Election 2025: Five Solomon candidates talk about preventive health policy

For the first time the five major candidates for Solomon gathered for a public forum. Find out what each of them had to say about public health.

The supermarket duopoly, cost of living, climate change and poverty were all addressed in the first Solomon candidates forum on preventive health in the Northern Territory.

The event was hosted by the Public Health Association NT.

Preventive health are measures taken to mitigate diseases or health complications before they arise.

Candidates from Labor (Luke Gosling), the Country Liberal Party (Lisa Bayliss), the Greens (Jonathan Parry), One Nation (Benjamin Craker) and community independent Phil Scott attended the forum to inform voters on how they would tackle these issues.

Solomon candidates from left to right: One Nation (Benjamin Craker), Labor (Luke Gosling), Greens (Jonathan Parry), community independent Phil Scott and Country Liberal Party (Lisa Bayliss)

Cost of Living

Moderator Professor James Smith asked candidates what they would do to address food security.

All five candidates called out the supermarket duopoly, arguing price gouging affected Territorians’ ability to purchase healthy nutritious food.

Independent candidate Mr Scott said he would “break-up the supermarket duopoly”, while Mr Parry said the Greens would “make supermarket price gouging illegal”.

Mr Gosling is the sitting Member for Solomon.

Mr Gosling said Labor was still in talks with Aldi to come to the Territory and had committed $440m to logistic hubs up the highway to improve food distribution in the Territory, including to remote communities.

Ms Bayliss said the CLP would also work towards improving infrastructure and reducing fuel excise to reduce the cost of fresh produce.

Each candidate had the opportunity to speak for two minutes about what they would do on the health front.

Mr Parry said the Greens’ plans for universal free GP visits and adding mental and dental health to Medicare would put more money into voter’s pockets.

Mr Gosling and Ms Bayliss both backed urgent care clinics as a cost of living preventive health measure, a lever disputed by some medical professionals.

The two major parties shared some similar policies. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Environment and heat stress

Professor Smith asked candidates about their position on expanding fossil fuels in connection to the impact of heat stress on Territorians.

Unsurprisingly, anti-gas advocate Mr Scott and the Greens Mr Parry were both “completely against” expanding fossil fuel projects, specifically calling out the controversial Middle Arm project.

Independent candidate Phil Scott has a track record of environmentalism and opposing gas projects. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

Mr Gosling came out in support of Middle Arm, declaring there was a lot of “misinformation” about the project, while adding his “focus is on renewables”.

Ms Bayliss was not present for this question as she arrived 40 minutes late to the event.

Aboriginal health gap

Professor Smith asked candidates what they would do to address the gaps in health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Mr Gosling spoke of his government’s record on building capacity in remote communities through fighting poverty, creating jobs, food security and Aboriginal run healthcare services.

NT Greens candidate for Solomon Jonathan Parry. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Parry and Mr Scott had similar responses about supporting Aboriginal-controlled health services, such as Danila Dilba.

Mr Craker focused on battling childhood poverty, as well as calling out the Territory government for “locking up kids”. 

Ms Bayliss was absent for this topic. 

Originally published as Election 2025: Five Solomon candidates talk about preventive health policy