It was one of two Labor Party affairs that ended Leah Potter’s friendship with Owen Pike, and brought her relationship with the party to a destructive conclusion.
The upcoming Territory election presents a critical choice for voters. It’s not just about who sits in Parliament but about the kind of government we want and the consequences of that choice.
For those considering voting Independent, it’s worth reflecting on the scandalous affair between Blain Independent Mark Turner and Port Darwin Independent Leah Potter.
The Mango Inquirer was used to break the so-called ‘Cocaine Sex Scandal’ three years ago with a laughable attempt to hide Turner’s identity, but Potter knew exactly what she was doing.
When the Mango Inquirer’s story didn’t come out the way she expected, the affair was followed up a week later by NT Independent publisher Owen Pike, revealing not just the lurid details of their relationship but also the deeper problems that arise when you have individuals in power who are more concerned with personal gratification than public service.
Whether Pike’s actions in exposing the affair were ethical or driven by his anti-Labor bias is up for debate.
What is clear, however, is that the fallout was devastating: Mark Turner was booted from the ALP, Leah Potter’s relationship with the NT Labor party came to a destructive conclusion, and her friendship with Pike was shattered.
The message here is simple: voting Independent can lead to instability and unpredictability in government. The Mark Turner and Leah Potter scandal is a prime example of what happens when personal interests override the public good. Independents, by their very nature, are not bound by party discipline or a collective vision.
This can lead to chaotic and self-serving behavior, as we’ve seen in this case.
But the dangers of voting Independent go beyond personal scandals. History has shown us that Independents can create serious problems for governance.
Take, for example, the period between 2008 and 2012 when Gerry Wood held the balance of power. While his influence was based on certain guarantees, the upshot became painfully clear in 2012 when the ALP was decimated in the elections.
Wood’s role in holding the balance of power led to a lack of clear direction and decisive action, resulting in a loss of public confidence and the subsequent electoral defeat of the ALP.
In contrast, a majority government can act decisively on critical issues without being hampered by the whims of a few rogue Independents. When you have a government that is unified and disciplined, it can address the big issues facing the Territory—crime, anti-social behavior, alcohol abuse, and housing—without the delays and distractions that come with catering to Independent MPs.
Moreover, the Mark Turner and Leah Potter affair highlights another, more insidious danger of voting Independent: the potential for personal relationships to cloud political judgment. When you have MPs who are more interested in each other’s company than in representing their constituents, you end up with a government that is out of touch and out of control. The graphic nature of the text messages exchanged between Turner and Potter, which we’ve published in full for the first time, underscores just how far off the rails things can go when personal interests take precedence over public service.
In all seriousness, the choice this election is clear. Do you want a government that is stable, disciplined, and focused on the issues that matter to Territorians? Or do you want a Parliament filled with Independents who are more concerned with their personal lives than with the people they were elected to serve?
The Mark Turner and Leah Potter scandal should serve as a cautionary tale for all voters. It’s a stark reminder that when you vote Independent, you’re not just casting a vote for an individual—you’re taking a gamble on the future of the Territory. And as we’ve seen, that gamble can have serious consequences.
So, when you head to the polls, think long and hard about what’s at stake. A vote for an Independent may seem like a good idea at the time, but as we’ve learned from the Turner-Potter affair, it can lead to disaster. Don’t let personal scandals and political chaos define the future of the Northern Territory. Vote for stability, vote for discipline, and vote for a government that is committed to serving the people—not themselves.
The essence of this story on voting Independent was written by a ghost writer, with Shannon Joyce adding the Turner/Potter content.
