NEWS
CLP CANDIDATES FOR THE 2020 ELECTION
Gibson Farmer Illortaminni
Steven Edgington
Matthew Kerle
Joshua Burgoyne
Marie-Clare Boothby
Leanne Butler
Tracey Hayes
Kylie Bonanni
Josh Thomas
Jo Hersey
Bill Yan
Gerard Maley
Steve Doherty
Rose Watts
Derek Mayger
Lia Finocchiaro
Araluen, Arnhem, Casuarina, Daly, Goyder, Karama, Nhulunbuy, Stuart, Wanguri
THE Country Liberal Party has selected a land council chairman, who last year escaped conviction after pleading guilty to bringing liquor into an alcohol prohibited area, as one of its candidates for the 2020 Territory election in August.
Nine candidates were announced yesterday after day two of the CLP’s Central Council meeting, including Tiwi Land Council chairman Gibson Farmer Illortaminni for the seat of Arafura.
In January last year, Mr Farmer pleaded guilty to both the grog running and having an unrestrained minor in his car. Mr Farmer argued he drove the alcohol into Gunbalanya for his drunk daughter who was arguing with him. CLP president Ron Kelly said the party was aware of the incident but said Mr Farmer’s record as Tiwi Land Council chairman was outstanding.
“He has a good, strong record of standing up for people in his home community,” he said. “He’s intelligent, articulate and speaks about issues and stands up.”
Other new faces selected for the CLP were commercial lawyer Rose Watts for the seat of Port Darwin and Salvation Army caseworker Leanne Butler for the seat of Drysdale. Mr Kelly said the remaining eight candidates would be selected in the coming months.
Former NT Cattlemen’s Association chief executive Tracey Hayes will take on Mr Gunner for the seat of Fannie Bay. “It’s going to be very busy,” she said. “The Member for Fannie Bay, the incumbent, has been there for 10 years so I’ll be taking nothing for granted. “The electorate of Fannie Bay can expect to see me at their doors in the near future and I’ll certainly be pounding the pavement and talking to people and hearing from them exactly what the issues are that they would like us to take on.”
Ms Hayes planned to tackle local infrastructure, economic issues, the residential property market and crime, which she said were at the forefront of the Fannie Bay community’s concerns. “It’s very clear that the policies that are in place now simply are not working,” she said.
Last night, the party held a $110-a-head fundraising dinner at Mindil Beach Casino Resort where Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce was the guest speaker. Despite criticising Chief Minister Michael Gunner for not revealing who he dined with at a $5000-a-head fundraising lunch in November, the CLP would not say which donors attended last night’s dinner.