Made Marion: Scrymgour endorsed as Labor’s candidate for Lingiari

FORMER deputy chief minister Marion Scrymgour has been endorsed as Labor’s candidate for Lingiari at the next federal election

Former deputy chief minister Marion Scrymgour will be endorsed as Labor’s candidate for Lingiari at the next federal election. Picture: Che Chorley

FORMER deputy chief minister Marion Scrymgour has been endorsed as Labor’s candidate for Lingiari at the next federal election.

As first revealed by the NT News, the Northern Land Council chief executive comfortably won a four-way pre-selection battle for the seat.

Ms Scrymgour will replace retiring MP Warren Snowdon who is stepping down after more than three decades in the Parliament.

In a statement, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said Ms Scrymgour had been preselected with overwhelming support from in a rank-and-file ballot of Territory Labor members.

The other candidates were Matthew Bonson, Jeanie Govan and Rowan Foley.

Sources said Mr Bonson, a former NT Government minister, put up a strong contest, but Ms Scrymgour won the vote comfortably after winning Mr Snowdon’s support.

Mr Albanese described Ms Scrymgour as “an inspirational woman” who “will be an exceptional candidate for Lingiari in the Northern Territory.

“I welcome and celebrate her preselection as Labor’s candidate following the retirement of the current member, my good mate Warren Snowdon,” he said.

“Marion Scrymgour is an experienced and committed community leader and will be a formidable addition to the Labor team.”

Mr Snowdon welcomed Ms Scrymgour’s endorsement.

“I think she’ll be a very strong, formidable candidate. She’s a woman with a great depth of experience and knowledge,” he said.

The CLP is yet to announce its candidate for the seat after failing to secure an endorsement at its Central Council meeting in Alice Springs last month.

It has now deferred its pre-selection until June, when it will also select candidates for Solomon and the Senate.

But Mr Snowdon, who has held Lingiari since its inception in 2001, said Ms Scrymgour would have to fight hard to win.

“Let’s be very clear, this is no lay down misere, no way in the world,” he said.

“I’ve treated every election as if it was my last and that’s what I’ll be encouraging Marion to do because if she wants to be successful and is successful it will require working really hard between now and the next election and making sure she wins the support of a broad cross-section of the Northern Territory community.”