More prominent Northern Territory conservatives have quit the Country Liberal Party, joining four other high profile members who’ve resigned in recent months.

April 8, 2022

Two more prominent Country Liberal Party members have resigned from the Northern Territory conservative political party, joining four others who’ve quit in recent months.

Former NT deputy chief minister Peter Styles and Linda Fazldeen on Friday joined party vice president Jed Hansen, who walked out last week.

Former CLP Senator Sam McMahon says the party is in a shambles less than two months from the federal election as the NT News reports allegations of poor management, backstabbing and whisper campaigns.

Leader Lia Finocchiaro attempted to brush aside the accusations saying people and come and go from political parties and she was sad to see Mr Styles and Ms Fazldeen leave.

“I respect their decision,” she told reporters in Alice Springs.

“I’ll be reaching out to Peter and Linda later today and expressing my regret.”

Other recent resignations include Ms McMahon, who resigned from the party in January, and party president Jamie De Brenni, who quite in late-February.

Candidate for the federal lower house seat of Solomon, Kylie Bonanni, stepped down on Monday and on Friday announced that she was joining the Liberal Democrats.

Ms McMahon has also joined the Liberal Democrats in a bid to retain her NT Senate seat after losing a losing a fierce CLP preselection battle to Jacinta Price last year.

In a statement the CLP said experts had predicted its downfall since 1974, when Cyclone Tracey largely destroyed Darwin, but it had survived.

“The CLP is the only political party that was created by Territorians for Territorians,” a party spokeswoman said.

“We have a growing membership and a fantastic Territory team leader in Lia Finocchiaro.”

The CLP has three candidates running in the upcoming federal election for senate and lower house seats.