednesday night. I slept on that on Wednesday night. I 268 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:05,839 Speaker 2: came in Thursday morning very angry, as did most of 269 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:07,640 Speaker 2: my team. We'ld all thought about that overnight. I thought, 270 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 2: this is now a substantive change to the story, so 271 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:16,959 Speaker 2: the denial essentially of a physical relationship. Because I understand, 272 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:19,880 Speaker 2: I feel what you're saying about the statement. It went 273 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:22,240 Speaker 2: from being a very strong statement to not being a 274 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:23,319 Speaker 2: very strong statement. 275 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 1: Siva a very strong statement, if I'm honest, because I 276 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:30,080 Speaker 1: think the majority of Territorians actually had been reading the 277 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:33,560 Speaker 1: paper and listening to this show throughout the week and 278 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:35,959 Speaker 1: really thought that there was more to this than what 279 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:38,160 Speaker 1: you did. And that's what I'm really struggling to understand 280 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 1: at this point. 281 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 2: I think it's really important to trust your teammates, and 282 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:43,679 Speaker 2: I did, and I did up to the point in 283 00:13:43,679 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 2: time where he changed his story. 284 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:47,960 Speaker 1: All right, so he's obviously at. 285 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:48,600 Speaker 3: That point, Katie. 286 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 2: We went receiving like all the way through this, and 287 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:52,720 Speaker 2: I think I finally seen them the Sunday. There are 288 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:56,240 Speaker 2: people out there who had more information than me. I 289 00:13:56,280 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 2: was relying on with never Blaine's word versus other people's words. 290 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:03,360 Speaker 2: Now have seen the messages as I did on Sunday. 291 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:07,680 Speaker 1: He's obviously misled parliament. Does he deserve to stay in Parliament? 292 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:13,840 Speaker 2: Well, because he changed his statement, I've able checked that, Katie. 293 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:16,080 Speaker 2: I'm not sure if because of the changes. I think 294 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:18,319 Speaker 2: he made those changes to the statement on Wednesday night 295 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:19,800 Speaker 2: to try and avoid misleading Parliament. 296 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 3: I believe that he got elected to represent the people. 297 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:26,160 Speaker 3: Are blamed. The people are blaming to make. 298 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 2: This decision many ways, not me, And what he needs 299 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 2: to do right now is earned back the trust of 300 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 2: people are blaming at the least, either double down and 301 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:36,560 Speaker 2: recommit to doing his job, which is working for the 302 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:38,880 Speaker 2: people are blamed, or make a big decision like that. 303 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 1: So should he stay in Parliament? He's my question. 304 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 3: So for me, he got elected to do a job. 305 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 3: In his decide if he wants to do that job 306 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:46,440 Speaker 3: or not. 307 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:50,480 Speaker 1: All right, let's move to the second part of this scandal, 308 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 1: and that's allegations of cocaine news by one of your staff. 309 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:54,840 Speaker 1: Are you investigating this? 310 00:14:57,000 --> 00:15:00,600 Speaker 2: I want to be really clear. I have absolutely no 311 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:05,600 Speaker 2: evidence of any cocaine use by my staff. I've got 312 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 2: a lot of all my staff are extremely hard working. 313 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:11,360 Speaker 2: This cross all the mysterial offices, extremely hard working. I 314 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 2: know a lot of them have been very emotionalless week 315 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 2: because they feel they've been essentially besmirched here. At no 316 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 2: stage has any evidence come forward about any one of 317 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 2: my team using cocaine. 318 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 1: Why someone stood down. 319 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:25,560 Speaker 2: Though they were not honest with us at all about 320 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:29,440 Speaker 2: the nature of their relationship and the exchange of the 321 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 2: information that they had, there's no disclosure, and even when 322 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 2: they'd give an opportunity to disclose, the disclosed fully so 323 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 2: they then went on leave. 324 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 1: So it's over a personal relationship. 325 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 2: Over a personal over the failure to adequately and honestly 326 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:50,800 Speaker 2: inform us of the nature of their relationship. 327 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:53,800 Speaker 1: Are you aware if the MLA in question was in 328 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: the room when allegedly illicit substances were being taken. 329 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:02,160 Speaker 2: No, my understanding for the messages I've seen now, the 330 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 2: only reference to cocaine is the private citizen talking about 331 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 2: using it at a night when the men for blame 332 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 2: wasn't there. 