Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, it is the saga that just continues to roll on.
(00:03):
We know the Northern Territory Labour MP Manuel Brown apologized
yesterday after admitting that he allowed two of his underaged
children to drive his car in a remote Arnamland outstation.
The member for our Refera held that press conference yesterday
which was really aimed at clearing the air. But during
the press conference well, he admitted his twelve year old
(00:23):
and fourteen year old kids had driven his car at
an outstation near Maningrida. During that press conference, he also
conceded that he should have been more upfront about his
driving history after it emerged that his license was suspended
for three months last year over repeated speeding offenses. As
we know before, he was then court speeding again in February.
(00:44):
Now the controversy comes as mister Brown now also faces
questions overclaims that he's receiving a tax free travel allowance
of around four hundred and fifty dollars a day while
staying at a home that he reportedly owns in Darwin.
Says he's sorry to territorians. He's enrolled in a defensive
driving course and he's going to decide after the Labor
(01:07):
Caucus meeting later this month whether to step down from
his shadow ministry roles. The Opposition leader Selena Hubo had
previously seid he wouldn't be dumped from the front bench,
but continued well certainly confirmed on this show last week
that he'd be undertaking that driver training course and that
that caucus meeting would really determine his future. The Opposition
(01:29):
leader Selena Ubo joins me on the line. Good morning
to you, Selena.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Good morning Katie, Good morning listeners.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Now, Selena, last week on the show, you told us
Manuel Brown's son had not driven his car and that
he acted within his entitlements when it comes to the
use of the fuel card and the taxi vouchers. Now,
given this additional information like the speeding fine and the
confirmation that his son and daughter, aged fourteen and twelve,
actually did drive the car, are now coming to light,
(01:59):
are you still confidence that he is acting appropriately and
acting within entitlements?
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Katie. We spoke last week about the questions of Manual
and obviously the response I provided was the information I
had at the time. It still remains the case that
both of the question around manual son driving his government
vehicle was answered and he did not drive the government vehicle,
but of course has come to light since last week
(02:27):
unfortunately that both of his or two of his children
have given a personal car in a remote homeland.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
So I guess I'm trying to give everybody the benefit
of the doubt here, but I'm starting to wonder, you know,
you guys lying to my face or is there confusion
or what exactly is going on?
Speaker 2 (02:46):
So, of course not Katie, And like I said, the
information I had last week was around the government vehicle,
but that since come to light later last week and
obviously beginning yesterday as well, with Manually answering some direct
questions that two of his children have driven a personal
vehicle out push. So the decision that I've made as
leader and some of the leaders that I can pull
(03:08):
in my role as the leader of the Labor Party
is to remove Manual from the opposition with position. It's
a numerated position. It's a very important role within any
parliamentary process and system. It's basically the team manager on
the floor of Parliament and making sure pretty much, you know,
we pung us all into action. But of course, with
(03:29):
the extra information and what Manuel has spoken about particularly yesterday.
I think it's absolutely a consequence that he needs to
face and remove him from that role.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
I mean, is it enough, Like there's going to be
people listening this morning that are saying he's like, it's
just simply not enough.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Well, I think that that's a very huge consequence for
Manual and of course it will have impact on our
team because it then means that that role will need
to be filled within the Labor Caucus. It is a
very critical role for the parliamentary sittings process, so we'll
make sure we have a position announced for the Opposition
whip before the July sittings commenced. But in terms of it, do.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
You think it's appropriate? Do you think it's appropriate that
he's twelve year old and fourteen year olds had driven
that car a private car.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
I don't think it's appropriate. I don't think there's only
family in the territory where kids have driven out bush
and on a rural block. And I'm not going to
condone it in terms of that if a family's made
that choice. But he's been very upfront, he's been open.
He's in an elected official position, so it's not appropriate.
He's been honest and now he's facing a large consequence
(04:41):
from me and my team.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
So a lot of questions began being asked, you know,
probably two weeks ago and there was these accusations coming
to light. Did your office look into them at the
time or attempt to work out if they were true?
