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.
Nathan Barrett | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly for Blain | |
| In office 12 April 2014 – 8 August 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Terry Mills |
| Succeeded by | Terry Mills |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 February 1976 Darwin, Northern Territory |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Country Liberal Party (2014–16) Independent (2016) |
| Spouse | Rebecca Barrett |
| Occupation | Port worker, Teacher, Politician |
Background and early career
editBarrett 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
edit| 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
edit
References
edit- ^ "CLP announces candidate for Blain". SBS News. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
- ^ 2014 Blain by-election: Antony Green ABC
- ^ "NT Cabinet reshuffle sees Nathan Barrett added to ministry to assist Treasurer Dave Tollner". www.msn.com. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
- ^ "Sports Minister Nathan Barrett admits sending female constituent sexually explicit videos". Northern Territory News. 10 June 2016.
- ^ "NT Sports Minister Nathan Barrett resigns amid sex video scandal". ABC News. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
- ^ Aikman, Amos (13 June 2016). "More to come, says NT sex scandal MP Nathan Barrett". The Australian. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
- ^ Oaten, James (12 June 2016). "Sex scandal: NT politician Nathan Barrett will not recontest August election". ABC News. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
- ^ "Parliamentary Record (Hansard) and Minutes of Proceedings (27 June 2016)". Hansard. Northern Territory Parliament.
- ^ Sorensen, Hayley (28 June 2016). "Former Assistant Treasurer Nathan Barrett resigns from Country Liberal Party". NT News.
- ^ "Blain". NT Votes 2016. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 September 2016.