Push to put Labor last at NT by-election

EXCLUSIVE: TERRITORY Labor has been dealt another blow in its battle to hold onto the seat of Johnston with Territory Alliance candidate Steven Close preferencing the Ban Fracking Fix Crime Protect Water party and the Greens party ahead of the two major parties

Steven Klose is running for Territory Alliance at the Johnston by-election. Picture: GLENN CAMPBELL

TERRITORY Labor has been dealt another blow in its battle to hold onto the seat of Johnston with Territory Alliance candidate Steven Close preferencing the Ban Fracking Fix Crime Protect Water party and the Greens party ahead of the two major parties.

Mr Klose says the Gunner Labor Government deserves to be sent a message for the diabolic mess it has made of the Territory and wants voters to put Labor last when they vote on February 29.

Mr Klose’s decision follows the Greens decision to also ask its voters to put Labor last when they vote in the Johnston by-election.

Territory Alliance how to vote card. SUPPLIED

The Greens, which received 17 per cent of the primary vote in Johnston in 2016, said the move was punishment for Labor’s decision to lift the moratorium on onshore gas fracking.

Mr Klose said people are feeling betrayed and let down by the Gunner Labor Government.

“They tell me they thought they could trust them to be honest and to fix things up, but instead things have got worse,” Mr Klose said.

JOHNSTON by-election ballot paper announced

“The people are not listening to the government and they don’t trust them.”

Mr Klose said they see them as promising one thing and then doing the opposite.

“The economy is the worst in Australia and it is alarming to speak to so many people long time residents who tell me for the first time they are seriously looking at leaving the Territory for a better life elsewhere.

“People are telling me they expected more from this government but they have not restored trust and faith in politics and they do not trust this government.

“The three main issues I am getting at the doorstep is the worry people have about the massive drop in their house value, private industry is struggling to find work and they have no confidence in the future, and youth crime and public disorder is rampant.”

NT NEWS special half price subscription deal: Just $3.50 a week

Labor candidate for Johnston Joel Bowden said he was not involved in preference negotiations, which were being handled by the party.

However with the Territory Alliance and Green’s announcements it is unlikely to be able to strike any meaningful preference swaps with the Country Liberal Party candidate Josh Thomas and the Ban Fracking Fix Crime Protect Water Party candidate Braedon Earley who has been a vocal critic of the Gunner Government.

This leaves just Independents Trevor Jenkins and George Mamouzellos to do a preference deal with