Because you know, it sort of seems like you've fronted
up a couple of times. You know, you've said to
me that this is the end of it. You know
that no, he hasn't used those entitlements inappropriately. No, you know,
(05:08):
his child wasn't driving the car. And then you know,
further information comes out that that contradicts that. So was
there an investigation done by your office or has your
office looked into this thoroughly to make sure that there
isn't more revelations to come.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yes, Katie, And in terms of the questions around the vehicle,
that was the best information I had at the time
around the government vehicle. Of course, then there's were more
questions around a personal vehicle, and that information has come
to light. Hence why I've made that consequence for Manual,
and he's come out publicly and spoken about that. As
(05:47):
of yesterday, I wasn't aware of a second child driving
a personal vehicle, which is why I've made this decision
to strip Manual from the opposition whip role.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
So is that what the tipping point was?
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Well, I think that you know, the questions and the
concerns that have been raised by community members to me
directly as well across the Labor party shows that there
needs to be a strong consequence. Manuel accepts that consequence.
He wants to show people that he's still committed to
his role. He's still committed as a member for Arafura
and to our labor team, and still wants to do
(06:23):
work on behalf of our labor opposition. So I want
to make sure that Manuel can prove that he has
apologized for making some of those decisions his personal family decisions,
and he has come upfront to face that to the community.
It is not appropriate, I admit, but I just want
to make sure that people know that this consequence means
(06:45):
that you know, Manuel has lost his role as that
opposition with which is a critical role for our team.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Selena, has this compromised your ability to hold the COLP
to account for any mistakes that they make.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Now, well, we still have that role to do.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
It doesn't compromise I don't mean policy decisions. I mean
if one of their members does something stupid like what's
happened here, surely it now compromises your position to really
hold them to account. When these people listening this morning
who do not feel that a five our online driving
course is enough, I know you said that you've stripped
(07:23):
him from that opposition whip role as well, but there
are people that are messaging through saying it just doesn't
seem adequate, it seems hypocritical.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
We still have to do our job in the opposition Katie.
We're not going to stop that. Again. I've said that
if there's something we need to address, we will address it.
We're not going to run and hide and pretend it
doesn't exist and bury our head in the sand like
we've seen with other people in the past. We will
address it. We will front up. And we've had a
consequence as well this particular process. So I want people
(07:54):
to know across the Northern Territory that we will remain
focused on their priorities, but when we do have an
issue within our team, we will front up and we
will address that. We will not running high, we will
not bury our our heads, and we will not pretend
that it didn't exist, like we've seen with the COLP,
So we will not do that.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
To be honest with you, I know you guys have
fronted up and you've done your best to answer questions,
but you know, then it's two weeks since all this
unfolded that the member has actually stood up and there's
been a press conference and then you know these further
detail that's come to light, so you can understand why
people listening would be thinking, hang on, you're saying one thing,
but you doing the other.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Well, I understand the frustrations again, which is why continue
to front up, Katie. We will answer those questions. We
will not neglect and hide and dismiss. We will show
that difference from the CLP. And people can be pissed
off with labor and that's fine, but we will answer
those questions and we will not run away and hide.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
All right, Well, let's ask some questions about these four
hundred and fifty dollars travel allowance. There are now also
concerns about the fact that that Manuel Brown's been claiming
a FO one hundred and fifty dollars travel allowance whilst
staying at a home that he reportedly owns in Palmerstan.
Is that appropriate?
Speaker 2 (09:09):
So, Katie, Manuel Brown's permanent address is in man and Greta.
He rents a house in Jabbaru. He's actually moved from
his home to rent in Jaburu to try and service
his Arafura electorate better. His electorate office, the Arafia Electric
Office is in Moyle in Darwin, so he's got to
spend some time in his office to service his constituents
(09:29):
and his role as a member for Arafura and where
he stays. All members of the Northern Territory Parliament are
entitled to travel allowance if they live out of the
Greater Darwin region. So alf the top of my head, Katie,
that's about ten of us ten members of the parliament
in the NTA of all sides COLP labor as well
as independents who live outside of the Darwen Greater area
(09:52):
who are entitled to and it is a flat rate.
There used to be a difference Kati, between commercial accommodation
and private that was changed and all of our entitlements
are determined by an independent board through the renumeration tribunal determination.
That is a public facing document. Anyone can see our
pay salaries, what we get for our electoral allowance and
(10:13):
any of the extra duties like what ministers get, what
I get as opposition leader, opposition with government, with et cetera.
