NSW Labor MP Chris Minns quits frontbench over ‘dirt dossier’
Chris Minns #ChrisMinns
NSW Labor MP Chris Minns has quit the shadow cabinet after reports a “dirt dossier” on him began circulating in the party.
Mr Minns made the announcement on Twitter this morning, claiming his position was now “untenable”.
In the statement, the shadow transport minister said he was “very disappointed” a dirt dossier had been distributed by the Deputy Leader of the Labor Party’s office.
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“In the last 24 hours I have not received any communication or explanation from the Leader, or the Deputy Leader as to how or why this was done,” Mr Minns said.
“The public wants a contest of ideas and a vision to improve the lives of working families, not negative politics.”
The staff member who released the dossier was fired last night.
Addressing media outside his home this morning, Mr Minns claimed Labor’s focus on “negative politics” had been turned on him.
“I think the (NSW) Labor Party over the last two years has been too negative. I don’t think negative politics works,” he said.
Video: ‘I am the leader of the NSW Labor Party’: McKay denies reports she will resign (Sky News Australia)
‘I am the leader of the NSW Labor Party’: McKay denies reports she will resign
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“This kind of negative politics isn’t working against the government, why would it work against our own side?”
Mr Minns, who will continue to serve as the Member for Kogarah, has been touted as a possible replacement for NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay.
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Yesterday Ms McKay declared she would not be stepping down from her position after the party’s crushing Upper Hunter by-election defeat at the weekend.
Mr Minns becomes the second senior Labor MP to step down from the shadow cabinet in just two days, after Walt Secord quit yesterday.
Mr Minns said Ms McKay had not contacted him about the dirt dossier or his decision to resign.
Speaking with Ben Fordham on 2GB, Ms McKay said the staff member’s conduct in releasing the Minns document was “completely and utterly inappropriate”.
https://omny.fm/shows/ben-fordham-full-show/jodi-mckay-holds-firm-despite-calls-for-her-resign/embed?style=cover
“He did it on his own volition,” Ms McKay said.
“I had no idea about this until I was asked about this in a media conference yesterday, which took me completely by surprise.”
Ms McKay claimed she “had no idea” the document existed or the details it contained.
Mr Minns will remain on the party’s backbench.