EXCLUSIVE: Senior Territory Labor figures, including a former deputy chief minister and the partner of a Supreme Court Justice, expressed their support for convicted paedophile Kent Rowe to the courts ahead of sentencing earlier this month because of his “successful” contributions to the party, the NT Independent can reveal.

Rowe was sentenced to five years in prison – suspended after two-and-a-half years – for the continued predatory rape of a female relative when she was a child over many years, which Chief Justice Michael Grant found Rowe had repeatedly lied about, failed to show any remorse for and that his actions had caused a “profound and longstanding impact” on the victim.

The letters of support for Rowe, obtained by the NT Independent from the courts, highlight his deep involvement with Territory Labor since 2001.

Rowe’s sex crimes occurred until 2004, according to evidence provided at the Supreme Court trial – three years after he commenced employment with Territory Labor.

Former chief minister Paul Henderson’s deputy chief of staff and long-time Labor backroom figure Jamie Gallacher wrote a supportive reference letter to Chief Justice Grant ahead of sentencing, telling the judge that Rowe “did well overall” for the Labor Party over the last 20 years “in the rough and tumble world of politics”.

Mr Gallacher is married to Supreme Court Justice Jenny Blokland, who were both celebrated by the NT News as the Territory’s “most powerful couple” in 2019.

Former Labor deputy chief minister Syd Stirling, who currently picks up a taxpayer-funded paycheque as chair of Thoroughbred Racing NT and the NT Government’s Remuneration Tribunal, also showed his support for Rowe through a letter to Chief Justice Grant signed by his wife and Nicole Manison’s long-time electorate officer Jenny Djerrkura.

Rowe was instrumental in leading the party to election victory in 2016 and 2020 and worked closely with Mr Stirling and Mr Gallacher over many years in Labor’s backroom.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles and other elected Labor members avoided condemning Rowe for his actions for months, before being forced into it by the CLP Opposition last week in Parliament.

Mr Gallacher wrote that he understood Rowe had been found guilty of “several charges of sexual intercourse without consent” against a child, but that he was always “professional and generally courteous”.

“We worked together in the rough and tumble world of party politics, in which we both held senior roles,” Mr Gallacher wrote in his sentencing reference letter to the courts.

“Courtesy is not always easily maintained in this field, as it is often an area of intense personal conflict.

“That said, I worked on a number [of] Federal and Territory elections with Mr Rowe and if electoral success is to be regarded as a measure, then he did well overall.”

Mr Gallacher added that he has known Rowe since August 2001 and that “I do not know if any of the offences occurred post that date, but … the matters were never raised with me”.

Mr Stirling’s wife Ms Djerrkura wrote in her letter to Chief Justice Grant, sent from a joint email account shared with her husband, that Rowe had been deeply dedicated to the party since first working for them and also the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) of the NT. She said she and Mr Stirling considered Rowe a friend who “deserves a second chance”.

“He always showed such commitment and drive to the party and its members and has always wanted to make a difference in whatever he did,” she wrote.

“My husband and I have called Kent and Rebecca [Rowe’s wife] friends for a number of years now and are fully aware of the struggles they have had to face over the last couple of years.

“I believe whole heartiy [sic] that he gives so much to the community and his family and deserves a second chance.”

Mr Stirling, Ms Djerrkura and Mr Gallacher did not respond to questions yesterday, including if their support for Rowe was in exchange for Rowe not providing all the information he may hold of potential wrongdoing in the party to law enforcement agencies.

The Office of the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption is currently investigating allegations of Labor’s misuse of public funds during the 2020 election campaign.

Questions remain over Labor’s knowledge of Rowe’s sex crimes, Manison still elusive

Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison also did not respond to questions yesterday, including if she was aware that her recently-retired electorate officer and now-casual employee Ms Djerrkura wrote the reference letter for Rowe, or if she endorsed it.

Nicole Manison and Kent Rowe (Photo: Facebook).

Last week in Parliament, Ms Manison was asked by the CLP about her knowledge of the Rowe scandal and if she – or any member of caucus – had sent a reference letter. She claimed that “no reference was provided”.

Questions have also been raised about when Ms Manison first became aware of the crimes, and whether she reported them to police in accordance with the law.

She refused to answer that question yesterday, after last week claiming to have first learned about it through the media, however the media could not legally name Rowe for six months after he was first charged last year.

During sentencing remarks on November 9, it was revealed another unidentified woman in 2016 had contacted the victim to accuse Rowe of “inappropriate sexual behaviour”, that Chief Justice Grant said had fallen short of criminal conduct, but that Rowe had shown “an unhealthy preoccupation with penile-anal intercourse”.

Rowe’s sex crimes against the child victim were described as “predatory and reprehensible” by the judge with more than one instance of anal rape.

In another incident years later, Rowe penetrated the then-child’s vagina on three occasions with his fingers. In another incident, he molested her while she slept.

The last incident occurred three years after Rowe had commenced employment with the then-Clare Martin Labor government.

“I have no doubt at the time that you knew what you were doing was grossly wrong,” Justice Grant told Rowe. “The act was deeply wrong, was predatory and reprehensible conduct.”

Chief Justice Grant said in sentencing Rowe that he had received “a raft of letters that speak to the very positive personal qualities you have demonstrated”, which were considered despite his “lack of remorse and refusal to accept full responsibility”, before sentencing Rowe to two-and-a-half years in prison.

Rowe’s other character references included his wife Darwin Alderman Rebecca Want de Rowe, her twin sister, his mother, various Alcoholics Anonymous associates and a local “ironman” fitness class leader.

Rowe will be eligible for release in March 2025.