The Northern Territory opposition is bringing forward a no-confidence motion against Natasha Fyles's NT Labor government, over what it says is a "crisis of lawlessness right across the NT".
Chief Minister Fyles and her government have been in the national spotlight during the past weeks over their handling of the end of Aboriginal community alcohol bans in the NT last year.
After months of rising crime and anti-social behaviour after the bans lapsed, Ms Fyles this week announced that her government would reinstate the restrictions urgently.
Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro on Thursday said her Country Liberal Party held no faith in the NT government to deliver the changes and would be bringing a no-confidence motion to parliament.
Ms Finocchiaro said her party was putting the motion against the government "for their failure to do the very basics of governing, and that is to keep the community safe".
"The fact that Natasha Fyles failed to apologise and take responsibility for removing Stronger Futures [alcohol bans] without a plan was everything," she said.
"It showed to Territorians that she is not fit to be the leader, she is not fit to run a government, and that she just doesn't listen to the community."
Ms Fyles has repeatedly declined to apologise or take responsibility for the repercussions that came with the lifting of the bans.
The CLP's move will mark the first no-confidence motion put forward by Ms Finocchiaro as party leader, but the third by the party since NT Labor came into power in 2016.
Labor has the numbers to vote the motion down, but Ms Finocchiaro said she would be canvassing government MLAs to try to get it across the line.
"I will be writing to all of the Labor backbench today and independent and crossbench members of the parliament, seeking their support for our motion, which will be debated on March 21," she said.
"We are seeking the support of those members to cross the floor and vote with the CLP."
Independent MLA Robyn Lambley, a long-term Labor opponent and former deputy chief minister with the CLP, has already indicated she will vote with the opposition, even though the motion is likely to fail.
"It would be a symbolic gesture, but I think the people of Alice Springs and Central Australia would expect us to do something like that," Mrs Lambley said.
In response to the CLP's planned motion, Ms Fyles accused the party of trying to use the situation in Alice Springs for its own political objectives.
"[Lia Finocchiaro] hasn't offered any collaborative solutions, she's been missing in this space, and now she's talking about using the floor of parliament, rather than focusing on the important debates for territorians, to again play politics," she said.
Opposition holds concerns over new laws
The motion comes as the Fyles government prepares its new alcohol ban laws to present to NT parliament in sittings next week.
Ms Finocchiaro said she held serious concerns about the new legislation, although indicated her party would likely still vote for the changes.
"We think they're still writing it – we're yet to see any draft, we're yet to be provided any briefing on the legislation," she said.
"My concern is that they are literally making it up as they go."
Ms Fyles said the government was working on the legislation and would brief the opposition and crossbenchers as soon as possible.
The CLP's federal senator, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, has simultaneously put forward a separate private members bill in federal parliament, calling for more Commonwealth oversight on the NT alcohol ban laws.
The Coalition, which Senator Price sits with, was in power for nine years but did not make any bid to extend the Commonwealth bans prior to their lapsing just after the federal election last year.
Ms Finocchiaro did not directly answer if she believed Central Australians would approve of more federal intervention over their lives, in spite of few outcomes being delivered under previous bans.
"What Territorians want is their elected members fighting for them," she said in regard to Senator Price's federal bill.
Ms Fyles said she expects the new bans to be in place by the end of next week.
