The Wire

Three Northern Territory government backbenchers are rebelling against the their own leader, declaring their party “racist” and threatening to destabilise the entire government unless more attention is given to Aboriginal issues. They are demanding positions in the Ministry and the creation of a new Minister and Department for Aboriginal affairs. Media reports have so far largely focused on the war of words between the members, and a senior journalist at Murdoch’s NT News called for the three dissidents to “grow up”. So is there any substance behind the backbenchers’ demands, or is this just a play for power?