‘We’re going to move on’: Territory Alliance gives up Opposition claim

TERRITORY Alliance deputy Robyn Lambley has accused Speaker Kezia Purick of ‘colluding’ with the Country Liberals and Labor to boot her party from Opposition

Territory Alliance leader Terry Mills and deputy Robyn Lambley. Picture: Emma Murray

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TERRITORY Alliance deputy Robyn Lambley has accused Speaker Kezia Purick of “colluding” with the Country Liberals and Labor to boot her party from Opposition.

The NT Legislative Assembly voted to make the Country Liberal Party the official Opposition over the Territory Alliance in a last-minute secret ballot in parliament on Tuesday night.

Ms Lambly said Ms Purick should not have allowed the ballot to happen in the first place after CLP Leader Lia Finocchiaro brought the motion.

“It’s brought the whole parliament into disrepute,” Ms Lambly said.

“It should have been stopped by the Speaker.

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“The fact that she’s let it through really indicates that she was colluding with the CLP and the ALP who supported the motion.”

“Then the government conveniently abstained from the vote — it was perfectly orchestrated.”

Ms Finocchiaro strongly denied there was any collusion.

“To create certainty with Territorians with our democracy, I moved a motion for a democratic ballot to take place,” she said.

The NT News has obtained an email sent by the NT Legislative Assembly clerk Michael Tatham to Territory Alliance members on Tuesday.

“I note that the various authorities within the House of Representatives Practice (7th Edition) and Erskine May (25th Edition) concerning who is normally considered to be the Opposition have not been followed in the Legislative Assembly,” he said.

Ms Lambley said it was clear the ballot contravenes convention and sets a dangerous precedent.

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“At the end of the day we are the legitimate Opposition, we are three, they are two,” she said.

“We are the alternative government but we’re just going to get on with it.

“We don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

The NT News has contacted Ms Purick for comment.