What you want v what the major parties want > Today’s issue: Open speed limits

WHAT you, the voter, wants v what the major parties want. Today’s issue: Open Speed Limits. Find out what the parties’ stances on open speed limits are, and then tell us what you think. VOTE IN OUR POLL >>

THE NT election next week is shaping up to be one of the tightest races on record.

The three major parties — Labor, the CLP and Territory Alliance — have revealed some of their policies in the run-up to polling day, but they are yet to reveal where they stand on many issues.

The NT News online site, ntnews.com.au, will help fill in some of the gaps for you by asking each of the parties where they stand on a particular issue — one that Territorians have had strong opinions on in the past — each day until the election.

We will also ask you, our readers, the same question so that you can voice your own opinion in an online poll to gauge how the parties think compared to how the average voter thinks.

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Today’s topic: OPEN SPEED LIMITS

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ALP

Territory Labor leader Michael Gunner. Picture: Che Chorley

Q. Is Territory Labor in favour of the reintroduction of Open Speed Limits on the Stuart Highway (or parts of it) in some form?

A. No

Q. Explain your party’s policy on Open Speed Limits in the Territory.

The Territory Labor Government is delivering on our Towards Zero Road Safety Action Plan 2018-2022 to reduce accidents and deaths on Territory roads.

We reinstated speed limits on the Stuart Highway to keep Territorians and visitors safe.

We will not be reintroducing open speed limits on our roads.

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CLP

CLP leader Lia Finocchiaro. Picture Katrina Bridgeford.

Q. Is the CLP in favour of the reintroduction of Open Speed Limits on the Stuart Highway (or parts of it) in some form?

A. No

Q. Explain your party’s policy on Open Speed Limits in the Territory.

A. (Not answered)

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TERRITORY ALLIANCE

Territory Alliance leader Terry Mills. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Q. Is Territory Alliance in favour of the reintroduction of Open Speed Limits on the Stuart Highway (or parts of it) in some form?

A. No

Q. Explain your party’s policy on Open Speed Limits in the Territory.

A. Territory Alliance believes that our road network does not provide a safe environment for cars travelling in excess of 130 kilometres per hour.

It would require significant safety upgrades such as broad shoulders and physical barriers to mitigate single vehicle rollover and vehicles inadvertently swerving into the oncoming lane.

We are committed to ensuring the safety of drivers, passengers and other road users.

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So, all three of the NT’s major political parties are now on the record as saying they are against the reintroduction of open speed limits.

The stance is no surprise from Territory Labor, which first scrapped open speed limits in 2007 under the government of Paul Henderson.

But the CLP has long supported open speed limits, reinstating them on selected parts of the Stuart Highway in 2014 under the government of Adam Giles.

Those stretches were expanded a further three times after their introduction — eventually bringing the total unlimited stretch to about 300km, virtually from Alice Springs all the way north to Ali Curung — and the CLP had plans to extend the unlimited stretches much further up the highway.

However, open speed limits were again scrapped when the Michael Gunner-led Labor Government was voted into office in 2016.

As recently as last year, there was a renewed push by the CLP to reinstate open speed limits on the Stuart Hwy.

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BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK? VOTE IN OUR POLL NOW!