333 00:16:08,080 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 1: So do you have any knowledge of any allegation of 334 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 1: staff on the fifth floor of Parliament House using illegal substances. 335 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 2: Yep, So I argon there's two things here. One, I've 336 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 2: absolutely no information or evidence. 337 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:22,880 Speaker 3: About that at all. 338 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 2: I am aware that there's a lot of roomors out 339 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:27,960 Speaker 2: there in the politics as an industry that. 340 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 1: With respect, Chief Minister, what you referred to earlier last 341 00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:34,720 Speaker 1: week was rumor and innuendo, and obviously it turned out 342 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 1: to be a much bigger issue than what you'd initially thought. 343 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 1: So in this case, do you think that it's time 344 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 1: to bite the bullet and maybe take a closer look 345 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:46,240 Speaker 1: into these allegations as well. 346 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 3: Yes. So there's a couple of things I do here regularly. 347 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:54,280 Speaker 2: So today I'll be having a hole of office, hall 348 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 2: of floor staff meeting where I'll be reinforcing our values, 349 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 2: and this is obviously one of them. 350 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 3: That's not a new thing. 351 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 2: I've done that regularly, but I think it's timely to 352 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:05,960 Speaker 2: do it again. I just want to be really clear 353 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:10,040 Speaker 2: here because right now this is a rumor, and there 354 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:12,600 Speaker 2: are and politics lots of rumors. There's no evidence to 355 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 2: support this rumor, and I've got a lot of staff 356 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,200 Speaker 2: at the moment who are feeling a bit damaged because 357 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 2: this rumor is going around and no ability to defend themselves, 358 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:21,080 Speaker 2: So I do feel important. 359 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:23,520 Speaker 1: Do you had to meet with any staff from your 360 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:26,880 Speaker 1: office or others in recent time to speak to them 361 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:29,240 Speaker 1: about the alleged juice of illicit substances? 362 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:32,560 Speaker 3: No, because we've got no evidence to support that. 363 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:35,720 Speaker 1: Has your chief of staff, your current or former had 364 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 1: to meet with staff on the fifth floor about the 365 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:39,800 Speaker 1: alleged juice of illicit substances? 366 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:42,440 Speaker 2: So both my current chief of staff and my former 367 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:45,960 Speaker 2: chief of staff, I've asked them to reinforce with all 368 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:48,720 Speaker 2: our staff the same message I reinforced with my caucus 369 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:50,879 Speaker 2: and cabinet, and that goes to values of which this 370 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:53,000 Speaker 2: is one of them. So absolutely, but part of a 371 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:55,080 Speaker 2: broader conversation about what our values are. 372 00:17:56,320 --> 00:18:00,879 Speaker 1: If at any point it is found that drugs have 373 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:03,359 Speaker 1: been used by anyone on the fifth floor or in 374 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:04,920 Speaker 1: your team, will you take action? 375 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:07,440 Speaker 3: It's utterly unacceptable and indefensible. 376 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 1: Have you have police asked you for information or assistance 377 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:12,359 Speaker 1: from your office into this space. 378 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:14,480 Speaker 2: No, I'm not ware of any police investigation and police 379 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:15,720 Speaker 2: haven't confirmed and investigation. 380 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 1: So will you at any point launch an investigation or 381 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:20,560 Speaker 1: do you feel that there's nothing to see here. 382 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 3: Well, there's probably a couple of things here. 383 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:27,040 Speaker 2: I don't have any extraordinary workplace powers beyond anyone else. 384 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:29,200 Speaker 2: I can only do what any other boss or employee 385 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:34,439 Speaker 2: would do. People have private lives. I've done everything I 386 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:36,119 Speaker 2: can do. Beast in the information I have when it 387 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:37,959 Speaker 2: comes to our staff, and I think on I'm going 388 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 2: to do today when I sit down the staff again, 389 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:42,040 Speaker 2: is just really remind them of all our values, of 390 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:42,879 Speaker 2: which this is one. 391 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:45,200 Speaker 1: Do you support drug testing in Parliament House? 392 00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 2: I have a general view against drug testing full stop 393 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:50,959 Speaker 2: will be a very large public service over twenty two 394 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 2: thousand people. 395 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:53,960 Speaker 1: I don't think specifically for Parliament House. 