Gary Strachan: Deadly Hair Dude joins Country Liberal Party as candidate for Johnston

The Country Liberal Party has turned to a criminal lawyer-turned-successful businessman as its candidate to challenge the seat of Johnston. Read what motivated Gary Strachan to enter the race.

Gary Strachan will contest the seat of Johnston as the Country Liberal Party member. Picture: Supplied.

A qualified criminal lawyer-turned-successful businessman will contest the Darwin seat of Johnston at this year’s general election.

The Country Liberal Party announced Gary Strachan, also known as the Deadly Hair Dude, as its latest recruit to enter the election race.

Following the announcement, Mr Strachan declared the CLP as the “only party with a real plan”.

“It is an honour to be able to stand for the CLP and ask the people of Johnston to put their faith in me – for too long the Northern Suburbs have been taken for granted as crime and cost of living continue to skyrocket,” he said.

“My commitment to giving young people job ready skills led me to stand for the CLP, as they are the only party with a real plan to address the issues we see in our young people making the wrong choices.”

Mr Strachan previously worked for the Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission before he launched Deadly Hair Dude – a not-for-profit training program focused on Aboriginal youth in remote communities.

The program involved Mr Strachan visiting almost 50 Indigenous communities and teaching young Aboriginals the skills necessary to become a hairdresser for their peers.

CLP candidate for Johnston Gary Strachan (left) is no stranger winning awards. Picture: Facebook

Mr Strachan’s efforts in operating Deadly Hair Dude – for which he personally contributed more than $100,000 – also resulted in the now-CLP candidate become a 2023 NT Australian of the Year nominee and receiving the 2024 COSBOA National Small Business Champion award.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said the latest political hopeful brought “real world experience” as a candidate.

“Our Plan of Action for Youth Crime focuses on breaking the cycle of crime and addressing root causes,” she said.

“Gary has the real world experience to help the CLP Team deliver on these important outcomes.”

Independent candidate Justine Davis will also be running for Johnston. Picture: Supplied.

The seat of Johnston now shapes as a three-way battle, with local justice mediator Justine Davis having announced her bid to battle Labor incumbent Joel Bowden in April.

Ms Davis won the endorsement of ACT Senator David Pocock, who spoke in support of the independent candidate at her campaign launch.

Ms Davis cited the “failing” of the major parties as her motivation to enter politics.

“I’m running for Johnston because the current Labor government and the CLP have spent decades failing to find real solutions for our communities.”