Jeff Collins confirmed, Delia Lawrie considering, NT election run
Former Labor Leader Delia Lawrie has been working with exiled former Labor MLA Jeff Collins with the pair both set to stand at next year’s Territory election.
Northern Territory
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Former Labor Leader Delia Lawrie has been working with exiled former Labor MLA Jeff Collins with the pair both set to stand at next year’s Territory election.
Ms Lawrie recently spent a week working in Mr Collins’ electorate office as a casual replacement.
“My electorate officer was off on holidays so she came and spent a week with me,” Mr Collins said.
“I appreciate Delia’s knowledge and background and experience and we are friends.
“She gave me some ideas on campaigning.
“All in all it was a very worthwhile week to have her in there.”
Mr Collins confirmed he would be standing at next year’s Territory election and said he welcome more support from Ms Lawrie in the lead up to the poll.
It’s expected Ms Lawrie will stand as an independent in her old seat of Karama next year, after narrowly losing to Labor’s Ngaree Ah Kit in 2016.
“We might help one another campaign, but she hasn’t made a decision yet,” he said.
Mr Collins was kicked out of the Labor caucus late last year after he and fellow MLAs Ken Vowles and Scott McConnell criticised the Government’s handling of its dire budget situation.
He said he hoped the independents held the balance of power after next year’s election, saying it was the only way meaningful change might be achieved in the NT.
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But despite being exiled from the ALP, he said he and Ms Lawrie would likely still support a Labor government if the party failed to achieve a majority.
“My and I think Delia’s inclination would be the support Labor, regardless of what happened,” he said.
“Gunner couldn’t be the leader, and neither could Natasha (Fyles), but my inclination would be to support a Labor Government but force some meaningful change.”
While Ms Lawrie’s personal support could boost Mr Collins’ chances of holding Fong Lim as an independent, he said he wasn’t concerned about the election result.
“I’m going to pull my finger out and spend the next 12 months trying to (win the seat), but if it doesn’t happen I’m not going to cry and I’m not going to lose any sleep over it,” he said.
Ms Lawrie was contacted for comment.