Tough on drugs. Tough on drunks. Labor win NT election : Melbourne Indymedia

Less than a decade ago it would almost be impossible to believe that the Northern Territory would ever have anything other than a Country Liberal Government.

A political philosphy of zero tollerance on drugs and a policy of locking up habitual drunks (read Aboriginal itinerants) sounds like standard CLP party policy.

But Northern Territory political axioms are again today in a further state of flux. Yesterday it was not the former ADF General the CLP's Dennis Burke who was going to the polls with a policy of locking up habitual drunks but the former ABC staffer, ALP's Clare Martin.

Martin who swept to power in 2001 has increased her lions share in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly from fourteen seats in 2001 to a record 19 seats in election's held yesterday.

Described as pragmatic and accessible Martin seems to be everywhere. It is not unusual to bump into the local member for Fannie Bay at the airport, any cultural or civic event in the NT or just meet her in the supermarket shopping for her family.

She will happily listen to you with a smile and a nod but as political progressives were to find out in the last month this mood changes when her drunks policy is raised.
She ignores, changes subject or tough's it out when critics suggest it is racist.

The policy which means that habitual drunks who are picked up on the street for anti social behaviour and who refuse treatment for their alcholism can be jailed.

This policy which wasn't greeted with the same enthusiam by the party faithful as her commitment not to allow another uranium mine in the NT. Yet it seems to have struck a chord with the electorate.

Humbugging (begging for a dollar or a smoke) is seen by the electorate as one of the highest priorities in the Northern Territory. Core issues that bring about humbugging are often seen at the bottom end of the importance scale.

So today the day after it's official the ALP will introduce a program that locks up drunks who refuse rehabilitation.
The Country Liberal party is in tatters with them losing the election and possibly the seats of Leader Denis Burke and his deputy Richard Lim.
And Clare is at home resting trying to recover from a flu which is the only thing that has dogged her in the last week of the campaign.