Ex-NT Labor leader Delia Lawrie joins Territory Alliance staff

Former Northern Territory Labor leader Delia Lawrie has signed on as chief policy adviser to new Opposition leader Terry Mills.

Former Territory Labor leader Delia Lawrie has signed on as chief-of-staff to new Opposition leader Terry Mills.

• Territory Alliance says it has taken NT Opposition status

FORMER Northern Territory Labor leader Delia Lawrie has signed on as chief policy adviser to new Opposition leader Terry Mills.

“It’s an exciting demonstration that people with a mature attitude and significant experience can work together, especially at times like this,” she said.

The move brings together two people who were once fierce adversaries.

Ms Lawrie led the Labor Party during Mr Mills’ ill-fated seven-month reign as CLP Chief Minister in 2012 and 2013.

During that period she savaged Mr Mills, describing him as incompetent and accusing him of hiring his old CLP mates, putting up power prices and disbanding the Banned Drinker Register.

But they have since put their differences aside.

“Terry and I have known each other for 20 years,” Ms Lawrie said.

“We were always personally amicable whilst having to be political adversaries.”

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It’s understood former Labor MLA Jeff Collins encouraged Ms Lawrie to take on a policy role with Territory Alliance after Robyn Lambley signed on with the new party last week, giving it the numbers to take Opposition.

She then met with Mr Mills before agreeing to sign on as his chief policy adviser.

Ms Lawrie is close to Mr Collins and has a good relationship with Mrs Lambley.

She was widely tipped to become chief minister after leading the Labor Opposition through a tumultuous period that saw Mr Mills rolled as chief minister by Adam Giles, and the CLP Government embroiled in a string of embarrassing scandals.

But her involvement in the controversial Stella Maris affair cost her the Labor leadership.

An inquiry set up by the CLP had found the granting of a rent-free ten-year lease of the historic Stella Maris site to Unions NT when Ms Lawrie was Treasurer was “not transparent”, and that the conduct of Ms Lawrie and current Labor minister Gerry McCarthy was “not accountable or responsible”.

Ms Lawrie fought the matter all the way to the Supreme Court. But she lost her case in April 2015 and resigned after Michael Gunner challenged for the leadership.

Mr Gunner’s allies then helped install Ngaree Ah Kit as Labor’s candidate in the seat of Karama, prompting Ms Lawrie’s resignation from the Labor Party.

She contested Karama as an independent at the 2016 election, losing narrowly on preferences.

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While Ms Lawrie’s new role will no doubt prompt speculation she will stand for Territory Alliance at the next election, it’s understood she had already ruled out a return to the parliament.