Leader of the Opposition, Lia Finocchiaro, says the Gunner Government has run out of excuses
why it continues to allow Treaty Commissioner, Mick Dodson, to collect his $290,000 a year
salary despite accusations of verbal abuse and threats of physical abuse against an Indigenous
woman – as his two weeks of sick leave draws to a close.
“It’s not surprising the Treaty Commissioner has ignored the Chief Minister, which highlights
the lack of respect and authority Michael Gunner holds as leader.
“This is the same Chief Minister who continues to accept the tainted vote of the disgraced
Member for Blain.
“This is the same Chief Minister who refused to refer allegations of abusive and threatening
behaviour by a member of Minister Uibo’s ministerial staff towards CLP Member for Braitling,
Joshua Burgoyne, to the Privileges Committee.
“Minister Uibo has gone to ground over action on the Treaty Commissioner which, for the
first law officer of the Territory and an Aboriginal woman, is absolutely appalling. Her lack of
condemnation of these accusations is palpable.
“Territorians deserve a government that will call out intimidation, sexual harassment and
violence against women and not a hypocritical Chief Minister who continues to cover-up bad
behaviour when it’s politically damaging,” said Ms Finocchiaro.
Shadow Minister for Public Employment, Bill Yan, says Labor’s double-standards are
shameful.
“On Monday, the NT News reported the Public Employment Minister, Paul Kirby, as saying
the government had a no tolerance policy on sexual harassment and bullying in response to a
public sector survey which found one in three workers had witnessed sexual harassment or
bullying in the workplace.
“The Minister’s comments are in stark contrast to the Gunner Government’s handling of the
situation with the Treaty Commissioner and Minister Uibo’s staffer. Labor needs to stop the
double-standards and demand the Commissioner’s resignation,” said Mr Yan.