At the federal election on Saturday, May 21, you will have an important vote to decide who governs our country for the next three years.

I am seeking your support as your Country Liberal Party candidate for Lingiari.

The Lingiari electorate covers most of the Northern Territory, from the South Australian border up to Howard Springs and including parts of Palmerston.

Lingiari is a diverse community and that is why it deserves someone who is energetic about representing it and is committed to its future.

As a life-long Territorian I am passionate about our community.

My wife, Joanne and I have three daughters, and now a granddaughter, who all live in the Territory.

This is why I want to be part of the Coalition team in Canberra – to deliver opportunities for our future generations of Territorians.

While doorknocking across Lingiari over recent months, the overwhelming issues raised with me are economic security, local jobs and community safety.

I am confident my experiences as a small business operator, and more recently my involvement in local government as Mayor of Alice Springs, has provided me the ability to be a strong voice on these issues for Territorians in Canberra.

I was born and educated in Alice Springs before attending secondary school in Adelaide, as many of my generation did at the time.

I then returned to Alice where I purchased the Alice Springs Camera Shop and expanded it to include four retail outlets and two wholesale distributorships.

These businesses relied on me delivering quality customer service and the responsibility of keeping them viable fell on me, while providing for a young family, which means I understand the importance of a strong economy in supporting local businesses and jobs.

I also understand how essential the local tourism industry is to delivering economic growth to the Territory from my time leasing Mount Ebenezer and Dunmarra roadhouses.

This was during an exciting period in the development of Central Australia, when Yulara was established and the Stuart Highway to Adelaide was sealed.

My commitment to my local community saw me become active on the board of the Finke Desert Race and the Alice Springs Masters Games Advisory body, and I served as Mayor of Alice Springs between 2008 and 2021.

Over my 13 years in local government, I visited many remote communities and townships from Docker River to Borroloola, Gapuwiyak to Wadeye and this provided me with valuable insight into remote community life.

Further, my time as Chair of the NT Local Government Association, as a member of the NT Grants Commission, as Co-Deputy Chair of the Outback Highway Development Council and as a member of the NT Chamber of Commerce has given me first-hand knowledge of the issues important to Lingiari residents.

Over the coming weeks, I will be working hard to earn your trust, along with my Country Liberal Party colleagues, Darwin-based Tina MacFarlane in Solomon and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price in the Senate.

And in the lead-up to the election on 21 May I look forward to sharing details of the Coalition’s plan for a strong economy and how we will deliver a stronger future for Territorians.

Note: This is paid content. The NT Independent has offered the same advertising opportunities to all candidates equally, along with the same offer to all parties for the 2022 Federal Election.