Candidate urges Fannie Bay voters to stick with Government

Labor’s candidate for Fannie Bay stumps up at markets hours after pre-selection drama.

TERRITORY Labor’s new candidate for Fannie Bay Brent Potter hit the campaign trail running, fronting a stall at Parap Markets with party figures including former chief minister Michael Gunner.

Labor has accepted the former soldier and aged-care professional’s nomination despite no formal rank-and-file process taking place.

An advisor to Chief Minister Natasha Fyles, Mr Potter was his boss’ pick to take the nomination for the August 20 Fannie Bay by-election.

A supporter of the party said some members of Labor’s Dick Ward branch, which should have controlled pre-selection, were upset they were bypassed from the formal party process but accepted the Chief Minister’s right to name a captain’s pick through the party’s management committee.

Ms Fyles and Mr Gunner both supported Mr Potter’s nomination.

At 34, Mr Potter said regardless of the by-election result he was preparing to move to the electorate with his young family and played down the residency issue.

“I’m a Territorian,” he said.

Labor candidate for Fannie Bay Brent Potter with former MLA Michael Gunner

Mr Potter said his background of service is reflected in his roles in the army and aged care and this will continue if he wins Fannie Bay.

“When the opportunity to stand for Fannie Bay was presented I put my hand forward because I know what good work an MLA can do within a team environment. I’m a team player and I see the community as a team,” he said.

Mr Potter said Fannie Bay residents deserved to have a seat in Government, and this would continue with his election to Parliament.

“The electorate deserves somebody who is driven and hardworking and doesn’t assume it’s a Labor seat,” he said.

“I can represent the views of the Governmeent of the day and have that voice in the caucus room. I’d have a voice in Parliament for Fannie Bay but it’s the other times where you’re involved in Government that you’re able to actively front ministers and put your case.”

Acknowledging the significance of anti-social behaviour in the electorate and Territory-wide, Mr Potter says a number of responses must be taken.

“There is no one solution to anti-social behaviour because there’s so many causes such as over-crowding in remote communities, which Labor has a plan against, and high levels of alcohol abuse,” he said.

“Alcohol is a probem and we need to provide wrap-around services for those people that need them Territory wide. In Fannie Bay, we’ve got some of the best parklands and activating those social areas helps to removes anti-social behavour and is great for families and businesses.”

Activating more of East Point would also provide opportunity for the “mum-and-dad businesses” that did it tough during Covid and continue to face challenges.

“Local activation is a real opportunity. We have come out of Covid and there’s a lot of small mum-and-dad businesses that did it tough and now have to overcome supply chain issues and worker shortages.

“These mum-and-dad businesses have great ideas to activate parks and there should be more community events in parks to maximise the environment and we can support them by buying local and backing them.

“The big stick doesnt work and the CLP wants to incarcerate people who’ve started their lives off with disadvntage. Go and talk to the clubs on the foreshore and they’ll tell you the best mechanism for engagement is culture through Larrakia Nation and leadership is more persuasive when people are taken on a jounry.”

Raised in Melboure to a plumber father and nurse mum, Mr Potter is married to Allie with two daughters and two sons as part of a blended family.

Candidate hits the pavement for Fannie Bay by-election

TERRITORY Labor is set to announce Defence Force veteran Brent Potter as the party’s candidate for Fannie Bay at the August 20 by-election.

An email sent to Territory Labor’s administrative committee this morning by Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the speedy selection was made to provide certainty to residents in Fannie Bay.

The email says the Labor Party wants to “send a clear message to locals in Fannie Bay as soon as possible that we have a strong candidate backed by the Leader who will be a powerful voice in Government and so that’s why I’ve moved to have Brent Potter to be pre-selected as the Labor candidate for Fannie Bay”.

Mr Potter’s linkedin account describes him as a senior policy advisor to Chief Minister Natasha Fyles.

It is understood he is married to the sister of Ms Fyles’ chief-of-staff Gabrielle Mappas.

Mr Potter is a former Captain in the Australian Defence Force who served at Tarin Kowt in Afghanistan and has also been an aged-care contractor.

