Chief Minister Michael Gunner offers up apology to disillusioned Johnston voters

CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner has apologised to the voters who lost faith in him and Labor in the Johnston by-election

Chief Minister Michael Gunner, centre, addresses concerns about his leadership at a press conference with Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler (left) and Education Minister Selena Uibo (right). Picture: Che Chorley

CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner has apologised to the voters who lost faith in him and Labor in the Johnston by-election.

Mr Gunner told the NT News it was clear that Labor still had to “work a lot harder” to deliver for voters ahead of the next Territory election in August after suffering a 21 per cent primary vote swing against Joel Bowden at the Johnston by-election.

“If you voted Labor at the last election but didn’t support us at the by-election, I am sorry about that,” he wrote in a series of answers to questions posed by the NT News.

“It shows me that we need to work even harder to earn your vote back – so that’s what I’m going to do.

“I don’t take the support of Territorians for granted, not for a second.”

The Chief Minister rejected calls for him to resign from the leadership and claimed to have the full support of his Labor colleagues.

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“What I’m going to do is work my arse off for Territorians,” he said.

“Because I know what the alternative is – more cuts from the CLP and the ex-CLP.

“If we can deliver in August what we delivered on Saturday – which was a win in every booth and the seat – then obviously we’ll remain in government.

“I think we’ve drilled it into our people now that you cannot take support for granted … and that’s what we’ll take with us to the August election.”

Mr Gunner ruled out the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle ahead of the election this year.

He said there were also no set plans to offer the newly elected Joel Bowden a ministry position, despite him already showing interest in Lauren Moss’s sports portfolio.

“Joel just got a new job – the Member for Johnston,” he said. “That’s his focus – working hard for his constituents and getting their support again in August.”

Northern Institute research fellow and political scientist Rolf Gerritsen said the swing against Labor was much larger than he had expected.

“This should be a wake up call for Labor,” he said.

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“I anticipated there would a swing but not to this extent, I put it down to the (Ken) Vowles effect.

“There’s obviously still a lot of contempt out there for Labor but people haven’t forgiven the CLP either.

“If I was a Labor strategist I’d be getting candidates out door knocking as soon as I could ahead of August because building up the personal vote is their best bet at this stage.

“Not everyone’s going to be as well known as an AFL star.”

Mr Gerritsen said the Johnston result suggested Territory Alliance could have won the seat if the CLP had not preferenced Labor second.

He believes the CLP’s tactic was intended to block Territory Alliance from winning the seat and threatening its status as the NT opposition.

“If the CLP keep this up with preferences in August, they could be handing Labor the election,” he said.

Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler said she was “absolutely concerned” that if Saturday’s 12 per cent swing against Labor was replicated in her marginal seat of Drysdale she could be out of the job at the next election.

“I’ve been concerned about that since the day I got elected,” she said.

“I have continued and will continue to work hard for the people of Drysdale.”

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NT NEWS’ QUESTIONS TO MICHAEL GUNNER

1. Why does the Chief Minister believe Labor copped so much of a hit in the Johnston by-election?

We are grateful that the people of Johnston supported Labor but they sent a message that they want us to work even harder for them, and we will.

It’s no secret that the Territory economy has been through really tough times. But we’ve worked hard to keep Territorians in work through these tough times. We are now on the road to recovery, and we’re doing it with jobs, not cuts. We can’t risk it all by going back to more cuts from the CLP and ex-CLP.

We’ve got to keep listening, keep learning and work even harder to deliver for Territorians.

2. What are the main issues the Chief Minister believes the electorate are angry about?

In our conversations with people in Johnston, the two biggest issues raised were the economy and the environment.

The number one issue is jobs, and it’s my number one priority. Our plan for the economy includes Buy Local Rules to put local jobs first, a 10-year infrastructure plan to create more jobs, and investing in renewable energy to become an energy powerhouse and a jobs powerhouse.

Labor is the only party that can create more jobs while also protecting our environment. Our 50 per cent renewable energy target will create more jobs for Territorians – jobs that will be cut under the CLP or the ex-CLP.

3. What is the Chief Minister’s reaction to Tracey Hayes saying he should have offered an apology to the electorate in the wake of the by-election?

If you voted Labor at the last election but didn’t support us at the by-election, I am sorry about that and it shows me that we need to work even harder to earn your vote back – so that’s what I’m going to do.

I don’t take the support of Territorians for granted, not for a second.

4. Will the Chief Minister stand down in the wake of the 21 per cent swing against Labor in the primary vote?

What I’m going to do is work my arse off for Territorians. Because I know what the alternative is – more cuts from the CLP and the ex-CLP.

5. Why does the Chief Minister believe he is the best person to lead Labor to the next election?

It’s not about me, it’s about Territorians and what we can do for them. I’m not worried about my job, I’m worried about their jobs.

I believe we’re the best option because we’re have a jobs-led recovery. We’re on the road to recovery now, and all that progress would be at risk if we go back to the dark days of CLP cuts, power price rises and asset sales.

6. Will Joel Bowden be offered a ministry? If not, why not?

Joel just got a new job – the Member for Johnston. That’s his focus – working hard for his constituents and getting their support again in August.

7. Why is Labor and the Gunner Government the best party to lead the Northern Territory after the August election?

Labor is delivering on our plan for more local jobs, not cuts. We are building job-creating infrastructure, putting local jobs and local businesses first and investing in renewables for the jobs of the future.

Last time the CLP cut jobs, sold public assets and put up power prices by 30%.

There is a clear choice between more local jobs with Labor or more cuts, more assets sales and higher power prices under the CLP and the ex-CLP.