CLP donor Ray Bail tears down ALP corflutes ahead of NT election

A major party donor has been captured tearing down ALP corflutes, but the CLP president says there’s more to the story. Watch the video and find out why.

One of the CLP’s largest donors, Ray Bail, has been spotted cutting down corflutes belonging to the ALP and Greens just weeks before the Northern Territory election.

The millionaire took to the streets on Friday morning to cut down corflutes belonging to the opponents of the CLP, which his company Ray Bail Investments Pty Ltd made a $204k donation to.

The corflute for Labor candidate for Port Darwin, Brian Manning, was among those torn down on the corner of McMinn and Daly Sts at about 9am.

Corflutes promoting CLP candidate Robyn Cahill remained untouched.

CLP donor Ray Bail spotted tearing down ALP corflutes.

CLP president Shane Stone told this masthead the corflutes were taken down in response to the requests of property owners allegedly going unheard by the ALP.

“These owners have specifically refused the ALP to put up their signs,” he said.

“If the ALP have just presumed, their signs will of course be removed at the direction of the owners.

“This is happening right across Darwin and Palmerston, and Ray is not the only one charged with this responsibility, there are other party members too.

“The owner has the right to request signs be removed, but they just ignore it, there’s a lot of strong feeling against this government.”

However, NT ALP party secretary Karlee Dalton said the behaviour went against the democratic process.

“The CLP and their mates in big business think that the rules don’t apply to them,” she said.

“Ray Bail, whose company, Ray Bail Investments Pty Ltd made a $204,000 donation to the CLP, thinks he can trample on the Territory’s democratic process and rip down the signs of political opponents.”

NT Police Commander Daniel Bacon said vandalism of corflutes was apparent in the lead up to every election.

“Every election we see corflutes across the NT subjected to vandalism,” he said.

“Vandalism constitutes criminal damage to property and offenders could face a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment under the Criminal Code Act, subject to the deliberations of the courts if found guilty.

“Police urge people with information on vandalism to contact police on 131 444.”

No charges have been laid.