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Northern Territory Independent throws Labor - and Henderson - a life-line
Friday, 14 August 2009
1:16:53 PM
NATIONAL, August 14, 2009: The Henderson government will retain power in the Northern Territory after independent Gerry Wood told parliament this morning he would not support a 'no confidence' motion in the government put forward by the Opposition.
The vote was brought on after the resignation of Labor minister Alison Anderson last week, in protest at her government's handling of Indigenous housing under the NT emergency intervention.
Anderson's defection followed that of Aboriginal colleague Marion Scrymgour, who quit Labor two months ago in protest at the NT government's handling of Aboriginal funding for remote Indigenous outstations.
Parliament was recalled on Monday, and a no confidence motion was scheduled for today (Friday). Henderson's government looked doomed.
But Mr Wood, who is the Member for Nelson, told parliament this morning that he would support the Henderson government against any no confidence motions, and in favour of government supply and appropriation bills.
But he added a rider - the deal was off if Mr Henderson was replaced as Chief Minister between now and the next election (2012), or if another Labor MLA quit the party.
The extraordinary scenes unfolded to a packed NT Parliament, which is still considering the 'no confidence' motion. Baring some new spectacular development, the vote, however, appears to be just a formality.
Mr Wood told parliament that he was acting to ensure stability in the Northern Territory.
• More stories to follow.
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