SEATS IN FOCUS: Preferences key in nailbiting contest for Katherine
The traditional conservative stronghold of Katherine is expected to swing back to its roots after a brief foray with NT Labor but the result will still come down to the wire.
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THE traditional conservative stronghold of Katherine is expected to swing back to its roots after a brief foray with NT Labor but the result will still come down to the wire.
The electors of Katherine had reliably voted in the Country Liberal Party at every election since the seats’ formation in 1987 until the party’s upheaval in 2016.
This year, voters have three main options — NT Labor’s Kate Ganley, CLP’s Jo Hersey or Territory Alliance’s Melanie Usher.
Katherine’s current MLA, Labor’s Sandra Nelson, announced early in 2019 that she would not recontest the seat.
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Preference flows will more than likely be the deciding factor in Katherine, though all three main parties refuse to say what discussions are ongoing behind the scenes.
Former MLA Willem Westra van Holthe, who lost Katherine by 33 votes in 2016 following a massive 22.7 per cent swing to NT Labor, believes a “significant” cohort of voters will swing back to the CLP in August because they may feel like they “made some mistake in their voting choice in 2016”.
He is optimistic of a CLP win though noting that Katherine, as the virtual “anti-fracking epicentre” prior to the 2016 election, would have quite a number of disenfranchised voters. “Obviously those people that still hold that sentiment will perhaps not want to vote for CLP but not want to vote for Labor either,” Mr Westra van Holthe said.
“Territory Alliance will pick up some of that vote because of their anti-fracking stance.”
Another factor expected to play into where people put their vote lies in the apparent split within the CLP’s Katherine branch, considering the drama surrounding Ms Usher’s defection to Territory Alliance after years of loyalty to the CLP.
ABC election analyst Antony Green thinks the redistribution of Katherine, which loses 600 traditionally conservative voters due to the annexation of RAAF Base Tindal to the seat of Arnhem, will result in NT Labor’s margin going up from 0.5 to 1.6 per cent.
Mr Greene noted that even with the boost in Katherine and Braitling for NT Labor, it will be hard for the party to hold both seats.
Former Katherine MLAs include Mike Reed, who served as Deputy Chief Minister between 1995 and 2001 and Fay Miller, who is now the Mayor of Katherine Town Council.
CANDIDATES
NAME: Melanie Usher
PARTY: Territory Alliance
TELL US IN 100 WORDS OR LESS WHY PEOPLE SHOULD VOTE FOR YOU:
As a Katherine local, I love our town, we have a wonderful community and so much potential we could capitalise on, but we have been abandoned for too many years.
Having worked for an NT Minister, a Federal Senator, NTG departments, the Chamber of Commerce and for 12 years co-managed our family business, I have the experience, skills and networks to be extremely effective in delivering and not just promising.
I will support Katherine to be a strong regional hub, to grow our industries, including Agriculture and Defence, so our town grows and local shops and services not only open, but flourish.
NAME: Jo Hersey
PARTY: CLP
TELL US IN 100 WORDS OR LESS WHY PEOPLE SHOULD VOTE FOR YOU:
I am the best candidate in the best party to bring us out of COVID-19 in these economic times. I’ve lived in Katherine for the last 30 years, 23 of them in business for myself.
My husband and three children are all born here. I have been involved in committees via schools and sporting groups, Rotary and also the Chamber of Commerce.
I am passionate about advancing Katherine for all of us and our children. This is proven by the announcement of $4 million to Save the Museum. I’m all about creating opportunities to attract new business and residents to town.
NAME: Kate Ganley
PARTY: NT Labor
TELL US IN 100 WORDS OR LESS WHY PEOPLE SHOULD VOTE FOR YOU:
People and community are my priorities.
A Labor government means better schools, better hospitals and more support for Katherine families.
Katherinites need to have input into government policies and projects that impact us. I can make that happen.
I have a history of getting things done for Katherine and want to keep delivering.
I have invested in this town and I know how to keep our economy strong. Under Michael Gunner’s leadership, Katherine has received more investment than any other time in the Territory’s history. Regardless of your political beliefs, I want to work for you.
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HISTORY
First created in 1987, the seat of Katherine replaced the abolished seat of Elsey.
It takes its name from the Katherine River.
John McDouall Stuart named the river in 1862 after Katherine Chambers, the second daughter of a South Australian pastoralist James Chambers who supported his expedition.
The electorate encompasses both urban and rural areas, covering an area of about 7442sq km. It takes in the city of Katherine, the NT’s fourth largest settlement.
The population of Katherine at the 2016 Census was 9777 people. A total of 22.3 per cent of those were First Nations people. The most common source of employment was Defence followed by the public service and primary education.
2016 RESULTS
Two-party preferred:
NT Labor 50.5 per cent
CLP 49.5 per cent
Redistribution to increase NT Labor margin from 0.5 per cent to 1.6 per cent according to ABC election analyst Antony Green.
PREVIOUS MEMBERS
Sandra Nelson, NT Labor, 2016-current (retiring)
Willem Westra van Holthe, CLP, 2008-2016
Fay Miller, CLP, 2003-2008
Mike Reed, CLP, 1987-2003
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