Federal Labor downplays NT loss

26 Aug 2012, 3:09 pm   -   Source: AAP
The weekens's election result in the Northern Territory resulted in a defeat for the Australian Labor Party after 11 years in power (AAP).

The weekens's election result in the Northern Territory resulted in a defeat for the Australian Labor Party after 11 years in power (AAP).

Federal Labor MPs have talked down any connection between its party's loss in the NT and any link to federal politics.

RELATED

Federal Labor has distanced itself from the election result in the Northern Territory, which resulted in a defeat for the Australian Labor Party after 11 years in power.

Bush voters led a backlash against the ALP, with the Country Liberal Party claiming victory in the NT's 25-seat Legislative Assembly.

Outgoing chief minister Paul Henderson conceded the Australian Labor Party (ALP) had lost the election to the Country Liberal Party's leader Terry Mills on Saturday night.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who was asked to stay clear of the NT during the election campaign by Mr Henderson, congratulated Mr Mills and praised Mr Henderson's leadership.

Mr Henderson had been dynamic and courageous during a time of expansion and change, Ms Gillard said in a statement.

"He leaves the position of chief minister with an outstanding record of achievements in health and education, including a huge boost for education for remote indigenous communities."

"Importantly, he leaves an economy in superb condition, with an unemployment rate of just 4 per cent, down from 7.4 per cent, the envy of the developed world."

Treasurer Wayne Swan said the campaign was fought largely on local factors following difficult local government reforms.

"I don't think there are any implications coming out of the Northern Territory election for federal Labor," Mr Swan told reporters in Brisbane.

The intervention in indigenous communities was unlikely to have prompted a voter backlash towards Labor as it had been pursued by both sides of politics, under former prime minister John Howard and Prime Minister Julia Gillard, he said.

Federal workplace relations minister Bill Shorten said people in the NT were telling him there was also still some residual resentment over the federal government intervention in indigenous communities.

Labor continued the intervention measures introduced by the Liberal party when they won government in 2007.

"It's a story of two elections in the Northern Territory: Darwin and the bush," Mr Shorten told Network Ten.

"Mr Henderson thought that the suburbs of Darwin was where the debate was going to be and he did very well there."

Trade Minister Craig Emerson said outside of Darwin super councils were a real issue.

"I've always maintained people are more than intelligent enough to separate federal from state issues," Mr Emerson told ABC Television.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott was quick to point out he had campaigned in the NT alongside Mr Mills "unlike the prime minister".

"It came as no surprise that Julia Gillard was told to stay away from the Territory during the election campaign," Mr Abbott said in a statement.

"The fact that Territory Labor representatives distanced themselves from their incompetent and untrustworthy federal colleagues by removing Labor Party branding in their election material highlights just how toxic the Labor brand has become."

Mr Abbott congratulated Mr Mills, saying he had delivered a clear vision for the NT's future.

A particularly pleasing aspect of the election result, he said, was the number of successful indigenous candidates representing the CLP in the NT parliament.

"I pay tribute to them and look forward to working with them in the cause of indigenous advancement throughout the Territory and across Australia," Mr Abbott said.

ALP Politics

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