Letterbox drop lands Territory minister in hot water

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Letterbox drop lands Territory minister in hot water

A Northern Territory minister may have dashed Labor’s chances to retain government after an election pamphlet was found to be in breach of election laws.

Labor’s Ngaree Ah Kit has held the seat of Karama for the past four years, but was found to have misled voters after distributing a pamphlet stating she is endorsed by another candidate.

The email written by independent candidate Justine Glover appears to endorse Ms Ah Kit saying she “has the ***** and integrity to represent people” in Karama.

But Ms Glover, a former Darwin City councillor, wrote it in January as an endorsement of Ms Ah Kit to stand for preselection within Labor and before she herself had decided to run in the same seat.

“Not long after that I realised Labor was not representing the voice of people … and nominated in April,” Ms Glover said.

She said she never provided consent for the email to be published publicly and it was done in “misleading way” as it was printed in yellow and ******, the same colours she has used for her campaign.

“Labor has circulated it hoping that it would show that I supported Nagree, but … it’s backfired because the majority of people have said, ‘What a low act’.”

Ms Ah Kit was contacted for comment but declined to answer any questions.

An email seen by AAP from the NT Electoral Commission confirms the pamphlet is in breach of the act and Labor has been instructed to “cease distribution”.

“The Northern Territory Electoral Commission has reviewed the evidence provided … and formed the view … that the publication of the pamphlet … is inconsistent with the law,” reads the email to sent to both candidates.

“The commission formally requests that neither (Ms Ah Kit) or the *********** Labor party republishes the pamphlet with Ms Glover’s written authority.”

A spokesperson for the commission said breaching the act can carry up to 12 months imprisonment, however “it would not be appropriate to discuss what further steps might be taken by the NTEC” at this time.

At a press conference on Monday, Chief Minister Eva Lawler defended her minister’s campaign.

“It’s a smart move by Ngaree or her campaign director. If they’ve got a letter that endorses Ngaree as a great person, of course you’d use that in a campaign.”

After journalists informed Ms Lawler the electoral commissioner had found the flyer was ********, she still said it was “great idea”.

Karama is a critical seat in Darwin’s northern suburbs for Labor if it is to retain government on Saturday.

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