So all of those parliaments are in black and white.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
It sounds like what you're saying is that we could
have up to ten members that are claiming four hundred
and fifty dollars a day travel allowance while staying at
what private residences that they own.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
It could be private residents, it could be commercial accommodation. Katie.
That's each individual member, and that is all done via
a process of the Legislative Assembly.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Totally understand that labour choice.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
It's not a COLP choice, it's not an independent choice.
It is an independent process which is reviewed every single year.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Yeah, totally understand that. I guess the question that was
being asked yesterday though at that press conference, is is
it appropriate if you're actually staying at a home that
you own.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
That is within the entitlements Katie. That is in the
entitlements that are determined by that independent board. Whether it's
for parliamentary sittings, which obviously we're away sometimes up to
six nights from home, as well as if it's for
the duties of the parliamentary committees that people sit on
(11:20):
and any of the work that he is associated with
being a member of parliament needs a holiday or the weekend,
you don't get the allowance because it's not for work.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Do you reckon that needs a review?
Speaker 2 (11:31):
It could have a review. It is reviewed once a year,
so submissions are open. They can be accepted at any
time to the Remuneration Tribunal Board. That is an independent
board of three members that is then tabled within the
Northern Territory Parliament and it resets every year Katie, the
first of January.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
So I guess you know, as you've said, there are
ten members that do live outside of Darwin that could
be claiming that four hundred and fifty dollars a day
travel allowance. Do you know how many of them actually
own their own property here in Darwin that they're then
staying it.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
I don't personally. I think there's a couple. But again
that is also available on the Members Interest, So every
single member of Parliament, Katie, we need to write any
of our assets or liabilities down, which includes properties. So
anybody who has written their members interest it gets tabled.
I want to say the February or March every year,
at the beginning of each year. So you can have
(12:24):
things that are added, things that are taken away, like
you've sold a house, you bought a house, you sold,
how you border power, et cetera. So all of that
is available, and I think you can access that by
request through the Department of Legislative Assembly. The only thing
that is not available is the personal details, like if
someone's declared that their child plays for a sporting club,
(12:45):
that wouldn't be accessible to the general public because of privacy.
That's that's about the only thing that the general public
can't see, just to try and protect the privacy of
which is fair enough.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Yeah, Selena, Which do other members of your team my
own homes in Darwin and claim that allowance.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
I don't believe. So I know one of my colleagues
or two of my colleagues, So Manuel and Chancey owned
properties in Darwin. But in terms of their whatever they
claim with allowance, or where they stay, whether it's commercial
or private, that is up to each individual member and
that is all handled directly with the Parliamentary Assembly. It
(13:24):
is not handled as a labor party or COP or
an independent business.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Selena, Given you know all of the information that has
come to light, and I know that Manuel held that
press conference yesterday, do you believe that this or do
you feel that this needs to be referred to privileges
or does they need to be a further look into
this so it just clears the air.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
I think that that could be a process definitely what
I would like to see Kadian particularly, there's been a
lot of questions since Manuel answered at the press conference
yesterday was around the travel allowance and having visibilities. So
what the federal government does and Federal parliamentarians, they publish
those allowances and they're available. So that's something that we
(14:07):
could do for better transparency within the Northern Territory Parliament.
There's only twenty five of us, not like you know,
the bigger fish down in Canberra. So I think that
we could look at better processes so the public does
know what's being claimed or not claimed obviously with the
process to protect so you don't have somebody street addressed
or something like that. In terms of privacy, I think
people still are entitled to that, but that is something
(14:30):
that the federal government does that we could bring into
the Northern Territory. Very keen to have a look at
what could work within our Northern Territory context.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
All right, Selena, when is this caucus meeting happening?
Speaker 2 (14:41):
So we do caucus regularly, and when we're not in
formal meetings, Katie, we are talking with each other regularly.
We're looking at our next formal face to face caucus
towards the end of this month, and that's when we're
all in the room together essentially, so we still caucus
even if we're remote, even if we're offline, and especially
(15:02):
when we're travling to other parts of the Northern Territory,
so we can have that you know, camaraderie to be
able to go out and then to talk with territorians
about what are the issues they want us to raise.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
Do you think that Manuel Brown can hang on to
those shadow portfolios when that caucus meeting happens or do
you think that the right thing to do here is
to strip him off those shadow portfolios.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
Well, that's a conversation. I know those questions have come up, Katie,
and particularly last week you asked me those questions as well.
