Tuesday, 20 November, 2007

ABC NT Local News

An election forum in the marginal Top End seat of Solomon has heard that people should be praying Australia sells huge amounts of uranium to China.

Incumbent coalition candidate Dave Tollner used the forum to claim nuclear power is the only way to effectively tackle global warming. He was scathing about any policy that would see Australia reduce its uranium mining.

"We should be praying that China and India take as much of our uranium as possible to reduce their reliance on coal power. The fact is, the only way that we are going to produce ongoing baseload power ... is to export as much of our uranium to them as possible."

Tollner also emphasised the strength of the economy and accused Labor of being soft on crime, while Labor's candidate Damian Hale was keen to talk about working families and stopping the buck passing on health.

The candidates were hit with questions on everything from housing policy to teenage pregnancies. But it was an SMS asking Mr Tollner if he'd promise not to run for Territory politics if he loses this election that got the shortest response.

"How many time do I have to say it. Yes."

Mr Tollner also denied the Government had any secrets about its plans for further industrial relations reform.