EXCLUSIVE: A Labor MLA who killed a woman with his car in 2009 after speeding through a stop sign had his licence suspended late last year for racking up multiple speeding tickets in his taxpayer-funded government car, the NT Independent can reveal, an issue that was kept quiet by Labor Opposition Leader Selena Uibo.

Member for Arafura Manuel Brown was first elected at a by-election in 2023 after claiming he had learned his lesson about dangerous driving and had devoted his life since the 2009 fatal crash to helping others, but then accrued more than 12 demerits since he was elected while driving his government car, resulting in his licence being suspended for three months last October.

The revelation comes amid severe political turmoil in the Labor Opposition Leader’s office, with allegations of bullying and racism made by a junior staffer against a senior staffer recently becoming public, while questions remain about Ms Uibo’s handling of that matter which has caused anger in the party.

The decision not to disclose Mr Brown’s recent indiscretions and misuse of a government vehicle has also raised questions about Ms Uibo’s leadership, including if the licence suspension matter becoming public was used to politically pressure Mr Brown during the recent deputy leadership spill that saw Mr Brown back Ms Uibo to roll former deputy leader Dheran Young and install newly elected Nightcliff MLA Ed Smelt as the second in command.

Mr Brown killed a nurse with his vehicle in Katherine in 2009 after speeding through a stop sign and hitting her car so hard another motorist in a parked car caught up in the force of the collision suffered whiplash, while the woman needed to be extricated with the Jaws of Life before later dying.

The Territory Labor Party did not disclose his conviction for that incident in 2023 – when he was first pre-selected for the seat of Arnhem – and later permitted Mr Brown to lie to the public about rendering first aid to the woman, which was disproven by an eye-witness and court records.

He was never disciplined by the party for lying to the public about the crash.

Mr Brown acknowledged the recent multiple speeding tickets and licence suspension yesterday when the NT Independent sent questions to Ms Uibo’s office, stating that he “should have done better”.

“As an elected representative, I know I am expected to lead by example,” Mr Brown said in a statement.

“I am sorry I fell short of that standard.

“My focus is on doing the work I was elected to do for the people of Arafura.”

He did not say how many speeding tickets he received in his first three years in office before his licence was suspended. According to NT law, any driver who accrues 12 or more demerit points over a three-year period will have their licence suspended for three months.

Government records show Mr Brown’s taxpayer-funded car was still used during the time his licence was suspended, which he did not address in response to a question, but it is understood he has claimed he was driven by a staff member for three months.

Ms Uibo did not respond to questions about why she or Mr Brown did not publicly disclose the licence suspension when it occurred last October and why the Labor party continues to cover-up Mr Brown’s indiscretions.

“I made my expectations clear to Manuel as an elected representative, and as a member of my team,” she said in a brief statement.

“I accept that whilst there were no traffic incident[s] involved in the infringement[s], this should have been acknowledged publicly due to the matter involving an elected member of my team.”

After the NT Independent revealed the fatal 2009 crash in March 2023, Mr Brown said in a statement that he had dedicated his life to supporting others following the death of the woman through his work with organisations including the Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation, Malala Health and the Northern Land Council.

“The pain I carry from this incident continues to impact me every day,” he said at the time.

“But I cannot let my demons that have stayed with me from that day continue to dictate my future or what I am capable of achieving for my people.

“I am a good man, a community man, who is incredibly passionate about improving the lives of Aboriginal Territorians.”

Ms Uibo did not respond to a question about whether Mr Brown was fit to remain in the Labor caucus after failing to live up to his own pledge and misusing his taxpayer-funded vehicle.

Labor previously criticised Lia Finocchiaro and Josh Burgoyne in 2024 for not publicly disclosing a vehicle crash caused by Mr Burgoyne that injured two health care workers. Mr Burgoyne, who is now a Minister in Ms Finocchiaro’s Cabinet, was later charged and pleaded guilty to careless driving but avoided a conviction.

Mr Brown was initially charged with dangerous driving causing death in 2009 in relation to killing the Indigenous health care provider, but later pleaded to the lesser charge of driving without due care in 2010 and served no jail time despite the conviction. He was inexplicably not given a breath test at the scene and was permitted to provide his statement to police 10 days after the crash.

The victim’s son, who was in the car at the time Mr Brown crashed into it, later told the NT Independent he was still devastated by the loss of his mother at Mr Brown’s hands and said Mr Brown “shouldn’t be in office after what he did”.

Manuel Brown returned government car to Parliament earlier this year, fuel card report shows it was used after licence suspension

The NT Independent understands Mr Brown returned his government vehicle to Parliament earlier this year.

According to the parliamentary fuel card report, Mr Brown continued to use his government-funded vehicle after his licence was suspended, which the NT Independent understands is permitted if a driver is nominated by the member. He did not explain who was driving him in his electorate vehicle while his licence was suspended.

However, purchases of fuel on his taxpayer-funded fuel card ceased at the end of February, around the time it is understood he returned the government vehicle to take advantage of another benefit scheme provided to MLAs to be reimbursed for the use of a private vehicle, which does not require the same public disclosures of fuel usage.

While Mr Brown’s electorate of Arnhem extends from the Tiwi Islands to West Arnhem Land, including the remote communities of Gunbalanya, Jabiru, Maningrida, Pirlangimpi and Wurrumiyanga, the majority of Mr Brown’s fuel transactions since mid-2025 were made at service stations around the Greater Darwin region at Coolalinga, Palmerston, Knuckey Lagoon, and Berrimah, the fuel records show, with a handful of transactions in Jabiru.

Ms Uibo said Mr Brown did not drive his vehicle while suspended and that “his work continued through existing office arrangements”, adding “there was no special taxpayer-funded driver or vehicle arrangement”.

It was revealed last October that Ms Uibo had misused the NT Government’s VIP chauffeur car service for personal travel and parties. She apologised to Territorians for the “mistake” after getting caught out by the ABC and pledged to repay the money.