I want to show territorians that we are going to
do the work in opposition so having less members do
less work to me doesn't make sense.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
No putting out like giving someone else. I don't know,
can you have extra?
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Oh yeah, and we might look at changing the portfolios.
That's not off the table, absolutely, But I want to
show territorians and stakeholders that we are going to do
the work with our small team, that we are all
going to do that heavy lifting. So I think having
less people doing that work doesn't make sense. But maybe
some changes around shadow portfolios people carry So I mean
(16:03):
the shadow portfolios are a really big responsibility for each member.
We make those relationships with those stakeholders, so any changes
will need to be carefully considered. But I want to
make sure that all of my team is working hard
for the territory, that they see labor out and about
that we are doing our job in opposition as well
as you know, maintaining our roles as local members. The
(16:26):
only reason why we're in our roles as local members,
but we're bringing a whole range of issues to the
Parliament on behalf of territories and we are not in
the CRP government to account.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
You have been very quick to say in the past
that the buck stops with Leofanocchiaro the chief Minister, and
she should stand down as chief minister over other issues.
What about the buck stopping with you?
Speaker 2 (16:49):
The buck does stop with me, Katie. I take responsibility
for myself, my team. The work we do is labor,
but also the work we do in opposition, and the
work that we want to continue to do to show
territories that their priorities are our priorities. We don't want
to be out there talking about ourselves, but we will
talk and answer those tough questions if something does not
(17:10):
go right. So that's my commitment to Territorians, to labor
and my team.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
And are you holding firm as the leader of the opposition.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
I am very proud to be the leader of the
Territory Labor Party, Katie. The work that I do not
just for our team, but the whole of labor is
something I take the responsibility extremely seriously and something that
I will continue to do in my role as the leader.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Selena, you bo always appreciate your time on a Tuesday.
Thank you very much for having a chat with us
this morning.
Well, it is the saga that just continues to roll on.
(00:03):
We know the Northern Territory Labour MP Manuel Brown apologized
yesterday after admitting that he allowed two of his underaged
children to drive his car in a remote Arnamland outstation.
The member for our Refera held that press conference yesterday
which was really aimed at clearing the air. But during
the press conference well, he admitted his twelve year old
(00:23):
and fourteen year old kids had driven his car at
an outstation near Maningrida. During that press conference, he also
conceded that he should have been more upfront about his
driving history after it emerged that his license was suspended
for three months last year over repeated speeding offenses. As
we know before, he was then court speeding again in February.
(00:44):
Now the controversy comes as mister Brown now also faces
questions overclaims that he's receiving a tax free travel allowance
of around four hundred and fifty dollars a day while
staying at a home that he reportedly owns in Darwin.
Says he's sorry to territorians. He's enrolled in a defensive
driving course and he's going to decide after the Labor
(01:07):
Caucus meeting later this month whether to step down from
his shadow ministry roles. The Opposition leader Selena Hubo had
previously seid he wouldn't be dumped from the front bench,
but continued well certainly confirmed on this show last week
that he'd be undertaking that driver training course and that
that caucus meeting would really determine his future. The Opposition
(01:29):
leader Selena Ubo joins me on the line. Good morning
to you, Selena.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Good morning Katie, Good morning listeners.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Now, Selena, last week on the show, you told us
Manuel Brown's son had not driven his car and that
he acted within his entitlements when it comes to the
use of the fuel card and the taxi vouchers. Now,
given this additional information like the speeding fine and the
confirmation that his son and daughter, aged fourteen and twelve,
actually did drive the car, are now coming to light,
(01:59):
are you still confidence that he is acting appropriately and
acting within entitlements?
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Katie. We spoke last week about the questions of Manual
and obviously the response I provided was the information I
had at the time. It still remains the case that
both of the question around manual son driving his government
vehicle was answered and he did not drive the government vehicle,
but of course has come to light since last week
(02:27):
unfortunately that both of his or two of his children
have given a personal car in a remote homeland.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
So I guess I'm trying to give everybody the benefit
of the doubt here, but I'm starting to wonder, you know,
you guys lying to my face or is there confusion
or what exactly is going on?
