Northern Territory ALP Divided On McArthur River Bill

The internal divisions in the ALP burst into public view again today with three Labor members crossing the floor to vote against the Government's McArthur River Mine Amendment Bill.

Barbara McCarthy the Member for Arnhem, Alison Anderson the Member for MacDonnell and Karl Hampton the Member for Stuart all voted against the Bill at the third reading.

"The bungling of the application process for the expansion of the mine by the Minister for Mines and Energy, Chris Natt, has again highlighted deep-seated tensions within the Government about this and other indigenous issues,” says Jodeen Carney, Leader of the Opposition.

"Discontent with the manner in which Clare Martin has been ruling her party has been in and out of the public domain since her mishandling of Indigenous Affairs after the Lateline interview with Dr Nannette Rogers last year.

"The three members crossing the floor made for a very public display of that simmering discontent.

"By crossing the floor the Labor dissidents have undermined the Chief Minister's control of the Government.

"Doubts again exist about the Chief Minister's long term future.

"This again raises the question about whether the Chief Minister can retain the Indigenous Affairs portfolio.”

2007-05-03