Territory Alliance says it has taken NT Opposition status

THE Territory Alliance has announced it has seized Opposition status in the Northern Territory

Robyn Lambley has joined Terry Mill’s Territory Alliance Party.

• Robyn Lambley joins Terry Mills’ Territory Alliance Party
• Ex-CLP deputy addresses possible Territory Alliance future
• Lambley leaves door open to joining Mill’s new party

UPDATE:

THE Territory Alliance has announced it has seized Opposition status in the Northern Territory, formally coming into effect from tomorrow.

It is believed that the CLP will be advised that it must vacate the Opposition Leader’s Office on the fourth floor of Parliament House.

The events are unprecedented in the history of the Territory parliament and makes the Territory Alliance Party the only non-politically aligned Opposition party in the nation.

In a statement released at 3.42pm, the Territory Alliance Party announced Terry Mills was now the Opposition Leader.

Ms Lambley, who earlier on Wednesday joined the party, will become the deputy Opposition Leader.

The Leader of Opposition Business and Whip will be Jeff Collins, a former Labor MP who was kicked from caucus in November 2018.

Speaker of the parliament Kezia Purick has ruled out a CLP rescue mission by returning to the CLP.

“No, that’s not happening,” she said, adding her constituents wanted her to remain as an independent.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said he wasn’t concerned about a change in the NT’s Opposition.

“I haven’t turned my mind to it. I assume at some stage I’m going to have to but I have been working pretty flat strapped on how do we deal with coronavirus,” he said.

Mr Mills and Ms Lambley said the clerk of the Legislative Assembly Mr Michael Tatham has advised them that they are the new Opposition by weight of numbers.

Ms Lambley joined Terry Mills’ Territory Alliance today giving it three elected members of parliament. Former Labor backbencher Jeff Collins, who holds the seat of Fong Lim is the other member.

“We talked to Michael Tatham and he advised us that who becomes Opposition isn’t a decision, it is all about the numbers, we are three, the CLP are two, and there is no decision,” Ms Lambley told the NT News.

“It is just a fact. In the brief conversation I had with the Speaker of the Territory parliament Kezia Purick she asked to be provided with our office holders which we have done.

“I went to Mr Tatham for further advice and he said ‘Yes you are the Opposition’ that’s it.

“Mr Tatham explained that the CLP will be notified that it has to pack up and vacate the Opposition Leader’s Office on the fourth floor of Parliament House. They will be assisted by Legislative Assembly staff and we will be advised when we can move in.

“We are clarifying with the Chief Minister what our resources will be.”

Mr Mills and Ms Lambley have wasted no time in announcing they are actively recruiting more candidates in Alice Springs and are in talks with people to join.

“I want to have, standing beside me, people who have credentials who have experience in working in government, in business, in all sectors of the community,” Ms Lambley said.

“I want people who are attached to this community.”

Member for Araluen Robyn Lambley announces she will join Territory Alliance.

Posted by The NT News on Tuesday, 17 March 2020

Ms Lambley, who has been an independent for the last five years, was previously a member of the Country Liberal Party, and was, at one time, the NT Deputy Chief Minister to Mr Mills, the then Chief Minister.

She said her decision to join Mr Mills’ fledgling party was not about money or opposition power but about doing what was best for the people of Alice Springs.

“To be a part of Terry’s Territory Alliance has been about empowering myself and the community so we can address the problems,” she said.

“My reluctance to join the Territory Alliance late last year was because I wasn’t sure it was what the people of Alice Springs wanted me to do.

“I feel confident that this is the right way to go.”

She said she couldn’t wait any longer for the CLP to invite her back into the party.

“I have spent the last three-and-a-half years to extend an olive branch,” she said.

“I can’t wait any longer. I can’t suspend the future of Alice Springs and my work for them to come and invite me into the fold.

She urged the public to get on board with what the new party had to offer.

“This is a step forward for me and I think Territorians should embrace it. It’s a new era,” she said.

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“This is the future of the Northern Territory and this is what people are begging us for … to show some leadership, unity and solidarity.”

Jeff Collins, a former member of the Gunner Labor government, joined the Territory Alliance Party last week.

The Country Liberal Party, which has two members, has held the power as the opposition party since the 2016 election.