KNIFE EDGE
Labor closes in on victory Gunner expects another 4 years CLP rises from ashes Territory Alliance flops badly Ten seats too close to call
YOU KNOW, THERE IS STILL A LOT OF VOTES TO COUNT BUT IF THERE IS ONE THING I KNOW IS THAT THE CLP IS BACK
LIA FINOCCHIARO
CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner is “very confident” of retaining government in a nailbiter election that has produced no clear winner yet.
The Country Liberal Party, decimated at the 2016 election, has risen from the ashes with leader Lia Finocchiaro refusing to concede defeat during a speech to the party faithful.
Fledgling party Territory Alliance has been all but wiped out, as voters sensationally kicked long-time Blain MLA Terry Mills out of his seat and kept his deputy Robyn Lambley on the edge in Araluen, where preference flows will decide who wins.
The seats of Arnhem, Barkly, Port Darwin, Fong Lim, Araluen, Blain, Daly, Katherine, Namatjira, and Brennan remain in play.
Goyder MLA Kezia Purick, despite a corruption controversy during her tenure as parliamentary speaker, has been returned.
Long-term independent Gerry Wood’s endorsement of Beverley Ratahi as his successor was not enough for her to take Nelson, with Gerard Maley claiming it for the CLP.
Labor safely have the northern suburb seats of Wanguri, Nightcliff, Casuarina, Johnston and Karama, along with Fannie Bay, Sanderson and Gwoja.
The NT’s most marginal seat, Mulka, looks likely to be retained by independent Yingiya Guyula.
Labor has likely lost Braitling and with it Territory Families Minister Dale Wakefield, who in 2016 sensationally unseated then Chief Minister Adam Giles.
The party had a historic win in the Palmerston seat of Drysdale, with frontbencher Eva Lawler retaining the seat. Labor has never won the same Palmerston seat two elections in a row.
The NT Electoral Commission, which stopped counting at midnight, will begin counting postal votes at 10am today.
Despite the uncertainty, Mr Gunner addressed the party faithful late on Saturday night, saying he was “very confident” of Labor retaining government.
Earlier in the day he had declared “no deals” would be done with independents if Labor did not secure an outright majority.
Sticking to the party’s strategy of saving lives and saving jobs through the pandemic, Mr Gunner said the most important battle of the year was not a contest between political parties, but a “bigger fight” of protecting Territorians.
“The fight to keep our communities safe, to keep our small businesses open, to keep our people in work,” he said.
“If we are fortunate to keep serving, we will work for you, all Territorians.”
CLP leader Lia Finocchiaro, who with the fall of Territory Alliance won’t see another challenge for opposition status, has not conceded defeat.
Reduced to just two seats at the 2016 election, Ms Finocchiaro declared “the CLP is back” as the party looks likely to win a minimum of four seats.
“As a party we have rebuilt and we have strengthened our resolve, because the Territory needs us, it needs the Country Liberal Party to be that strong conservative voice,” she said.
“Just a few weeks ago, at a campaign launch, I talked about the early days of the Country Liberal Party and I said that I wanted to lead a new generation of the CLP to harness that can do that ‘can do’ Territory spirit.
“We can do that once again, just like Paul Everingham and his team in 1978, I want to start a new generation.
“You know, there is still a lot of votes to count but if there is one thing I know is that the CLP is back.”
Territory Alliance leader Terry Mills invited all of his candidates to the stage and said they should all “hold their head high” despite not one of them winning a seat. He said of the party, “we’ve given birth to something”. “Democracy requires more voices, not less.”