NT election: Justine Glover calls out Ngaree Ah Kit for “true colours” of Karama pamphlet

A Labor minister is under fire for a ‘low blow’ election endorsement letter before stuffing them into Karama mailboxes. Find out how the Chief Minister responded.

Youth Minister Ngaree Ah Kit. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

A letter of endorsement for a Territory MLA has come back to bite an independent candidate contesting in Saturday’s election.

Independent Karama candidate Justine Glover wrote a letter of endorsement for local member Ngaree Ah Kit on January 25, months before Ms Glover announced in April she would challenge Ms Ah Kit as an independent candidate.

But Territory Labor strategists have tailored the letter as a campaign endorsement from Ms Glover, stuffing Karama letterboxes with the unauthorised endorsement.

Ms Glover, whose team took the pamphlet to the Northern Territory Electoral Commission said Labor was showing “its true colours”.

In the letter, Ms Glover provided an unequivocal endorsement of Ms Ah Kit who she said had “the connections, the skills, the knowledge and the passion to drive positive change in our community”.

Independent Karama candidate Justine Glover. Picture: Supplied.

She said Ms Ah Kit “presents herself with strength, compassion and commitment to represent everyone. Ngaree treats everyone with respect and kindness.

“I am happy to say she has not lost her heart and the original reason for standing to represent her communities.

“I fully support Ngaree representing the seat of Karama and can think of no better candidate.”

Ms Glover acknowledged it was unlikely the NTEC would prosecute, but she called-out the party’s “dirty tricks”.

“It’s a low blow that has not been well received by the community, and I had a number of people contact us who weren’t happy about this. I think it’s backfired.”

Justine Glover’s letter.

Ms Glover said she was prompted to contest Karama at the election because of concern over the Lee Point residential development.

A report to the NTEC on August 16 prompted a communication with Labor’s NT branch, advising they had breached the Electoral Act over the pamphlet.

Labor said it would not republish the pamphlet.

The CLP attacked Labor, with NT director Alyson Hannam branding it “desperate politics”.

“This is not unexpected from Labor,” she said.

“The important thing here is that it’s clear that the only way to change the government is to vote CLP. A vote for an independent will mean we get stuck with Labor.”

Chief Minister Eva Lawler congratulated Ms Ah Kit and her campaign team.

“I think it’s a smart move by Ngaree or her campaign director,” she said.

“If they a letter that endorses Ngaree as a great person, of course you’d use that in your campaign.”