Women to fore in polls

Press, 7 June 1980, Page 9

Women to fore in polls

NZPA Darwin Women are making inroads into the political “last frontier” of Australia’s far north if the number of candidates in today’s Northern Territory elections is any guide. Eleven women are among the 60 candidates in the first Legislative Assembly elections in the territory since self-government was granted in 1978. One of the more fascinating fights involving women in the elections will take place in the near city dectorate of Fannie Bay. The sitting Labour Party member is Pam O’Neill, a bachelor of science graduate from Queensland University. She is opposed by the former Lord Mayor of Darwin, Dr Ella Stack. Other women candidates are Rosalie McDonald (A.L.P.), Patricia Davies (Ind), Kay Spurr (A.L.P.), Rose Kunoth-Monks (Country Liberal Party), Anne Amos (C.L.P.), Dawn Lawrie (Ind), June Drozario (A.L.P.),

Noel Padgha m-Purich (C.L.P.), and Jenny Smithers (A.M.P.). Four of the women candi- ■ dates are sitting members in the outgoing assembly which was made up of 11 me. bers of the Country ■ Liberal Party, six A.L.P. Snd one Independent. In today’s election, the C.L.P. has 19 candidates — four of them women, while the A.L.P. has 18 — four of them women. There are also 14 Independent candidates (two women), four Australia Marijuana Party candidates (one woman), three Australian Democrats, one Independent Liberal and one Christian Home Party. The Christian Home Party candidate, Mr Ron Mann, has campaigned with one of the more original posters that are exhbrting territorians how to vote. His picture appears with that of Jesus Christ. He has entered the elections in the belief that there should be more Christian values in Government.