NT Greens confirm candidates for Fannie Bay, Nightcliff, Araluen and Braitling

The NT Greens have revealed their strategy to win a seat in parliament for the first time by announcing candidates in four critical electorates. Meet the candidates here.

Suki Dorras-Walker for Fannie Bay and Kat McNamara for Nightcliff are running as the NT Greens candidate in the 2024 Territory election. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The Greens have set their ambition to win a seat in the NT parliament for the first time, rolling out their key candidates across four electorates.

The minor party confirmed their candidates for Fannie Bay, Nightcliff, Braitling and Araluen six months out from the August election.

After narrowly losing a seat on Darwin City Council, Suki Dorras-Walker said she was ready to challenge Police Minister Brent Potter –17 months after he narrowly won the Fannie Bay by-election.

The former public school teacher and Environment Centre of the NT climate campaigner said there was clear momentum for the Greens, who had secured 20 per cent of first-preferences in 2022.

Suki Dorras-Walker is running as the NT Greens candidate for Fannie Bay in the 2024 Territory election. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“What we see is our politicians being really reactive and using policies that aren’t evidence based, that don’t work,” Ms Dorras-Walker said.

“I’ve seen people who are really concerned about crime but don’t think what the ALP and the CLP are doing works.

“We need to fix the drivers of crime.”

As a Milner resident, Ms Dorras-Walker acknowledged she did not live in the electorate, but said she had an understanding of the issues facing the inner Darwin suburb.

Fellow Greens candidate Kat McNamara — whose middle name is Danger — said she was not phased taking on a former Chief Minister in the safest seat in the Territory.

Kat McNamara is running as the NT Greens candidate for Nightcliff in the 2024 Territory election. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

In the 2020 election, Natasha Fyles won Nightcliff with 53 per cent of the first preferences vote, with the Greens securing 19 per cent of ballots.

But Ms McNamara said the public had become increasingly disillusioned with the major parties, particularly with their policies on the environment and fracking. 

The mother-of-three and former telecommunications rigger said she was inspired to run after finishing her bachelor in environmental science.

“We’ve had the projections come out that the Territory will be unlivable by 2075 — 275 days over 35 degrees,” she said.

“Will my children have a future here?”

Peltherre Chris Tomlins is the Greens candidate for Araluen in the August 2024 NT election. Picture: Sara Maiorino

Down in Central Australia, Peltherre Chris Tomlins said he was also fighting for future generations by challenging independent Araluen representative Robyn Lambley.

“I want to make sure that the children of our future generations are healthy and culturally connected,” the Arrernte and Warlpiri Elder said.

“We must prioritise connection with Country for our kids and stop them from being caught up in the criminal justice system in the first place.”

Mr Tomlins voiced his opposition to fracking, and the need for better water protections and renewable energy.

Asta Hill is the Greens candidate for Braitling in the August 2024 NT election. Picture: Sara Maiorino

Braitling candidate Asta Hill said she had seen the direct impact of policy failure on vulnerable Territorians through her career as a criminal, civil and human rights lawyer.

The lifelong Alice Springs resident said there had been a “race to the bottom” on the crime debate, with major parties prioritising “getting re-elected over keeping our community safe”.

“So let’s be clear on one thing: if tough on crime did work, Alice Springs would be the safest town in Australia and perhaps even the world,” she said.

Ms Hill goes up against Braitling MLA Josh Burgoyne, and has acknowledged that it will be a tough seat to win, given that the Greens only won 376 ballots in the 2020 election.

In September NT Greens said it intended to run in Johnston and Namatjira, however no candidates have been confirmed.

• The bullet point summary was created with the assistance of AI technology (PaLM2) then edited and approved for publication by an editor.

Originally published as NT Greens confirm candidates for Fannie Bay, Nightcliff, Araluen and Braitling