Bushranger
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VOTER BASS
THE Australian Electoral Commission last week ran ads urging BASSINTHEGRASS-goers to make sure they vote beforehand, which is clever. But you know what’s even more clever? Maybe setting up polling stations inside the actual concert. Call the tent VOTEINTHEGRASS. Get creative.
CORFLUTE KERFUFFLE
PRE-poll always attracts the odd spectacle as the workers face off. But few expect the critics to come from your own side. A couple of CLP workers were complaining how their candidate Tina MacFarlane didn’t look anything like her corflute image – ouch!
SUNSHINE SUPERMAX
THERE was some confusion in the Darwin Local Court this week when lawyer Storm Lawlor informed the court his client would not be appearing as he was “in Sunshine, in Melbourne”. When judge Alan Woodcock suggested remanding him back into custody, Mr Lawlor was forced to reiterate: “He’s not in custody, he’s in Melbourne.” “Sorry,” Mr Woodcock replied. “I thought Sunshine was a correctional facility.”
WARDROBE W MALFUNCTIONS
MEDIA called to cover the shock resignation of Michael Gunner this week thought they had finally nailed Territory formal when they rocked up to parliament. However, despite their business shirts and pants, a last-minute dash to the-then Chief Minister’s office was needed. A staffer promptly returned with three ties for the cameramen who also needed the staff to tie it for them.
SPEAKERS SILENCED
A DAY after Chief Minister Michael Gunner called it quits on his leadership, all anybody could talk about within the confines of Darwin’s political bubble was — of course — the leadership. Everyone that is, except the Speaker’s Corner Cafe in Parliament House, who didn’t seem too fussed by it at all. Instead, they placed a cake stand on top of Wednesday’s copy of the NT News. The stand was perched, perhaps strategically, right on top of Mr Gunner’s face on the front page. It’s understood Bushie’s spies quickly rectified the situation.
FIFTH FLOOR EXODUS
THE legacy of Gunner on the Fifth Floor has been swept away. It took only minutes for some of his closest advisers to be out of the building and Bushie understands some won’t return.
WORST PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: FACTIONAL politics took the focus off this week’s budget and had the potential to drive people away from engaging with governance. A new leader has now been chosen so it’s time for the factions to get over their infighting and work together for a seamless transition to keep the Territory moving forward.