‘It’s a struggle’: Araluen, Mulka and Nelson candidates unconfirmed less than a month from NT election

Both Labor and the CLP are yet to announce candidates for all electorates, just a week out from nominations closing. Here’s where the campaign clock is ticking down.

The major parties are yet to confirm candidates for all seats, less than a month out from the 2024 NT general election.

The major parties are yet to confirm candidates for three key seats just a week out from nominations closing; the struggle to find talent cutting into critical campaigning time.

Less than a month before Territorians head to the ballot box, Labor is yet to say who will contest Deputy Opposition Leader Gerard Maley in Nelson, and the CLP has not announced who will face former party member turned independent Robyn Lambley in Araluen.

Mulka MLA Yingiya Guyula. Picture: Zizi Averill

Neither party has put forward a candidate for Mulka - Chief Minister Eva Lawler telling ABC Radio her party would not contest the East Arnhem seat due to its good relationship with and respect for independent MLA Yingiya Mark Guyula.

The NT News understands, however, that Territory Labor has for weeks been unsuccessfully attempting to headhunt candidates in the East Arnhem electorate, a former Labor stronghold now all but gutted of party presence.

Failure to run a candidate hurts a party’s ability to spend on campaigning, reducing the cap by more than $40,000 for each uncontested seat.

Territory Labor secretary Karlee Dalton said an announcement regarding Mulka and Nelson would be made in the coming days.

CLP president Shane Stone.

Country Liberal Party president Shane Stone said his party had a “full house”, and candidates for Mulka and Araluen would be confirmed on Friday - but admitted it had been a struggle to get to this point.

“It is a struggle for people to stand for public office - I take my hat off to candidates on both sides who are willing to have a go,” Mr Stone said.

“It’s always a struggle, and we really wanted to find people who had the Territory’s best interests at heart, so there were some false starts.

“They are quality candidates.”

Mr Guyula said he welcomed any challengers to his seat.

“Whatever happens, I’m going to keep doing what I’ve been doing for the past eight years, and if people want me to keep doing that they can keep voting for me,” he said.

Nelson MLA Gerard Maley. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“I know that many people in the Mulka electorate support the things that I stand for. They support treaty and First Nations self-determination, an independent voice for all people living in the electorate, strong environmental protection, small business development and better support for remote and regional communities.”

Nelson MLA Mr Maley said the fact Labor had not yet put forward a candidate “shows they have given up on the rural area”.

“I am committed to protecting and enhancing the rural lifestyle,” he said.

“Crime, the cost of living, and the economy as well as protecting our lifestyle are key issues residents are concerned about.”

Member for Araluen Robyn Lambley. Picture: Jason Walls

Araluen MLA Ms Lambley said the struggle to find candidates in her seat could be because “people don’t feel confident that they can beat me”.

“The significance of incumbency cannot be underestimated, plus I think I’ve been doing a damn good job over the last four years, I’m better than I ever was,” she said.

“I’m frank and fearless and very strong and that is probably intimidating.”

Ms Lambley said her focus was on reducing crime in Alice Springs.

“Crime is impacting every part of our life in the town, our health, wellbeing, economy,” she said.

“It’s hard for people in Alice Springs to see a future because of how embattled we are with crime.”