Mark Monaghan preselected as Labor candidate for Fong Lim

TERRITORY engineer and former teacher Mark Monaghan has been preselected as Labor’s candidate for Fong Lim

Mark Monaghan has been preselected as the Labor candidate for Fong Lim and will go up against Labor defector Jeff Collins at the 2020 election.

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TERRITORY engineer and former teacher Mark Monaghan has been preselected as Labor’s candidate for Fong Lim.

Mr Monaghan, who was Engineers Australia NT general manager before moving to engineering firm Pritchard Francis in April, was chosen by party members over former Northern Territory Telstra Businesswoman of the Year, Andrea Moriarty.

A source within the Labor Party revealed to the NT News that Mr Monaghan won preselection at a meeting on Thursday night after winning the local branch plebiscite 14 to 9 and the electorate vote was split 50-50 along factional lines.

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It was revealed last week that Labor’s Left forces had been uniting behind Ms Moriarty in her bid to win the Fong Lim preselection, while the Right was understood to be supporting Mr Monaghan.

“I definitely think Mark’s a fantastic choice for the party,” the source said.

“He’s got Labor values and knows what it takes to win this election.”

The former teacher is also the president of the Racing Owners and Trainers NT.

Fong Lim was Labor-held until the defection of MLA Jeff Collins to the crossbench in February after he was expelled from the party’s caucus for publicly criticising the Government.

Mr Collins said he was still confident in his ability to retain the seat as an independent in next year’s election.

“To me it doesn’t really matter who the Labor candidate is going up against me because I think they’re going to have a tough time regardless,” he said.

“I am a little surprised Andrea didn’t win given her business background but I’ll be still keeping an eye out for Mark and all my opponents.”