CLP names mental health nurse, former cop to take on Labor ministers

The CLP has continued its candidate roll-out ahead of August’s NT election. Read who’ll take on Labor heavy-hitters.

The Country Liberal Party has pre-selected four new candidates for key seats in the Top End, Alice Springs and Arnhem Land.

The party continued its candidate roll-out with multicultural selections in two key Darwin electorates and Indigenous candidates picked for two bush seats.

Multicultural advocate and businessman Khoda Patel will take on incumbent Lauren Moss in Casuarina, health professional Jinson Anto Charls will contest Sanderson against Kate Worden, former police officer Jarrod Jupurula Williams will take on Chansey Paech in Gwoja and Yolngu woman Yanja Thompson will contest Arafura.

Born in Gujarat India, Mr Patel moved to Cyprus before moving to Australia with wife Nilam and raising their two young children in Darwin.

CLP candidates Jinson Anto Charls, Yanja Thompson, Khoda Patel and Jarrod Jupurula Williams with party leader Lia Finocchiaro.

Well known in the northern suburbs, he speaks English, Gujarati, Hindi and Greek and is a life member of the Sri Lankan Australian Friendship Association NT among other groups.

With a degree in Arts and Hotel Management, he has worked at Darwin airport, and Novotel on the Esplanade before buying the Donut King franchise at Casuarina Square in 2019, where he employs locals and international students.

“I worked so hard to be able to run my own business but everyday it’s getting harder. Here in

the Territory we should have a thriving economy where businesses are supported, but the

reality is the complete opposite.

In Sanderson, senior NT health official Jinson Anto Charls will take on Kate Worden at the August election.

Born in Kerala, India, he moved to Darwin in 2015 to work on the alcohol mandatory treatment program.

He soon moved into senior leadership positions in health, is currently director of acute services Top End mental health and other drug services and is adjunct lecturer at Charles Darwin University.

“We need people with the experience to deliver the health and rehabilitation services we need.

Territorians deserve more support and access to better healthcare,” Mr Anto Charls said.

“Family and community are so important to me but with crime and economic decline, families

don’t have the choices and options we used to.”

A proud Yolngu woman and mother of three, Yanja Thompson will take on Manuel Brown in Arafura.

For the past eight years Ms Thompson has served in local government in east and west Arnhem Land and is currently serving as the first nations cultural adviser for the West Arnhem region.

“Labor take Aboriginal people for granted and fail them every single day,” Ms Thompson said. “Labor has delivered no results, no growth, no sustainability and no accountability for Aboriginal people in my region.”

A Warramungu, Walpiri and Kaytetye man, Jarrod Jupurula Williams will take on deputy chief minister Chansey Paech in Gwoja.

Raised in Tennant Creek, Mr Williams was recognised for his leadership at a young age, receiving the Australia Day Community Service Award in 2000 for his involvement with the night patrol.

He worked as an community police officer and a constable as well as on cattle stations, in mining, rail and logistics.

“Gwoja is important to my family, I work there and everyday I see countryman being let down by Labor for many years,” he said. “There’s overcrowding in homes, sick kids with no access to healthcare, and the roads aren’t maintained leaving locals isolated and pushing up cost of living even higher.”

The CLP have still to reveal candidates for Karama, Johnston, Fong Lim and Arnhem. They have not yet pre-selected for Araluen and Mulka.