Speaker 2 (02:46):
So, of course not Katie, And like I said, the
information I had last week was around the government vehicle,
but that since come to light later last week and
obviously beginning yesterday as well, with Manually answering some direct
questions that two of his children have driven a personal
vehicle out push. So the decision that I've made as
leader and some of the leaders that I can pull
(03:08):
in my role as the leader of the Labor Party
is to remove Manual from the opposition with position. It's
a numerated position. It's a very important role within any
parliamentary process and system. It's basically the team manager on
the floor of Parliament and making sure pretty much, you know,
we pung us all into action. But of course, with
(03:29):
the extra information and what Manuel has spoken about particularly yesterday.
I think it's absolutely a consequence that he needs to
face and remove him from that role.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
I mean, is it enough, Like there's going to be
people listening this morning that are saying he's like, it's
just simply not enough.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Well, I think that that's a very huge consequence for
Manual and of course it will have impact on our
team because it then means that that role will need
to be filled within the Labor Caucus. It is a
very critical role for the parliamentary sittings process, so we'll
make sure we have a position announced for the Opposition
whip before the July sittings commenced. But in terms of it, do.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
You think it's appropriate? Do you think it's appropriate that
he's twelve year old and fourteen year olds had driven
that car a private car.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
I don't think it's appropriate. I don't think there's only
family in the territory where kids have driven out bush
and on a rural block. And I'm not going to
condone it in terms of that if a family's made
that choice. But he's been very upfront, he's been open.
He's in an elected official position, so it's not appropriate.
He's been honest and now he's facing a large consequence
(04:41):
from me and my team.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
So a lot of questions began being asked, you know,
probably two weeks ago and there was these accusations coming
to light. Did your office look into them at the
time or attempt to work out if they were true?
Because you know, it sort of seems like you've fronted
up a couple of times. You know, you've said to
me that this is the end of it. You know
that no, he hasn't used those entitlements inappropriately. No, you know,
(05:08):
his child wasn't driving the car. And then you know,
further information comes out that that contradicts that. So was
there an investigation done by your office or has your
office looked into this thoroughly to make sure that there
isn't more revelations to come.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yes, Katie, And in terms of the questions around the vehicle,
that was the best information I had at the time
around the government vehicle. Of course, then there's were more
questions around a personal vehicle, and that information has come
to light. Hence why I've made that consequence for Manual,
and he's come out publicly and spoken about that. As
(05:47):
of yesterday, I wasn't aware of a second child driving
a personal vehicle, which is why I've made this decision
to strip Manual from the opposition whip role.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
So is that what the tipping point was?
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Well, I think that you know, the questions and the
concerns that have been raised by community members to me
directly as well across the Labor party shows that there
needs to be a strong consequence. Manuel accepts that consequence.
He wants to show people that he's still committed to
his role. He's still committed as a member for Arafura
and to our labor team, and still wants to do
(06:23):
work on behalf of our labor opposition. So I want
to make sure that Manuel can prove that he has
apologized for making some of those decisions his personal family decisions,
and he has come upfront to face that to the community.
It is not appropriate, I admit, but I just want
to make sure that people know that this consequence means
(06:45):
that you know, Manuel has lost his role as that
opposition with which is a critical role for our team.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Selena, has this compromised your ability to hold the COLP
to account for any mistakes that they make.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Now, well, we still have that role to do.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
It doesn't compromise I don't mean policy decisions. I mean
if one of their members does something stupid like what's
happened here, surely it now compromises your position to really
hold them to account. When these people listening this morning
who do not feel that a five our online driving
course is enough, I know you said that you've stripped
(07:23):
him from that opposition whip role as well, but there
are people that are messaging through saying it just doesn't
seem adequate, it seems hypocritical.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
We still have to do our job in the opposition Katie.
We're not going to stop that. Again. I've said that
if there's something we need to address, we will address it.
