Lawler and Finocchiaro clash at NT News’ Future NT leaders debate

Labor said it was doing the ‘hard slog’ on tough issues, while the opposition argued the Territory could not afford more of the same. Who do you think won the NT News’ Future NT debate?

Crime and the economy dominated the NT News’ Future NTleaders debate, with Labor saying it was doing the ‘hard slog’ on tough issues, while the opposition argued the Territory could not afford more of the same.

There was no clear winner from the clash between Chief Minister Eva Lawler and Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro just 37 days out from the polls, both sides managing to score hits against the other.

The room seemed to favour the CLP – audible reactions led in no small part by three tables of party insiders situated among the 300-strong crowd of policymakers and industry leaders.

Ms Lawler admitted it was “possible” the past eight years of Labor had been driven by ideology, but said that was not how she operated.

“I’m hoping you see a person who makes decisions that are based on listening to Territorians, the best decisions for the Territory, rather than on ideology or political alignment,” she said.

Since becoming Chief Minister, Ms Lawler said, she had invested $570m into boosting the Territory’s police force, and opened residential youth justice facilities as an alternative to incarceration.

Chief Minister Eva Lawler and Minister Lia Finocchiaro ahead of the NTNews Future NT forum debate. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“That is the opportunity to turn a young person’s life around them to get them on a pathway to work,” she said.

“We cannot have another generation of young people, particularly in our remote communities, that are not on a pathway to employment, and full funding of education provides that.”

Ms Finocchiaro said crime was driving people out of the Territory, stymieing investment, and hurting liveability.

Debate moderator, Sky News Northern Australia correspondent Matt Cunningham, asked Ms Finocchiaro how a government she led would be different from the “absolute disaster” of the CLP’s last term in office.

“Critically, part of leadership is learning those lessons,” Ms Finocchiaro said.

“That’s why our team is so focused and so united on the task at hand, because Labor has had the last consecutive eight years to do something different, to drive the Territory forward, and instead we’ve had three chief ministers in three years who haven’t been able to deliver.

“Under Labor, it’s more of the same, but under the CLP you will get something different.”

Ms Finocchiaro repeated the CLP’s promises to abolish payroll tax for small business and incentivise new home builds.

“And by empowering our police, stronger laws, and making our community safe while we deal with the causes of crime, we will get the Territory pumping again.”