Sir Joh ‘fails test’ in N.T. election

Press, 9 March 1987, Page 10

Sir Joh ‘fails test’ in N.T. election

NZPA-AAP Canberra The Queensland Premier, Sir Joh BjelkePetersen, had made the Northern Territory election a test of his policies and “failed that test badly,” said the Leader of the Opposition, John Howard, yesterday. “National is expected to win only one seat in the state parliament. “He is a flop,” Mr Howard said from Sydney. “He can’t win. All he might do is help the Labour Party.” Mr Howard congratulated the Country-Liberal Party leader, Steve Hatton, who will remain Chief Minister. Mr Hatton claimed victory on Saturday night with a reduced majority of at least 15 seats in the 25-seat Assembly. He said that when preferences were considered the Country-Liberal Party (C.L.P.), would win between 15 and 17 seats, easily routing a challenge from the rebel N. Territory National Party backed by Sir Joh. At close of counting yesterday, the C.L.P. had won 15 seats, Labour five and independent C.L.P. candidates two. Before the election, the C.L.P. held 18 seats, Labour six and the

National Party one. A jubilant Mr Hatton said Sir Joh had declared the Territory election a test of his support and had scored a total failure. He said it was the end of a “messianic cult of following a 76-year-old man in his personal ambitions to end his career as Prime Minister of Australia.” Mr Howard said he was not surprised at the result. “If all he (Sir Joh) can manage is 17 per cent in the Northern Territory with everything going for him, including huge publicity, he has got no hope of winning in places like Sydney and Melbourne. “This also shows that a huge amount of campaign funds won’t buy the votes of Australians.” Mr Howard was asked about the Northern Territory elections in terms of the future of the Federal Coalition and demands by Sir Joh for Queensland National Party members to break away from the Liberals. “It can only serve as a reminder to those in the National Party in cloud cuckooland about Joh that the Coalition represents the best way for the National Party to have a direct say in national politics,” he responded.