Fallout continues from NT minister gay slur resignation
THE Northern Territory Country Liberal Party will meet to choose a new deputy chief minister after Dave Tollner’s resignation last week over homophobic slurs made to a gay staffer.
ABC News reports Tollner’s replacement is expected to be chosen later today.
Tollner resigned after reports emerged early last week he called staffer Joshua Higgins a “pillow biter” and a “shirt lifter” after viewing a draft speech on marriage equality, although Higgins had not been involved in preparing the speech.
Higgins is an adviser to NT Community Services Minister Bess Price and the son of Gary Higgins, member for the seat of Daly.
Though NT Chief Minister Adam Giles initially backed his deputy, Tollner resigned on Friday amidst outcry from the media, the Labor opposition, and from within his own party.
Speaker and CLP member Kezia Purick told the ABC before he resigned she would find it difficult to continue working with him.
Before his resignation Tollner had defended himself in an interview on Darwin radio station Mix1049, explaining his mother has been in a same-sex relationship for 27 years.
Tollner’s gay nephew also came forward to say his uncle was accepting of his own same-sex relationship.
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Who could believe the Northern territory Liberals getting rid of someone for homophobic slurs? I almost fell off my chair when I read that. I think it is symbolic of the major shift that is reminiscent of the time when racist comments no longer became acceptable. Most people now know someone who is out, and this is putting a strain on homophobes, even those with power.
This is why in 2014 gay marriage never passes the parliament, all because of old homophobic bigoted stupid Liberal Party politicians or lawmakers who are gutless and corrupt to the core!