Robyn Lambley and Terry Mills looking to establish branch of Nationals in the Territory

INDEPENDENT Territory MLAs Robyn Lambley and Terry Mills have confirmed they are considering setting up a Nationals party branch in the NT

THEY’RE the same names pushing for a new incarnation of what is essentially the same party but Robyn Lambley and Terry Mills say their plan to set up a Territory branch of the National Party won’t create a Country Liberal Party clone.

Mr Mills and Ms Lambley — who in 2012 served as chief and deputy minister of the former CLP government — on Monday confirmed they were in talks with Nationals representatives to set up a branch in the NT. The CLP is affiliated federally with the National Party and CLP members who serve in federal parliament sit in the Nationals party room in Canberra.

CLP Senator Nigel Scullion is the Nationals’ leader in the Senate. He has been kept out of discussions.

Ms Lambley said they wouldn’t create a “CLP with another name”.

“When and if we get this up and running we will be screening people coming into the party and ensuring that doesn’t happen,” she said.

But she conceded there would be “old faces” involved given the shallow depth of the NT’s political talent pool.

“We are a small jurisdiction … there’s not a lot of choice and there’s not a lot of people who want to get actively involved in politics,” she said.

“People are looking for something new for the NT …. It might break up the conservative vote but it might just bring people on board in a very forceful and intentional way to support something new and different that reflects a contemporary NT, unlike the CLP.”

The pair said they had spoken to Nhulunbuy independent Yingiya Guyula and others about joining their fledgling party. A third member would give them ammunition to snatch opposition status from the CLP.

A CLP spokeswoman said the push would have little impact on the party.

“What the two independents decide to do is a matter for them,” she said.

“The Opposition is busy focusing on the issues which Territorians most care about — the flagging economy and hurting businesses, the awful crime rate and the policy void which is the Labor Government”.

Mr Mills and Ms Lambley had previously floated their intention to start a brand new entity, the North Australia Party. The potential formation of that party put Kezia Purick’s grip on the speakership in doubt after it was revealed one of her staffers had interfered in Ms Lambley and Mr Mills’ plans.

The staffer, Martine Smith, contacted a Queensland businessman who had previously registered the name the North Australia Party, and suggested he object to the registration.

Doing so contravened the convention of the Office of the Speaker’s independence. Ms Purick has given limited explanation of her staff member’s behaviour except to say Ms Smith acted without her knowledge and had been “reprimanded”.

Some Labor members took the chance to try to roll Ms Purick, but a caucus vote for her removal was defeated on Monday.

Speaking after the vote, Leader of Government Business Natasha Fyles denied the speakership saga was a distraction for government.

“Nothing has changed. She has had our support and that continues,” Ms Fyles said.

It is expected Ms Purick will give an explanatory statement in parliament on Tuesday morning.