We're not going to run and hide and pretend it
doesn't exist and bury our head in the sand like
we've seen with other people in the past. We will
address it. We will front up. And we've had a
consequence as well this particular process. So I want people
(07:54):
to know across the Northern Territory that we will remain
focused on their priorities, but when we do have an
issue within our team, we will front up and we
will address that. We will not running high, we will
not bury our our heads, and we will not pretend
that it didn't exist, like we've seen with the COLP,
So we will not do that.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
To be honest with you, I know you guys have
fronted up and you've done your best to answer questions,
but you know, then it's two weeks since all this
unfolded that the member has actually stood up and there's
been a press conference and then you know these further
detail that's come to light, so you can understand why
people listening would be thinking, hang on, you're saying one thing,
but you doing the other.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Well, I understand the frustrations again, which is why continue
to front up, Katie. We will answer those questions. We
will not neglect and hide and dismiss. We will show
that difference from the CLP. And people can be pissed
off with labor and that's fine, but we will answer
those questions and we will not run away and hide.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
All right, Well, let's ask some questions about these four
hundred and fifty dollars travel allowance. There are now also
concerns about the fact that that Manuel Brown's been claiming
a FO one hundred and fifty dollars travel allowance whilst
staying at a home that he reportedly owns in Palmerstan.
Is that appropriate?
Speaker 2 (09:09):
So, Katie, Manuel Brown's permanent address is in man and Greta.
He rents a house in Jabbaru. He's actually moved from
his home to rent in Jaburu to try and service
his Arafura electorate better. His electorate office, the Arafia Electric
Office is in Moyle in Darwin, so he's got to
spend some time in his office to service his constituents
(09:29):
and his role as a member for Arafura and where
he stays. All members of the Northern Territory Parliament are
entitled to travel allowance if they live out of the
Greater Darwin region. So alf the top of my head, Katie,
that's about ten of us ten members of the parliament
in the NTA of all sides COLP labor as well
as independents who live outside of the Darwen Greater area
(09:52):
who are entitled to and it is a flat rate.
There used to be a difference Kati, between commercial accommodation
and private that was changed and all of our entitlements
are determined by an independent board through the renumeration tribunal determination.
That is a public facing document. Anyone can see our
pay salaries, what we get for our electoral allowance and
(10:13):
any of the extra duties like what ministers get, what
I get as opposition leader, opposition with government, with et cetera.
So all of those parliaments are in black and white.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
It sounds like what you're saying is that we could
have up to ten members that are claiming four hundred
and fifty dollars a day travel allowance while staying at
what private residences that they own.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
It could be private residents, it could be commercial accommodation. Katie.
That's each individual member, and that is all done via
a process of the Legislative Assembly.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Totally understand that labour choice.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
It's not a COLP choice, it's not an independent choice.
It is an independent process which is reviewed every single year.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Yeah, totally understand that. I guess the question that was
being asked yesterday though at that press conference, is is
it appropriate if you're actually staying at a home that
you own.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
That is within the entitlements Katie. That is in the
entitlements that are determined by that independent board. Whether it's
for parliamentary sittings, which obviously we're away sometimes up to
six nights from home, as well as if it's for
the duties of the parliamentary committees that people sit on
(11:20):
and any of the work that he is associated with
being a member of parliament needs a holiday or the weekend,
you don't get the allowance because it's not for work.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Do you reckon that needs a review?
Speaker 2 (11:31):
It could have a review. It is reviewed once a year,
so submissions are open. They can be accepted at any
time to the Remuneration Tribunal Board. That is an independent
board of three members that is then tabled within the
Northern Territory Parliament and it resets every year Katie, the
first of January.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
So I guess you know, as you've said, there are
ten members that do live outside of Darwin that could
be claiming that four hundred and fifty dollars a day
travel allowance. Do you know how many of them actually
own their own property here in Darwin that they're then
staying it.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
I don't personally. I think there's a couple. But again
that is also available on the Members Interest, So every
single member of Parliament, Katie, we need to write any
of our assets or liabilities down, which includes properties. So
anybody who has written their members interest it gets tabled.
I want to say the February or March every year,
at the beginning of each year. So you can have
(12:24):
things that are added, things that are taken away, like
you've sold a house, you bought a house, you sold,
how you border power, et cetera. So all of that
is available, and I think you can access that by
request through the Department of Legislative Assembly. The only thing
that is not available is the personal details, like if
someone's declared that their child plays for a sporting club,
(12:45):
that wouldn't be accessible to the general public because of privacy.
