Over the last three days, the Crossbench and the Opposition have used every mechanism available to us within Parliament to seek answers on behalf of Territorians about the recent appointment of David Conolly as NT Administrator. 

Instead of answering those questions, the CLP government has repeatedly hidden behind standing orders, deflected straightforward questions, and used parliamentary time to criticise other members of the chamber rather than addressing legitimate public concern.

This afternoon, in protest at this continued refusal to engage transparently, we walked out of the chamber.

Parliament should not used as a shield to avoid scrutiny, accountability, and respectful debate. It exists so that we can raise the concerns of the communities we represent and seek answers about the issues that matter to them.

I will continue to do everything I can to represent the views of Territorians that the CLP government is choosing to ignore, including by meeting with the Office of the Governor-General.

Territorians deserve the assurance that appointments of this significance are based on merit, subject to rigorous and transparent vetting and capable of commanding broad community trust. Right now, none of that is true.