Solomon candidates Luke Gosling and Lisa Bayliss go toe-to-toe in feisty Sky News election debate
The two major parties have locked horns in an at times feisty Sky News federal election debate in Darwin today.
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The two major political parties have locked horns in an at times feisty Sky News federal election debate in the contest for the seat of Solomon.
Labor’s sitting federal member for Solomon Luke Gosling and Country Liberal Party candidate Lisa Bayliss went toe-to-toe in the battle for what many are predicting will be a close contest.
This is despite the 10 per cent margin held by Mr Gosling.
There were no blunders or knockout blows for either candidate with Ms Bayliss handling herself well as a first time candidate.
Ms Bayliss took aim at Mr Gosling’s record since winning the seat saying he had achieved “nothing” and had failed to represent the Territory in Canberra.
However Mr Gosling pointed to his work as the federal government’s “man in the north” representing the interests of northern Australia, in particular with Indonesia.
He took aim at the Coalition leader Peter Dutton for his gaffe saying Indonesia was going to allow Russia to have planes stationed at an air base two hours from Darwin.
The Port of Darwin and Territory crime were the hot topics that drew most fire.
Both Labor and the Coalition have pledged to take steps after the federal election that would ultimately see the port return to Australian ownership.
Mr Gosling was keen to reinforce the strategic importance of the port and his long held view that the port should never have been leased to Landbridge by the former CLP government in 2015 and the federal government of the day should never have allowed it to happen.
For her part Ms Bayliss said she believed that decision 10 years ago was not the right one.
Ms Bayliss criticised Mr Gosling for only recently, in the heat of an election, finding time to tour the East Arm port.
The candidates differed on what was the main issue to Territorians going into the election.
Ms Bayliss said all her door knocking and meetings with the people of Solomon indicated law and order and public safety was the number one issue while Mr Gosling said it was cost-of-living.
Based on Sky News public response it was law and order.
Both candidates said they were committed to a future Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct and a future gas industry for the Northern Territory and a stronger Defence presence in the Northern Territory.
However Mr Gosling was forced to defend the loss of Darwin’s 1st Aviation Regiment to Townsville.
When the dust had settled both camps walked away satisfied that their candidate had performed well and was alive to fight another day.
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Originally published as Solomon candidates Luke Gosling and Lisa Bayliss go toe-to-toe in feisty Sky News election debate
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