NT Labor friendless with CLP and much of Territory Alliance to put the governing party last on how-to-votes

THE Country Liberal Party and a large chunk of Territory Alliance will preference NT Labor last on their how-to-vote cards, as parties continue to be locked in discussion on Friday

THE Country Liberal Party and a large chunk of Territory Alliance will preference NT Labor last on their how-to-vote cards, as parties continue to be locked in discussion on Friday.

The NT News understands Territory Alliance and CLP brass have been in multiple meetings to discuss preferences in the last fortnight, with the pair coming to the table after pressures from heavy-hitters in the business world to figure out a way to achieve the underlying goal of kicking Labor out of office.

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It’s understood the CLP has also been facing pressure, including from major donors, not to repeat the Johnston by-election preference kerfuffle, where they put Labor second.

CLP president Ron Kelly confirmed the party would be asking voters to put Labor last across all seats.

Territory Alliance’s campaign director James Lantry said decisions around preferences had not been finalised and would take time because of the party’s “inclusive process” of allowing candidates to decide on a seat by seat basis.

Territory Alliance candidates including Amelia Nuku in Sanderson and Melanie Usher in Katherine confirmed they would be preferencing Labor last on their how to vote cards.

But the deals may not be so cut and dry in some seats.

The NT News understands internal polling shows Labor preferences will be the kingmaker in a number of seats, including Terry Mills’ Blain and Robyn Lambley’s Araluen.

NT Greens Nightcliff candidate Billee McGinley said the party, which does not do deals with others as a rule, had been approached “desperately” by NT Labor.

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She said Labor had approached the party quite soon after the Johnston by-election in February but their polar opposite views on fracking meant the discussion were dead before they began.

Ms McGinley said NT Greens would finalise their individual preferences on the weekend based on who they felt had the next best record and policies in a seat.

Political hopefuls will have to finalise any preference deals within the next 48 hours to have how-to-vote cards printed and ready for the start of early polling on Monday.