Northern Territory Chief Minister Adam Giles and Deputy Dave Tollner when the CLP government was sworn in. Picture: Justin Sanson Source: News Limited
DEPUTY Chief Minister Dave Tollner has called the gay son of fellow CLP politician Gary Higgins a "pillow biter".
The homophobic rant has angered several colleagues and sparked another episode of Country Liberals turmoil.
Mr Higgins told the parliamentary wing this week he would boycott all party meetings while Mr Tollner remained in a leadership position.
Multiple and senior Government sources confirmed the story to the NT News yesterday, raising concerns about Mr Tollner's behaviour.
He is understood to have called Joshua Higgins – a staffer for Community Services Minister Bess Price – a "pillow biter" and "shirt lifter" directly to his face in a stunning outburst over the content of a draft speech that was shown to cabinet.
HEAT ON GILES OVER MAGISTRATE
When cabinet reconvened, Health Minister Robyn Lambley asked cabinet secretary Gary Barnes to leave the room before launching a broadside at Mr Tollner and demanding he apologise to Joshua Higgins, which he subsequently did.
Member for Daly Gary Higgins. Source: News Limited
Mr Tollner refused to speak to the NT News yesterday, despite repeated requests.
In a statement to the NT News last night, Chief Minister Adam Giles labelled Mr Tollner's comments "inappropriate" and "not acceptable". Disciplinary action was not mentioned.
"Mr Tollner has apologised for his comments," Mr Giles said. "The Treasurer has told me that he did not intend to cause harm or offence with these comments and I know the individual concerned has accepted Mr Tollner's apology.
"The person in question is a valued staff member and has met with me and expressed a desire to move on and that's what we now intend to do."
One senior CLP figure said the situation had upset colleagues. Hushed whispers have been in vogue as Parliament resumed this week.
"Tollner doesn't take anything seriously and doesn't think it was a problem," the figure said. "We're just getting a bit fed up. The team is not cohesive."
Joshua Higgins is considered a competent staffer who won the job in Ms Price's office on his own merit.
TURMOIL AS REBEL TRIO WALK OUT
The Government holds a one-seat majority in the Legislative Assembly and the disaffection of an MLA will hurt the CLP, which has lurched from one internal crisis to the next since the 2012 election.
While Gary Higgins has made it clear he won't return to the parliamentary wing while Mr Tollner remains deputy leader, he has not threatened to quit the party and yesterday asked questions in the chamber along with fellow backbenchers.
MLAs said Mr Tollner was unpopular and would not win a party room vote for his position. But there have been no moves to replace him, mainly because of his close friendship with Mr Giles, who remains the party's only viable leader.
It had been hoped the new parliamentary session would give the CLP some fresh air to better sell its message.
Gary Higgins would not comment.
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