Chief Minister’s D-day: Johnston by-election a vote on Gunner’s Labor Government
CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner has described Territory Labor as the ‘underdogs’ in today’s Johnston by-election
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CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner has described Territory Labor as the “underdogs” in today’s Johnston by-election – despite Labor holding the seat with a 15 per cent margin.
Mr Gunner hit the hustings with candidate Joel Bowden at Jingili Primary School on Friday.
The Chief Minister was this week forced to fend off suggestions he has purposely stayed away from Mr Bowden’s campaign to avoid tarnishing the candidate in the minds of voters.
“We know that by-elections are very much opposition territory,” Mr Gunner said.
“We aren’t the favourite. We’re the underdogs. The bookies have Terry Mills and Territory Alliance ahead. We know we’ve got a fight here.
“For me I’m going into the by-election as Chief, I’ll come out of the by-election as Chief. If we lose I think it shows we’ve got a tough fight ahead of us over the next six months.”
Mr Bowden said Mr Gunner had been an active part of his campaign, doorknocking in Johnston just a fortnight after his January heart attack.
“He’s now out and about with me again a week and a half after he’s had a heart operation … I would ask you if you’d be here today, a week and a half or two weeks after you’ve had heart surgery.”
Mr Gunner defended Labor’s advertisements which imply Territory Alliance founder Terry Mills sold public assets.
The Alliance has reported the ads to the NT Electoral Commission and the Director of Public Prosecutions for potential breaches of the Electoral Act.
“The CLP were in government because of Terry Mills’ leadership,” Mr Gunner said.
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“I think he has to accept some responsibility for what happened last term.
“He was part of the chaos.”
The CLP also lined up to take a whack at the bookies’ favourite.
Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro described Territory Alliance as an “ideological Frankenstein”.
“Territory Alliance are a menagerie. They’ve got Labor members, they’ve got Liberal members and they’re doing a preference deal with the Greens.”
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