Brent Potter
{{Short description|Australian politician}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix =
|name = Brent Potter
|honorific-suffix =
|image =
|constituency_AM = Fannie Bay
|assembly = Northern Territory Legislative
|term_start = 20 August 2022
|term_end = 24 August 2024
|predecessor = Michael Gunner
|successor = Laurie Zio
|birth_date =
|birth_place =
|residence =
|birthname = Brent Potter
|nationality = Australian
|party = Labor
|spouse =
|children = Four
|alma_mater = University of New South Wales
|occupation =
|cabinet =
| allegiance = Australia
| rank =
| branch = Australian Army
| serviceyears =
| unit = NORFORCE
}}
Brent Potter is an Australian politician who represented the Fannie Bay in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly from a 2022 by-election on 20 August 2022 until his defeat at the 2024 election.
Career
Before his political career, Potter worked in the Australian Army, during which he was deployed to Afghanistan. He also worked in aged care, defence manufacturing, business development, and as a policy advisor to Natasha Fyles, the Northern Territory's Chief Minister from 13 May 2022 until her resignation in 2023. Potter has lived in Darwin since 2009. He has a Master's of Business from the University of New South Wales.{{cite web |title=Brent Potter |url=https://territorylabor.com.au/our-team/territory-members/brent-potter/ |website=Territory Labor |access-date=21 August 2022}}
Political career
Former Chief Minister of the Northern Territory Michael Gunner resigned from his seat of Fannie Bay in the Legislative Assembly on 27 July 2022, triggering the 2022 Fannie Bay by-election.{{cite web |last1=Vivian |first1=Steve |title=Michael Gunner, former Northern Territory chief minister, resigns from politics |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-27/michael-gunner-expected-to-resign-from-politics/101274584 |website=ABC News |access-date=21 August 2022 |date=27 July 2022}} The Labor Party revealed Potter as its candidate on 30 July.{{cite web |last1=Perera |first1=Alicia |title=Northern Territory Labor selects Brent Potter as Fannie Bay by-election candidate after Michael Gunner's resignation from politics |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-30/nt-labor-selects-brent-potter-as-fannie-bay-byelection-candidate/101284542 |website=ABC News |access-date=21 August 2022 |date=30 July 2022}} Potter's now deactivated LinkedIn page showed he had previously worked for an aerospace company which he had helped secure $10 million in public funds from the government.{{cite news |last=Walsh |first=Christopher |title=Revealed: Here's what Labor is hiding about Fannie Bay candidate and fifth floor staffer Brent Potter |website=NT Independent |url=https://ntindependent.com.au/revealed-heres-what-labor-is-hiding-about-fannie-bay-candidate-and-fifth-floor-staffer-brent-potter/ |date=11 August 2022 |access-date=21 August 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Roussos |first1=Eleni |title=Fannie Bay by-election candidate Brent Potter defends himself against opposition claims of potential conflict of interest |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-19/nt-byelection-brent-potter-defends-conflict-of-interest-claims/101348318 |website=ABC News |access-date=21 August 2022 |date=19 August 2022}}
At the by-election on 20 August, he was elected, withstanding a swing against him.{{cite web |last1=Breen |first1=Jacqueline |title=Labor declares victory in NT by-election, narrowly holding the seat of Fannie Bay after Michael Gunner's departure |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-20/fannie-bay-by-election-brent-potter-wins/101354394 |website=ABC News |access-date=21 August 2022 |date=20 August 2022}}
Potter enacted the 2024 Alice Springs curfews and supported the subsequent curfew legislation.
Controversies
=Offensive social media posts on Facebook=
In March 2024, it was reported in the media that Potter had made racist and antisemitic social media posts and jokes on Facebook over the past 11 years, which he apologised for and has since deleted. Potter has since called out racism in the Northern Territory Police Force.{{cite news | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-07/brent-potter-nt-police-minister-apologises-for-facebook-posts/103558652 | title='He was an idiot': NT chief minister backs police minister after racist Facebook posts | newspaper=ABC News | date=7 March 2024 }}{{cite news | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-06/nt-police-minister-brent-potter-defends-facebook-posts/103552668 | title=Fears NT police minister's shared Facebook posts may 'glamorise' Nazi figures | newspaper=ABC News | date=6 March 2024 }}
In the posts, Potter reportedly shared offensive memes, quoted Nazis, praised Vladimir Putin and casually used the word nigger. Potter apologised for the posts and said they were satirical and did not represent his views.{{Cite web | title=REVEALED: NT Labor Police Minister praised Nazis and Putin, shared racist posts on social media {{!}} NT Independent | url=https://ntindependent.com.au/revealed-nt-labor-police-minister-praised-nazis-and-putin-shared-racist-posts-on-social-media/ | access-date=2025-04-04 | website=ntindependent.com.au}}
Personal life
References
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|au-nt}}
{{s-bef|before=Michael Gunner }}
{{s-ttl|title=Member for Fannie Bay |years=2022–2024}}
{{s-aft|after=Laurie Zio}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Potter, Brent}}
Category:Members of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
Category:Australian Labor Party members of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
Category:21st-century Australian politicians