Labor could lose NT in August poll

6 Aug 2012, 5:30 pm   -   Source: AAP

Northern Territory voters will determine later this month whether a fifth Labor government in four years will fall.

Labor will lose its fifth state or territory regime in four years if the Country Liberal Party (CLP) takes power in the Northern Territory's election later this month.

The Labor government of NT chief minister Paul Henderson went into caretaker mode on Monday following the official issuing of the writ for the August 25 poll by territory administrator Sally Thomas.

Mr Henderson has signalled he wants to campaign on territory issues, without any help from Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

But CLP leader Terry Mills has already lined up his federal counterpart Tony Abbott for a campaign event in Darwin on Tuesday.

The territory poll comes four years after Mr Henderson's team lost six seats but scraped back into power with 13 seats in the 25-seat assembly.

Since then, two ministers have resigned over policy disputes, but one rejoined the caucus and Labor negotiated with independent Gerry Wood to hold minority government.

While there is little expert polling available, online betting agencies have the CLP favourite to win a majority and topple the Labor government which has held power since 2001.

"This election will be about leadership, stability and unity," Mr Henderson told reporters in Darwin.

A re-elected Labor government would be committed to keeping alcohol reform in place, including the banned drinker register, and would work to make housing more affordable through incentives for new home buyers, he said.

Mr Henderson said the CLP would slash the public service, as incoming coalition governments in Queensland and NSW have done, and put the NT economy at risk.

He also said it would run a "dot points campaign" without proper costings and detail, adding that Mr Mills would inevitably face a leadership challenge by aspirant Dave Tollner.

But Mr Mills said Labor was trying to frighten voters by suggesting job cuts.

"We value the public service. They will be well managed, they will be strengthened," he said.

"It's just disturbing that the Labor government would try so hard and say whatever it likes to frighten people and misrepresent our words."

Mr Mills said a CLP government would bring in "tough new measures" to maintain law and order.

The CLP has already dragged Ms Gillard into the election.

It launched an advertisement, headlined "The real Labor team", featuring Mr Henderson and the prime minister with the slogan, Birds of a Feather Stuff it up Together.

Mr Henderson said it was a "sign of weakness" for Mr Mills to bring Mr Abbott to the territory.

"I won't be bringing any federal politicians to the Northern Territory because this campaign will be about territory issues," he said.

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube