The seats to watch in the 2019 federal election: Jacinta Price takes on Warren Snowdon in Lingiari
Liberal candidate Jacinta Price is hoping to wrest the sprawling NT electorate of Lingiari off veteran Labor MP Warren Snowdon.
Federal Election
Don't miss out on the headlines from Federal Election. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Lingiari
Incumbent: Warren Snowdon
Margin: 8.42 per cent
Candidates:
Liberal: Jacinta Price
Labor: Warren Snowdon
Local issues:
Cost of living, jobs and indigenous disadvantage will be the key issues for the electorate’s 114,500 voters, along with health and education funding and infrastructure.
PRICE A WILDCARD IN SAFE SEAT
Liberal candidate Jacinta Price will be the wildcard factor in the battle for the sprawling Northern Territory electorate of Lingiari.
The Alice Springs councillor, a Warlpiri/Celtic woman who is the daughter of former NT government minister Bess Price, has made headlines nationally for her views on domestic violence and indigenous disadvantage.
She’s a divisive figure with strong supporters and critics but could present a challenge to long-serving Labor MP Warren Snowdon.
OTHER KEY SEATS IN 2019 BATTLE:
DICKSON: Peter Dutton’s fight to the death
WARRINGAH: Pollsters say Abbott will emerge as victor
INDI: Will Cathy McGowan’s seat stay independent?
On paper, Snowdon shouldn’t have any trouble holding the massive NT electorate, which covers 1.3 million sq km and includes Christmas and Cocos-Keeling Islands.
He has a margin of 8.4 per cent and it’s expected Labor will benefit from a swing against the government across the country.
But Labor sources say they will be keeping an eye on Price’s campaign nevertheless.
Griffith University political expert Paul Williams told News Corp that Snowdon’s margin would likely see him retain the seat.
LINGIARI HOT TOPICS: REMOTE EMPLOYMENT
Jobs, including the remote employment Community Development Program, will be a key issue for Lingiari voters.
Domestic and family violence, health funding, an Aboriginal voice to parliament and other indigenous affairs will also big factors, a social media analysis by News Corp and Storyful Australia shows.
Liberal candidate Jacinta Price has had a strong response from punters on her official Facebook page with posts about strong female leaders, promoting the CDP, slamming the territory government, domestic violence and promoting local communities.
Labor MP Warren Snowdon has also had traction with posts promising to replace and fix the CDP, spruiking Labor’s health care policies and its plan for a new Aboriginal Voice to parliament.
— Additional reporting by Natasha Christian