Country Liberals deny pork-barrelling seat of Blain with $57 million for new schools
The Northern Territory Education Minister has denied the announcement of two new schools in the seat of Blain is to secure votes ahead of Saturday's by-election.
The Government says $57 million will be used to build a special needs school in Bellamack and a school in Zuccoli.
Peter Chandler says the Government is not pork-barrelling.
"People will make their own decisions but the truth is the money has been found," he said.
"It's in this year's budget and therefore it's the right time to make the announcements."
Interest in the Blain by-election has intensified after three rebel MLAs quit the Country Liberals last week, forcing the party to retain the seat if it is to continue governing in a majority.
The seat of Blain was vacated by the former chief minister Terry Mills, who was rolled by Adam Giles a year ago.
The seat has always been held by the Country Liberals, but the party's internal disputes have given Labor a chance of winning.
Labor's candidate for Blain, Geoff Bahnert, says he has distilled his campaign message to five areas, especially focusing on the future of the Power and Water Corporation.
"If you don't want to keep your Power and Water prices going up, if you don't want to split Power and Water, if you want the teachers and the support staff back in your school, the affordable housing and the Palmerston hospital built - they are the five things that people are talking to me about on the doors," he said.
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Country Liberals deny pork-barrelling seat of Blain with $57 million for new schools