Sports Minister Nathan Barrett has resigned from Cabinet after the NT News revealed today he sent sexually explicit videos to a constituent.

Mr Barrett was also Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Young Territorians.

He said in a statement he would seek counselling but indicated he would still run at the upcoming August election, saying he would “now work to rebuild the trust of the people of Blain”.

“Today, with much regret, I have tendered my resignation from Cabinet to the Chief Minister,” Mr Barrett said.

“I am very disappointed with my actions. I endeavour to represent my community effectively and improve the lives of the people of Blain and the entire Northern Territory.

“I did not live up to these standards when I engaged in an inappropriate relationship. While this is essentially a private matter that my wife and I have been working through for some time, I unreservedly apologise to my family, the people of my electorate of Blain, my parliamentary colleagues, the party, and the men and women in the Department of Sport and Recreation and Youth Affairs.

“I also apologise to the woman with whom I was involved with for a short period.”

The resignation leaves the CLP without an obvious Treasurer beyond the election, as incumbent Dave Tollner is retiring.

Mr Barrett is already facing pressure to walk away from Parliament, a move that would make it difficult for the minority Government to pass its budget after estimates hearings.

Former Labor leader Delia Lawrie swung hardest: “Seriously? This creep thinks a resignation from Cabinet is enough? No. Resign from Parliament,” Ms Lawrie wrote on Facebook.

EARLIER: SPORTS Minister and Assistant Treasurer Nathan Barrett has admitted sending a female constituent two sexually explicit videos of himself in a bathroom.

Mr Barrett is also Young Territorians Minister and is tipped to become Treasurer after the upcoming estimates hearings.

He is seen in the two short videos, sent via Facebook and obtained by the NT News, masturbating with his left hand.

The recipient of the video claims she did not solicit the sexually explicit messages.

She claimed she was in a vulnerable place and that Mr Barrett had promised her a job when he became Treasurer.

“He manipulated me,” she told the NT News. “I didn’t ask for the videos, but we did share many texts over the months and I suppose we had developed a relationship. He did use his power to influence me. I was vulnerable and it happened.” Mr Barrett said yesterday that he was going “through a rough patch” with his wife but denied the messages he sent were unsolicited.

He said they were part of an online affair with the woman that developed from emails and ended in March. The woman admitted when questioned that she and Mr Barrett became close.

When approached to speak about the video yesterday, Mr Barrett insisted the NT News come to his electorate office to meet. In his office he spoke at length, with his wife at his side, but insisted that much of the conversation be off the record.

He admitted to sending the message but denied making a job offer. He said the messages, one of which was sent at 2.52pm, were sent from his home bathroom.

The NT News offered Mr Barrett the opportunity to make comment and to provide further context to the story. He did not respond by a late deadline, which the NT News extended twice in an attempt to allow him to contribute.

He is the anointed next Treasurer, expected to take over from Dave Tollner before the election as Mr Tollner retires.

Mr Barrett, a married father-of-three, has a deep commitment to his local church and presents to the electorate as a committed family man. He was sworn into cabinet in February after former deputy chief minister Willem Westra van Holthe resigned over a private investment shares scandal.

Mr Barrett was first elected in April 2014 at the Blain by-election after former Chief Minister Terry Mills retired.

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Originally published as Barrett resigns from Cabinet