That's that's about the only thing that the general public
can't see, just to try and protect the privacy of
which is fair enough.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Yeah, Selena, Which do other members of your team my
own homes in Darwin and claim that allowance.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
I don't believe. So I know one of my colleagues
or two of my colleagues, So Manuel and Chancey owned
properties in Darwin. But in terms of their whatever they
claim with allowance, or where they stay, whether it's commercial
or private, that is up to each individual member and
that is all handled directly with the Parliamentary Assembly. It
(13:24):
is not handled as a labor party or COP or
an independent business.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Selena, Given you know all of the information that has
come to light, and I know that Manuel held that
press conference yesterday, do you believe that this or do
you feel that this needs to be referred to privileges
or does they need to be a further look into
this so it just clears the air.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
I think that that could be a process definitely what
I would like to see Kadian particularly, there's been a
lot of questions since Manuel answered at the press conference
yesterday was around the travel allowance and having visibilities. So
what the federal government does and Federal parliamentarians, they publish
those allowances and they're available. So that's something that we
(14:07):
could do for better transparency within the Northern Territory Parliament.
There's only twenty five of us, not like you know,
the bigger fish down in Canberra. So I think that
we could look at better processes so the public does
know what's being claimed or not claimed obviously with the
process to protect so you don't have somebody street addressed
or something like that. In terms of privacy, I think
people still are entitled to that, but that is something
(14:30):
that the federal government does that we could bring into
the Northern Territory. Very keen to have a look at
what could work within our Northern Territory context.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
All right, Selena, when is this caucus meeting happening?
Speaker 2 (14:41):
So we do caucus regularly, and when we're not in
formal meetings, Katie, we are talking with each other regularly.
We're looking at our next formal face to face caucus
towards the end of this month, and that's when we're
all in the room together essentially, so we still caucus
even if we're remote, even if we're offline, and especially
(15:02):
when we're travling to other parts of the Northern Territory,
so we can have that you know, camaraderie to be
able to go out and then to talk with territorians
about what are the issues they want us to raise.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
Do you think that Manuel Brown can hang on to
those shadow portfolios when that caucus meeting happens or do
you think that the right thing to do here is
to strip him off those shadow portfolios.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
Well, that's a conversation. I know those questions have come up, Katie,
and particularly last week you asked me those questions as well.
I want to show territorians that we are going to
do the work in opposition so having less members do
less work to me doesn't make sense.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
No putting out like giving someone else. I don't know,
can you have extra?
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Oh yeah, and we might look at changing the portfolios.
That's not off the table, absolutely, But I want to
show territorians and stakeholders that we are going to do
the work with our small team, that we are all
going to do that heavy lifting. So I think having
less people doing that work doesn't make sense. But maybe
some changes around shadow portfolios people carry So I mean
(16:03):
the shadow portfolios are a really big responsibility for each member.
We make those relationships with those stakeholders, so any changes
will need to be carefully considered. But I want to
make sure that all of my team is working hard
for the territory, that they see labor out and about
that we are doing our job in opposition as well
as you know, maintaining our roles as local members. The
(16:26):
only reason why we're in our roles as local members,
but we're bringing a whole range of issues to the
Parliament on behalf of territories and we are not in
the CRP government to account.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
You have been very quick to say in the past
that the buck stops with Leofanocchiaro the chief Minister, and
she should stand down as chief minister over other issues.
What about the buck stopping with you?
Speaker 2 (16:49):
The buck does stop with me, Katie. I take responsibility
for myself, my team. The work we do is labor,
but also the work we do in opposition, and the
work that we want to continue to do to show
territories that their priorities are our priorities. We don't want
to be out there talking about ourselves, but we will
talk and answer those tough questions if something does not
(17:10):
go right. So that's my commitment to Territorians, to labor
and my team.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
And are you holding firm as the leader of the opposition.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
I am very proud to be the leader of the
Territory Labor Party, Katie. The work that I do not
just for our team, but the whole of labor is
something I take the responsibility extremely seriously and something that
I will continue to do in my role as the leader.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Selena, you bo always appreciate your time on a Tuesday.
Thank you very much for having a chat with us
this morning.
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