Downpour dampens Labor meet-and-greet

A wet season downpour sent politicians and supporters scurrying for cover at a Labor Party meet-and-greet on Saturday.

A LATE afternoon downpour sent politicians and supporters scurrying for cover at a Labor Party meet-and-greet for Lingiari candidate Marion Scrymgour in Darwin on Saturday.

Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese was addressing the throng of assembled Labor supporters at the Trailer Boat Club in Fannie Bay when the clouds burst overhead.

One witness said Mr Albanese was outlining some of Labor’s main policy positions at the time.

Anthony Albanese at the meet-and-greet.

“He was outlining some of his key policy positions saying ‘Labor stands for health, Labor stands for childcare and now we’re standing in the rain’, as the rain started falling,” he said.

One Labor supporter joked it may have been divine intervention for holding a meet-and-greet for the Lingiari candidate in the Solomon electorate.

“You’d reckon they could actually have held it in the Lingiari electorate,” she said.

“It’s a pretty large electorate yet for whatever reason they decide to hold it in Solomon.”

Ms Scrymgour, a former deputy chief minister in Paul Henderson’s Northern Territory Labor government, has held a number of key positions since retiring from Territory politics, including chief executive of the Northern Land Council.

Barnaby Joyce to attend mysterious CLP fundraiser

BARNABY Joyce will be the guest of honour at a mysterious Country Liberal fundraiser in Alice Springs this weekend.

But both the party and the Deputy Prime Minister’s office have declined to provide any specifics to the Sunday Territorian about the event, including how much members would each have to pay to attend.

One tip-off suggested diners at the function could pay $1500 per person to get their chance to break bread with Mr Joyce.

But a CLP insider said they had heard the price was more like $250 per person.

CLP senate candidate Jacinta Price confirmed she was attending the fundraiser.

But when asked whether she knew how much guests would be paying, Ms Price said she was unsure.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce will be in Alice Springs for a fundraiser. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The CLP’s candidate for Lingiari, Damien Ryan, said he would not be attending, instead saying: “The people who manage my calendar have filled it up completely”.

Mr Ryan did confirm he would meet the Deputy Prime Minister on Sunday to discuss roads.

In response to questions, Mr Joyce’s office said the fundraiser was a matter for the CLP.

CLP president Jamie De Brenni has not answered calls or text messages from the Sunday Territorian about the mystery event.

The location, date and time of the CLP fundraiser also remains a mystery.

It’s not the first time Territory politicians have tried to raise big bucks through functions.

In June last year, Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro attended a $1000-a-head boardroom luncheon in Sydney and told the paper at the time she was “delighted to be invited”.

CLP senator candidate Jacinta Price will attend the event. Picture: Kevin Farmer

CLP Lingiari candidate Damien Ryan will not attend the event. Picture: Supplied

“It was a well-attended lunch and I’m proud to have been able to put the Territory first,” she said.

That luncheon was themed “Developing Australia’s Top End”.

Back in 2019, a fundraiser in Melbourne attended by Labor Chief Minister Michael Gunner commanded $5000-a-head. At the time, Mr Gunner’s office explained his visit to Victorian was a personal trip for meetings and then declined to provide details as to who attended the luncheon.

“The party is responsible for the invitations, the donations and the declarations and we will do all of that according to the law,” Mr Gunner told Mix 104.9 at the time.

He said “all parties have to raise money”, especially in the lead up to an election.

The next federal election is due by the end of May.

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