396 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:55,200 Speaker 3: Well, no, I don't. 397 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:57,640 Speaker 2: How come I just don't think it's I don't think 398 00:18:57,640 --> 00:18:59,560 Speaker 2: it's necessary. I think it's costly. I just think it's 399 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:00,440 Speaker 2: time waste. 400 00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 1: Chief Minister, you are the leader of the Northern Territory 401 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:06,400 Speaker 1: and obviously you deal in public perception, and right now 402 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:09,600 Speaker 1: the perception is that the government's plagued by scandal. Do 403 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 1: you have the support of your caucus yes. Do you 404 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:13,679 Speaker 1: have the support of your cabinet yes. Do you have 405 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:17,159 Speaker 1: the support of the Labor Party yes? How well, have 406 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:18,760 Speaker 1: you actually met with the Labor Party. 407 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:21,320 Speaker 2: I've been speaking with the President. We're going to have 408 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:24,840 Speaker 2: a few more conversations. I've let her know that the 409 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 2: mempher Blaine's exclusion from our party room should be taken 410 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:30,440 Speaker 2: as a recommendation for them to reconsider his membership status. 411 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 2: I know this is a tricky thing for them, but 412 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:34,200 Speaker 2: how they handle that, not not necessarily in terms of 413 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:36,679 Speaker 2: whether he's value stand up or not, but just legally 414 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 2: what we can or can't do in terms of how 415 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:39,800 Speaker 2: they handle their membership. 416 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:41,560 Speaker 3: But they absolutely seriously need to consider it. 417 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:42,399 Speaker 1: Should he be asked it. 418 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 3: Well, in my opinion, he hasn't met our standards. 419 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:46,879 Speaker 2: I just know it's easier for us to remove them 420 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:48,639 Speaker 2: from the party room than it is for them to 421 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:49,440 Speaker 2: remove them from the party. 422 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:51,080 Speaker 3: And we've seen that. It's not a new debate. 423 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:53,639 Speaker 2: We've seen that Victoria there was a very public person 424 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:56,639 Speaker 2: and there's a difficult process around that. So they actually 425 00:19:56,720 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 2: have to consider it, and they also need to consider 426 00:19:58,560 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 2: our membership rules. 427 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:01,520 Speaker 3: This is something that's difficult for them to do. 428 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:04,080 Speaker 1: Chief Minister, do you accept that you should have handled 429 00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:04,680 Speaker 1: this differently? 430 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 2: If I'd no one more, we will have handled it 431 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:12,360 Speaker 2: earlier and publicly, and I wish we had received these 432 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 2: text mesures earlier than Sunday afternoon. I absolutely would have 433 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:22,439 Speaker 2: preferred to handle this early, strongly, publicly. It was a 434 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 2: shit of a week. It's not how I would have 435 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:26,480 Speaker 2: liked to have played this week at all. And it 436 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:28,400 Speaker 2: just goes again to the points of honesty. 437 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 1: Have you demonstrated the standards that you set out in 438 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:36,560 Speaker 1: your detailed thirty seven page document called Restoring Integrity to Government? 439 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:39,160 Speaker 2: I think you saw very strong actions on the Thursday 440 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:41,200 Speaker 2: when we had evidence of the extent and nature of 441 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:45,400 Speaker 2: the relationship, and we acted to remove from office, fare 442 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 2: positions and from our party room. And we did that 443 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:48,800 Speaker 2: when we had the evidence. 444 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 1: Should you have acted earlier? 445 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:52,159 Speaker 2: We acted as soon as we had that evidence. So 446 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:54,040 Speaker 2: we did the best we could with information we had. 447 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 2: I don't regret not acting on gossip. I want to 448 00:20:57,080 --> 00:20:57,960 Speaker 2: be our back things. 449 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:00,040 Speaker 1: Up, Chief Minister. Do you think you can survive this 450 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:01,399 Speaker 1: and remain the Chief Minister? 451 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 3: Yes? 452 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:04,439 Speaker 1: All right, we better leave it there. We appreciate you 453 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 1: answering all those questions this morning. Thank you very much 454 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:07,560 Speaker 1: for your time. 455 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:08,320 Speaker 3: Thank you. 456 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:11,160 Speaker 1: It's our Chief Minister, Michael Gunner. There the phones are 457 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:14,320 Speaker 1: going berserk. We have got so many messages flowing through. 458 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:17,720 Speaker 1: Zero four one eight nine, five seven, three six nine 459 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:19,240 Speaker 1: is the number if you'd like to send us a 460 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:19,680 Speaker 1: message