NT Labor faces crucial vote on Friday

Labor has entered what could be its dying days in power in the Northern Territory.
Country Liberals leader Terry Mills introduced a no-confidence motion in Chief
Minister Paul Henderson and his embattled government on Monday afternoon.
"The government no longer possesses the confidence of this assembly," he said.
It is the first time in Australian history that four-year fixed terms - in place in
NSW, Victoria and South Australia - have been constitutionally tested.
Parliament will debate and vote on the motion on Friday, when Mr Henderson said he
would "fully, openly and transparently put the government's side of the story".
Alison Anderson set the wheels in motion when she quit the Labor Party last week and
accused the government of institutionalised racism, "division, spin and
manipulation".
The newly independent MP now holds the balance of power in the NT Legislative
Assembly along with fellow independent Gerry Wood.
They could form a minority government with Labor or the Country Liberals, or support
a vote of no-confidence motion and trigger a new election.
"I've been around all three options ... they all have their pluses and minuses," Mr
Wood told reporters outside parliament house on Monday.
"I haven't made up my mind yet."
Mr Wood said he was fearful the race card would be played if an election was called,
with a focus on personalities not policies.
"I've got to put away my political likes and dislikes," said the
conservative-leaning former chicken farmer who believes working out a backdoor deal
is "the first route we should take".
"If that can't happen then the option is to take it back to the people."
Neither of the major political parties appear to have the purse or the stamina for
an election only 12 months after Territorians were last at the polls.
"This is a difficult time in territory politics," Mr Henderson told reporters on
Monday.
"I am open to have a conversation with Gerry Wood and the other independent member
on any issue at anytime."
Ms Anderson's decision to walk was initially welcomed by the public but there are
now signs of a backlash, with the former indigenous affairs minister accused of
being selfish, impulsive and destructive.
One of Australia's most powerful Aboriginal land councils has called on her to quit
parliament.
"(She) does not respect Territorians, and does not trust Territorians to govern,"
said Northern Land Council (NLC) chief executive Kim Hill.
"Ms Anderson's selfish actions and self indulgence has delivered instability and
chaos not peace, order and good government."
Concern over the $672 million Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure
Program (SIHIP) prompted Ms Anderson to urge the Commonwealth to intervene in NT
politics.
She believes only 30 per cent of the funds will be spent on new homes, with the rest
of the money creamed off to feed the NT's "fat cat bureaucrats".
"I believe (this) is untrue," Mr Hill told reporters.
"These matters are serious and they need to be investigated, however we ... know
that the process does take some time."
His comments follow an attack on Ms Anderson by northeast Arnhem Land's Laynhapuy
Homelands Association chief executive Yananymul Mununggurr.
She slammed Ms Anderson for destabilising the NT government and accused her of
"capitalising on the disadvantage" of Aboriginal people to pursue her own political
agenda.
"I believe SIHIP is just being used as a cover for her failed role as minister," she
said.
"It's disgraceful and embarrassing as we are yet again used as political footballs,
this time by an indigenous woman who is determined to bring down a government at all
costs."