CLP accuses Labor of chasing 'redneck' vote

The Northern Territory Labor Party has vigorously rejected Country Liberal Party claims that it is chasing the "redneck" vote in Darwin's northern suburbs through its anti-social behaviour policy.

CLP Leader Denis Burke today travelled to the Indigenous community of Wadeye south-east of Darwin to release the party's Indigenous policy just a day before the start of remote polling.

He told traditional owners the central part of Labor's Indigenous policy in Darwin was to jail drunks.

"It's to cater for a redneck white vote and we won't have it," he said.

Labor Member Paul Henderson says a CLP government achieved little for Indigenous people and that is unlikely to change.

"When [Mr Burke] was chief minister he championed One Nation but today he's courting votes in Wadeye," he said.

Mr Henderson says Labor's policy is a proactive approach to addressing anti-social behaviour.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Wed, 08 Jun 2005
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia Web)
Copyright: 2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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