Territory Alliance to put Labor above CLP in Drysdale and Braitling, in boon for Lawler and Wakefield

TERRITORY Alliance will preference Labor above the CLP in the seats of Drysdale and Braitling at the NT election, a move that could push two current Labor frontbenchers over the line in absolute knife-edge seats

TERRITORY Alliance will preference the CLP above Labor in all electorates the party is contesting except Drysdale and Braitling, in a move that could push frontbench MLAs Eva Lawler and Dale Wakefield over the line in their knife-edge seats.

Territory Labor has revealed the party will put CLP and Territory Alliance last and second last respectively in a majority of seats, with some caveats.

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If a candidate from a far-right party is running in a seat, NT Labor will put them last or in seats where it’s easier to number the ballot paper “down the line” the CLP may be above Territory Alliance.

The NT News understands the Territory’s governing party is confident, based on history, that its preferences won’t be used or needed in most seats except, potentially, Araluen and Katherine.

Territory Alliance leader Terry Mills on Friday said the party, after conversations with other major players and based on what candidates believed was best, had “simply” made decisions that would benefit the party.

He previously said that the party’s objective was to “change the government” and that “Labor had to go”.

Territory Alliance’s own polling, done by campaign director James Lantry’s company MediaReach, had Labor and Territory Alliance nearly neck and neck and ahead of CLP in both Braitling and Drysdale.

Territory Families Minister and Braitling MLA Ms Wakefield managed to unseat chief minister Adam Giles in 2016 after a rush of Greens preferences pushed her over the line with a margin of just 27 votes.

Asked about the exception in two seats, Mr Lantry said candidates had their “own reasons” for deciding where their preferences should go, citing the “inclusive approach” as the party’s strength.

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NT Labor’s preferences in Araluen could assist Ms Lambley fend off a strong challenge from former long-time Alice Springs Mayor Damien Ryan.

CLP will preference Labor last across the board.