Nathan Barrett (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.

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	(1976-02-04) 4 February 1976 Darwin, Northern Territory
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Country Liberal Party (2014–16) Independent (2016)
Spouse(s)	Rebecca Barrett
Occupation	Port worker, Teacher, Politician

Background and early career

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

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. 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 engaging in a sex act 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

• Members of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, 2012–2016

References

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 Terry Mills	Member for Blain 2014–2016	Succeeded by Terry Mills