The Northern Territory opposition leader Delia Lawrie has resigned just days into a leadership battle which was to stretch across the next four weeks.
Lawrie made the announcement on Sunday following revelations police are investigating her for “possible breaches of the criminal law” in seeking to “obstruct, prevent, pervert or defeat the course of justice” during an inquiry into the granting of a rent-free, 10-year lease of the historic Stella Maris to Unions NT in the last days of the former Labor government.
The inquiry found against Lawrie, and subsequent supreme court action by her was dismissed, with Justice Stephen Southwood ruling she had deliberately sought to undermine the earlier inquiry.
The findings prompted a leadership spill on Wednesday, but because Lawrie refused to resign, new Labor party rules meant the contest between Lawrie and her challenger, the member for Fannie Bay, Michael Gunner, would go to weighted ballots of the caucus and the rank and file membership.
Lawrie’s resignation on Sunday paves the way for Gunner to take leadership, effective from Monday, without requiring the month-long process.
After two-and-a-half years as leader Lawrie made the decision “to focus ... on the legal challenge confronting me” as she fights the investigation and considers an appeal against the supreme court decision.
She denied she was pushed, and said the decision was based on what was best for herself and her family.
She would still contest her seat of Karama at the next election.
“I love my party, I love the work I do. I’m a capable, experienced performer in the team. I’ll be making sure everything we do is about getting rid of the CLP government,” she said.
Lawrie would not offer her personal endorsement of Gunner but said as part of the Labor team he had her support. “I will be part of a united Labor team, that’s what I do,” she said.
“He’s going to be leader of the team, I’m part of the team, I’ll be providing my full support to the team. There’s no issue there,” she said.
“I’m a part of the team, he’s the leader, he’ll get my support.”
She said there was “every reason to protect [Stella Maris] site” but would not be drawn on whether the process should have been more clearly explained to the public.
“I’m not really interested in naval-gazing and talking about what could or should have happened. I’m really interested in just getting on with my job now.”
Earlier in the week Gunner told media he and a majority of his caucus colleagues had asked Lawrie to resign because the supreme court’s findings meant Lawrie no longer had credibility as leader.
On Sunday he said while he understood the desire to protect the Stella Maris site, “the process could have been better”.
“I think the CLP have got form when it comes to knocking down buildings with heritage,” he said.
“[Lawrie’s] objective and intention may have been from the right place, but without doubt the process could have been better.”
Lawrie will likely not have a place in the shadow cabinet. Gunner said she had requested time to deal with her legal challenges and her own constituency.
“We’re going to be getting on with the job,” said Gunner. “As an opposition we have two main duties, we have to hold a bad CLP government to account and we have to prove that we can be trusted to deliver government in 2016.”
He said the Labor party was “capable of mature conversation” and that he was confident he and Lawrie could work together, but no specific promises had been made between Lawrie and Gunner’s right faction.
“This wasn’t Versaille. There’s no treaty,” he said.
“We had a conversation around making sure there were no miscommunications, for example making sure we treat staff with respect.”
“There is no desire from anyone within Labor to do anything other than get on with our jobs.”
