NT: Judgment day in the NT as no-confidence motion is voted

AAP General News (Australia)
08-14-2009
NT: Judgment day in the NT as no-confidence motion is voted

By Tara Ravens

DARWIN, Aug 14 AAP - It's D-day for Labor in the Northern Territory but the parliamentary
showdown looks set to end with a whimper and not a bang.

After a three-day recess, the NT's 25 MPs will gather in the Legislative Assembly on
Friday to vote on a no-confidence motion in the government.

It was introduced by the opposition on Monday in the wake of the resignation of renegade
Labor MP Alison Anderson.

The government will either be booted out of government three years early or they will
have the numbers to defeat the motion and hold on to power.

Independent Gerry Wood has the deciding vote and he's widely speculated to have made
up his mind to support Labor to ensure the best economic outcome for the NT while avoiding
the cost and hassle of an early election.

But on the eve of the showdown, both the government and the Country Liberals denied
Mr Wood had made up his mind despite reports Labor was already popping champagne corks.

"He's a man who has not made his mind up," Opposition Leader Terry Mills said on Thursday.

NT Chief Minister Paul Henderson said he had "his fingers crossed".

"Anybody who knows me knows that I am a beer man not a champagne man and the beer is
not yet on ice," he said.

"The ball is really in Gerry's court."

Meanwhile, Mr Wood has said he won't reveal his choice until shortly before parliament sits.

Ms Anderson last week labelled the chief minister "a dead man walking" and accused
her former party of spin, manipulation and racism.

Even if Labor survives the stoush, the party has been hit hard by the criticism while
Mr Henderson has been portrayed as a leader incapable of keeping his ministers happy or
in line.

The Labor leader conceded it has been a tough few weeks for the party.

"Sleep is a bit hard to come by ... This has been a tough time, it's been a tough time
for everybody," he said.

"There's a lot that has been said that has certainly caused me a fair degree of angst
and certainly there is a lot of water that has gone under the bridge in the last seven
to 10 days."

Debate on the no-confidence motion will begin in parliament at 10am (CST) on Friday
but it could take most of the day before a final vote is known.

AAP tr/cdh

KEYWORD: LABOR NT AM UPDATE

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