Ron Kelly new CLP president in 2018 elections

BREAKING: FORMER chief minister Adam Giles’s chief-of-staff has been named the Country Liberal Party’s new president

FORMER chief minister Adam Giles’s chief-of-staff has been named the Country Liberal Party’s new president.

Ron Kelly has been named the Country Liberal Party’s new president. Picture: SUPPLIED

Ron Kelly won the election against long-time Darwin businessman Peter Hopton during the CLP’s central council meeting in Alice Springs yesterday.

Darryl Manzie will join Jamie Debrennie as vice-presidents, while Tony Schelling will hold onto the role of treasurer and Danny Skewes will remain as vice-treasurer.

The empty position of general secretary will be filled by Mel Cabot, who was not previously on the management committee.

OPINION: CLP IS A DEAD DUCK

After a tumultuous four years of infighting and disunity, highlighted by sackings, defections and poor ministerial behaviour, the CLP suffered the worst defeat in Territory history at the 2016 election.

The party has not yet put up any candidates for preselection for the 2020 Territory election.

NT Cattlemen’s Association president Chris Nott spoke at the CLP conference, calling for greater certainty for the Territory’s $1 billion beef industry in the face of testing Native Title cases.

“Recent proposed amendments within Northern Territory Government policy and within federal law have brought a level of uncertainty in relation to security of land tenure and development unlike anything the industry has ever seen before,” he told the group.

“Why any government would, it appears deliberately, set out to threaten a successful industry is beyond me.”

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Opposition Leader and CLP MP Gary Higgins said he would continue speaking with the Federal Government on the issue, and would continue to oppose Territory Labor’s proposals.