Katherine MLA Sandra Nelson has announced she will not be running in the next election.
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In parliament today, Ms Nelson said the decision was not an "easy" one.
But made after a series of personal Facebook messages were leaked to the media, exposing her thoughts on the Gunner Government's mis-handling of the economic crisis.
Ms Nelson confirmed she would "spend every single day fighting hard for every single constituent of the Katherine electorate" until the 2020 election.
"I feel hurt and betrayed that I'm not making this announcement on my own terms because someone chose to distribute a private conversation," Ms Nelson said.
What follows is Ms Nelson's personal explanation, delivered in Parliament today.
"I am the sort of person who trusts people immediately," Ms Nelson said.
"I had a private conversation via Facebook Messenger with four people I trusted and considered friends, not only just colleagues.
"I feel naive to not have thought about the possibility that one of those trusted friends would betray my friendship for his political and personal agenda.
"There was nothing said by me in that personal conversation that I have not resolved with my Caucus colleagues and, particularly, with my leadership team.
"I am a loyal and trusted friend to many, and this act of betrayal is the reason why I believe so many people lose faith in politics and politicians. Some of you in this Chamber would have noticed that I do not engage in the finger-pointing, mud-slinging politics.
"I do not like it, I find it distasteful and counterproductive to what I believe I was elected to do-that is, to work hard and deliver for the people of Katherine.
"I am protective of Caucus confidentiality, just as I am protective of confidentiality and trust among friends.
"The advocacy, lobbying and battles are fought, won and lost within Caucus, not publicly.
"I am not a natural politician, but I am someone who cares profoundly about my family, friends, Territorians. I believe I am a person of integrity and principle. Because of that, I have, at times, been at odds within my beloved Australian Labor Party and within my own left faction.
"I come into this with complete faith that each one of us [is] here because we passionately care about our communities and the people. But it has become obvious to me over the years that that is not always the case for everybody in this Chamber.
"Until the 2020 election I will spend every single day fighting hard for every single constituent of the Katherine electorate.
"It is a privilege to represent Katherine as its first ever Labor member. Politics can be and is a hostile environment and, at times, it has been a difficult two-and-a-half years for me.
"In this time, my personal circumstances have changed-the breakdown of my relationship and health issues that not even my Caucus colleagues had been privy to.
"In that time, I also have had five members of my family pass away and I have been there for none of them. I have a teenage son who I only see when parliament sits in Darwin.
"I love this job, but I love my family more. I feel hurt and betrayed that I am not making this announcement on my own terms because someone I trusted and counted as a friend at the time chose to distribute a private conversation.
"Until the 2020 election I will remain a hard-working member of the Labor Caucus, as the member for Katherine and Michael Gunner has my support.
"Every member of the Labor Caucus has my support. Every member. I have full faith in our government's economic management."
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