Robyn Lambley leaves CLP, says party has been ‘compromised’ by ‘fallen figures’

ARALUEN MLA Robyn Lambley has quit the CLP and called for an independent inquiry into allegations against the NT Government.

Alcohol Mandatory Treatment facility

FORMER health minister Robyn Lambley has left the CLP to sit as an independent saying the party is in “serious trouble”.

Ms Lambley said her decision to leave the CLP is a throwdown challenge for Chief Minister Adam Giles and Treasurer Dave Tollner to bring back integrity into the party.

“I know who you are,” she said, adding the party has been “compromised” by “fallen figures” who continue their grip on power “by means of threats”.

“I have watched aghast as the credibility and the electoral position of the Country Liberal Party has been damaged by the member for Braitling,” she said. “we cannot progress if we have politicians who aim to divide, not unify. We’ve had three years of the politics of hate, discord and lies.

“Scandal has followed scandal and many of the key institutions of the Territory has been politicised.”

Ms Lambley added the CLP has lost its way and “now presides over this tumultuous, reckless political period”.

“With only one year to go until the next election — I fear that the Country Liberal Party is far from on track …”

She added that the party had let down the individual regions of the Northern Territory.

“We promised to listen to the voice of the regions, to empower the regions and to strongly represent people in the regions,” she told Parliament, adding the party has been “unsuccessful in fulfilling their promises”.

“With only one year to go until the next election — I fear that the Country Liberal Party is far from on track …”

She said the proposal to scrap her electorate of Araluen was “short-changing” the people of Alice Springs. The seat will now be rolled in the current Stuart electorate, leaving only two urban Alice Springs electorates.

“The enormous potential of Alice Springs simply has not been maximised,” she said. “The fact the Top End gest an extra seat at the expense of Alice Springs says a lot about where we sit on the radar of our political leaders.”

Mr Giles currently holds the seat of Braitling in Alice Springs.

Ms Lambley said she will fill out the rest of her term as an independent member and would fight against the scrapping of her electorate.

“I say to my fellow Territorians let us join together and make our voices heard,” she said. “I will do all I can in the time ahead to ensure that your government is returned to you.”