Voting Labor on Saturday will mean a better future for the Territory

A vote for Labor in the Northern Territory will mean a better future for Territorians. SEE WHY

THE outcome of the Northern Territory’s two seats in Saturday’s federal election could determine who will lead Australia for the next three years.

This means your vote is incredibly important.

The seat of Lingiari – being contested by Labor’s Marion Scrymgour and Damien Ryan from the CLP – is still very much in play with neither party able to accurately poll it.

While 3.9 million Australians have already voted, those voters leaving it to polling day will be crucial because Lingiari, as well as Solomon, are usually two hard-fought seats and this election will be no different.

If Labor hangs onto both seats it will go a long way to helping them steal government from the Coalition.

If the Coalition can steal one, or both, NT seats off Labor it could get them to the magical 76 lower house seats needed to hold onto government.

The major parties hit the campaign ground running, promising billions of dollars to butter us up but it’s what the elected government does after the votes are counted that really matters.

If a government promises hundreds of millions of dollars in upgrades to Kakadu National Park, don’t let it gather mould like a good pair of shoes during the wet season (we’re looking at you Scott Morrison).

Labor has promised that Kakadu will become a “high priority”.

An Anthony Albanese-led government’s focus would be on remote housing and Territory homelands with $100m pledged for home repairs that will help build better futures for our First Nations people.

There’s a promise of 500 extra health workers under the First Nations Health policy and a further $12m will be spent to double current federal funding towards the eradication of rheumatic heart disease that affects a high proportion of the Indigenous population.

Both parties have committed $14m to tackle surging crime rates in Alice Springs.

The Territory Labor government has so far failed to effectively combat the high rates of youth crime in the Red Centre but together with a federal Labor government, that could change.

This is why you should vote Labor this election.

Overall, the Morrison government did a good job getting us through the Covid-19 pandemic but it’s time to look towards the future when we’re going to be presented with more challenges such as a tougher economy and potential threats to national security.

The Territory doesn’t have the time - or the money - to wait for a Coalition government to come good on promises and learn what makes our economy tick.

A vote for Luke Gosling in Solomon and Ms Scrymgour in Lingiari will give Territorians the voices needed in Canberra.

The Northern Territory is starting to turn a corner.

At a local level, we’re four years away from getting the budget back in black, private industry projects are moving in (ping Albatross, Sun Cable, Core Lithium) and Defence infrastructure upgrades will potentially put billions of dollars in the pockets of local contractors.

We’ve also had a change in Territory Labor leadership in the past fortnight with Health Minister Natasha Fyles being voted in as Chief Minister after Michael Gunner spectacularly resigned during his Budget speech.

A Territory Labor government working alongside a federal Labor government - if the predicted victory happens - will give the NT the spotlight it deserves.

Territorians deserve better than being looked at sideways by the incumbent Coalition government.

If you believe the Coalition will retain government, you should give strong consideration to voting for the CLP’s Tina MacFarlane in Solomon and Mr Ryan in Lingiari.

Given the Northern Territory only has two seats in the lower house of federal parliament, it is incredibly important which political colours our two MPs have in terms of getting things done.

We are tipping Labor to win the election and believe a vote for them means the Territory can increase the momentum we’re finally gathering.