Terry Mills ‘handshake agreement’ with Mulka MLA Yingiya Guyula not so solid after all

THE “handshake agreement” Territory Alliance’s Terry Mills thinks he can rely in the NT election wash-up may no longer exist

THE “handshake agreement” Territory Alliance’s Terry Mills thinks he can reach for in the NT election wash-up may no longer exist, as one of the Territory’s kingmaker independents issued a reality check.

It comes as the three independents most likely to be elected into NT’s Parliament confirm they have made no deals or have not been approached by major parties seeking their support if the August 22 poll doesn’t produce a clear majority government.

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Mr Mills has in recent times made mention of an “understanding” he has with independent Mulka MLA Yingiya Guyula, dating back to early 2019 when the pair, along with Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley, formed a ragtag alliance of parliamentary independents.

Territory Alliance Leader Terry Mills addresses the Police Association conference in Darwin. Picture GLENN CAMPBELL

This week, Mr Mills called it an “agreement between two men” and that Mr Guyula was “happy to work with me”.

Mr Guyula, describing Mr Mills as a “support” with the mechanics of parliament, told the NT News; “on the other side of the election, I will wait until the ripples in the water have subsided and see what is there”.

As the CLP and Territory Alliance rankle at questions about whether or not they would consider forming a coalition if it meant sweeping Labor out of government, the likeliest trio of independents – Mr Guyula, Goyder’s Kezia Purick and Nelson hopeful Beverley Ratahi – can’t say yet which side would get their support.

The NT has never had an election resulting in a hung parliament, although former chief ministers Clare Martin and Paul Henderson both walked into government with wafer-thin one seat majorities in 2001 and 2008 respectively.

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Ms Purick, once a CLP MLA, said no party had contacted her and there were “too many variables” to provide a definitive position right now.

Ms Ratahi said any support from her as a “fierce independent” would be determined on where a party fell on rural issues, including fighting gamba grass and water security, and she would need to see what the electorate’s preference would be through analysing the votes.

Mr Guyula said he was focused on the campaign at hand, while “closely supporting” fellow independent and Arnhem hopeful Ian Gumbula.