A Member of Mr Gunner’s right faction, it is not clear what role Labor’s rank-and-file played in Mr Potter’s pre-selection.

It is understood Mr Potter lives in Palmerston.

A Government spokesperson this morning said the pre-selection was still being finalised.

Candidate hits the pavement for Fannie Bay by-election

A DAY after Michael Gunner’s resignation, the first candidate to state publicly he wants to replace the former chief minister as Fannie Bay MLA is already out of the starting blocks.

Ben Hosking wasted no time reacquainting himself with the electorate where he grew up after lodging an ­expression of interest with the CLP to be the party’s candidate for the inner-suburban Darwin electorate.

“I’ve been out here since (Thursday) morning,” Mr Hosking said.

“I want the electorate to know the CLP is serious about giving Fannie Bay a fresh start with a new candidate and a new party.

“People have been very ­receptive to the Country Liberal Party and many want to see the Labor Party gone. It’s time for a change.”

He ran for the CLP in Drysdale in 2016 and ­received 44.8 per cent of the two candidate preferred vote. He is a former member of the Territory Response Group and chief of staff to Christmas Island administrator and former CLP federal MP Natasha Griggs.

Ben Hosking is keen to represent the Fannie Bay electorate. Picture: Jerad Williams

The Fannie Bay by-­election was set for August 20 following Mr Gunner’s resignation on Wednesday.

On Thursday morning, Chief Minister Natasha Fyles presented the writ for the by-election to Administrator Vicki O’Halloran.

Ms Fyles said the by-­election was timed to happen before the next parliament sittings, on August 30.

A number of other names have emerged as unconfirmed potential candidates for the CLP including Somerville chief executive Lawson Broad and long-time Fannie Bay resident and journalist Angelina Anictomatis.

Property Council NT executive director Ruth Palmer ruled out running, having lived in Palmerston for more than a decade.

The NT News understands several names have circulated to stand for Labor but none has been confirmed.

Ms Fyles, in a press conference following the delivery of the writ, would not divulge who she would like to raise their hand for the Labor stronghold.

“I’m not going to speculate on who the candidate possibly will be,” she said.

“But I think it’s important for the community of Fannie Bay to understand that they will have strong ­representation.”

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro also did not specify who she would like to see run but said the party would campaign on crime and the economy.

“We have been overwhelmed with applications of people interested in running,” Ms ­Finocchiaro said.

“We know that the fight in Fannie Bay is going to be a fierce one.

“We are certainly the underdog in this race.”

Nominations will close on next Thursday on August 4.

The electoral roll for the by-election will close at 5pm on Friday.

Gunner replacement vote set

THE Fannie Bay by-election will be held on August 20, following the resignation of member and former chief minister Michael Gunner.

On Thursday morning, Chief Minister Natasha Fyles presented the writ for the by-election to Administrator Vicki O’Halloran.

She will now issue the writ to the Electoral Commission.

Mr Gunner resigned in parliament on Wednesday after 14 years in the Legislative Assembly.

Ms Fyles said the by-election was timed before the next parliament sittings on August 30.

Nominations will close on August 4,

“We thank Michael for his service,” Ms Fyles said.

“There is nominations now open for the Labor Party and I’m confident we’ll have a strong candidate that will represent the community of Fannie Bay and provide that strong voice in my government.”

Ms Fyles would not divulge who she would like to raise their hand for the Fannie Bay Labor stronghold.

“I’m not going to speculate on who the candidate possibly will be. But I think it’s important for the community of Fannie Bay to understand that they will have strong representation,” she said.

On Wednesday evening, Country Liberals president Fiona Darcy notified preselection was open for the party with nominations to close on July 31.

She said interest among the public in running for the Fannie Bay electorate had been rife since Mr Gunner stepped down.

“The CLP welcomes the resignation of former chief minister Michael Gunner from the Northern Territory parliament and we acknowledge his work over the years and thank him for his service,” she said.

“Since Mr Gunner’s resignation from the position of Chief Minister in May, the CLP has been enthusiastically approached by various community leaders, local professionals, and small business owners canvassing interest in running as our candidate for the electoral division of Fannie Bay.”