An NT News political reporter who is suing the paper for unfair dismissal claims the chief minister’s department would secretly copy his editor in on all his queries to the government.

Christopher Walsh says he was sacked after complaining about the deal. News Corp denies his claims.

According to court documents, Walsh claims the editor and the general manager of the NT News came to an arrangement with the head of the chief minister’s department, Jodie Ryan, under which Ryan would blind-copy them into all media queries from Walsh to the Northern Territory government and public service.

The arrangement was allegedly agreed during a discussion about government advertising in the NT News and was attended by News Corp Australia’s chief operating officer.