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Nathan Barrett (politician)

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Nathan Barrett
Member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
for Blain
In office
12 April 2014 – 8 August 2016
Preceded byTerry Mills
Succeeded byTerry Mills
Personal details
Born (1976-02-04) 4 February 1976 (age 48)
Darwin, Northern Territory
NationalityAustralian
Political partyCountry Liberal Party (2014–16)
Independent (2016)
SpouseRebecca Barrett
OccupationPort worker, Teacher, Politician

Nathan Barrett (born 4 February 1976) is a former Australian politician who represented the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly seat of Blain from 2014 to 2016.

Background and early career

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Barrett was born in Darwin, and has lived in Palmerston for over twenty years. He was a port worker and teacher before entering politics.[1]

Political career

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Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
Years Term Electoral division Party
2014–2016 13th Blain Country Liberal
2016 Changed allegiance to: Independent

Barrett was elected at a by-election held on 12 April 2014 as a member of the governing Country Liberal Party. The vacancy was caused by the resignation of former Chief Minister Terry Mills.[2] Although Blain, like most seats in the Palmerston area, had historically been CLP heartland, the by-election came at a difficult time for the CLP government. A week after the writ was issued, three indigenous CLP MPs defected to the crossbench. Had Barrett lost, the CLP would have been forced into a minority government.[citation needed] Ultimately, Barrett won, though the CLP suffered a swing of over 10 percent.

In February 2016, Barrett was promoted to Cabinet as Minister for Sport and Recreation, Minister for Young Territorians, and Minister Assisting the Treasurer.[3] He was slated to become Treasurer after the 2016 estimates hearings. However, on 10 June, when Northern Territory News reported that he had sent a video of himself masturbating to a constituent with whom he had been having an affair, Barrett resigned from Cabinet.[4][5][6]

On 12 June, under growing pressure from the CLP's organisational wing, he announced that he would not contest the upcoming election.[7] He then resigned from the CLP on 28 June 2016, and served out the rest of his term as an independent. In a speech announcing his move to the crossbench, he accused his political enemies of resorting to a base attack to bring him down.[8][9] At that election, Blain was won by Barrett's predecessor, Mills, who ran as an independent.[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "CLP announces candidate for Blain". SBS News. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  2. ^ 2014 Blain by-election: Antony Green ABC
  3. ^ "NT Cabinet reshuffle sees Nathan Barrett added to ministry to assist Treasurer Dave Tollner". www.msn.com. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  4. ^ "Sports Minister Nathan Barrett admits sending female constituent sexually explicit videos". Northern Territory News. 10 June 2016.
  5. ^ "NT Sports Minister Nathan Barrett resigns amid sex video scandal". ABC News. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  6. ^ Aikman, Amos (13 June 2016). "More to come, says NT sex scandal MP Nathan Barrett". The Australian. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  7. ^ Oaten, James (12 June 2016). "Sex scandal: NT politician Nathan Barrett will not recontest August election". ABC News. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  8. ^ "Parliamentary Record (Hansard) and Minutes of Proceedings (27 June 2016)". Hansard. Northern Territory Parliament.
  9. ^ Sorensen, Hayley (28 June 2016). "Former Assistant Treasurer Nathan Barrett resigns from Country Liberal Party". NT News.
  10. ^ "Blain". NT Votes 2016. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Member for Blain
2014–2016
Succeeded by