Federal election 2016: Labor picks Malarndirri McCarthy for NT Senate

The decision was made by the party executive this afternoon and made known to Labor operatives a short time ago.

Former journalist and NT Labor minister Malarndirri McCarthy has been picked to replace Nova Peris for the Senate.

Former journalist and NT Labor minister Malarndirri McCarthy has been selected to replace outgoing Senator, Olympian Nova Peris, at the top of Labor’s NT Senate ticket.

The decision was announced in a statement issued following a ballot of the party’s national executive this afternoon.

“Malarndirri has lived in the Territory for most of her life, she grew up in the Territory and is a proud Yanyuwa Garrawa woman from Borroloola in the Gulf country in the Territory,” the statement issued by the party’s campaign headquarters said.

“Ms McCarthy has a strong record as an advocate for indigenous people, having served as a member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly and a Minister in the Northern Territory Labor government.

“Ms McCarthy has also had a distinguished career as a journalist and is a champion for promoting Aboriginal culture, particularly among young people.

“She has been a fierce advocate for her community of Borroloola and will bring that same passion to representing the Northern Territory in the federal Parliament.”

While the other candidates to replace Ms Peris were already in Darwin, The Australian understands McCarthy is in Sydney where she lives.

LIVE: Federal election 2016 full coverage

A press conference slated for this afternoon on the assumption an NT-based candidate would be selected is now expected to be postponed till tomorrow.

Some Labor insiders questioned whether Ms McCarthy was even registered to vote in the Territory, a potential breach of party rules.

“I’ve just received four WTF texts,” one said.

Another predicted the NT would have “a good Senator one day” and heartily looked forward to that occasion.

Labor’s Left faction is understood to have rallied strongly behind Ms McCarthy, arguing her experience and indigenous heritage make her the best person for the job.

The Labor Right had been expected to back Ms Peris’ chief of staff Ursula Raymond, who is also indigenous.

Some Labor figures suggested before the ballot that the predicament could ultimately favour a compromise candidate such as Yothu Yindi Foundation CEO Denise Bowden or former federal and NT ministerial staffer Cathryn Tilmouth, both of whom also nominated.

The factions were said to be split ahead of the ballot, with the final decision tipped to be made by federal Labor leader Bill Shorten, who has yet to issue a statement.

It is not yet known what actually happened at the meeting.

Some NT Labor figures predicted there would be an internal backlash, in part because Ms McCarthy lost the “unlosable” seat of Arnhem to the Country Liberals at the 2012 NT election.

Labor Left faction members have privately argued strongly in her favour.

Indigenous former NT politician Jack Ah Kit, who held the Territory seat of Arnhem for the decade to 2005 when Ms McCarthy took it over, welcomed her candidacy for the Senate. Mr Ah Kit said Ms McCarthy was a solid performer who would work will with high profile Labor Senator Patrick Dodson. Mr Ah Kit denied the fact Ms McCarthy was not based or enrolled to vote in the NT posed a problem.

“She’s from Borroloola. She’s a Territorian in my book,” Mr Ah Kit said. “She’s born and bred here.”

Mr Ah Kit declined to say whether Ms McCarthy had been the best candidate.

“The National Executive has chosen her for obvious reasons,” he said. “I’m a life member of the ALP and I’m not going to be negative about her candidacy.”

Ms McCarthy held the seat of Arnhem from 2005 to 2012, when she was voted out despite predictions Arnhem was a safe Labor bet. Some NT Labor members said her failure to retain Arnhem, coupled with her decision to cross the floor while in NT parliament, ought to have ruled her out of contention. But Mr Ah Kit argued her experience as a journalist and as an NT minister would benefit the party.

NT Labor leader Michael Gunner issued a statement congratulating Ms McCarthy on her candidacy.

“I look forward to working with Malarndirri McCarthy in the lead up to the Federal election and beyond,” Mr Gunner said.

“I am proud to say that Labor has again made history by having five strong Aboriginal women simultaneously nominate to be our Territory representative in the federal Senate.

“I would also like to thank and acknowledge Senator Peris for her contribution to Territory Labor and her fierce advocacy for all Territorians.”

Ms McCarthy, an Aboriginal woman from Borroloola, in 2007 crossed the floor to vote against Labor’s legislation to allow the expansion of the McArthur River Mine near her hometown.

That mine has since become a source of division within the community, with some traditional owners receiving generous royalty payments and others labelling it an environmental catastrophe and calling for it to be shut down.

Ms McCarthy herself could not be reached.