Northern Territory election: vote-counting continues as Labor edges closer to majority
Labor has retained majority government in the Northern Territory with the latest count confirming the party will hold at least 13 seats in the 25-member parliament.
The most recent figures from the Northern Territory Electoral Commission showed Labor ahead in 16 seats, with the Country Liberal party leading in six, independents in two and the Territory Alliance in one.
A formal declaration of the poll is not scheduled until September 7 as postal votes are still coming in.
Counting in the crucial seat of Fong Lim swung Labor’s way on Monday afternoon, with candidate Mark Monaghan ahead of his CLP rival Kylie Bonanni by 137 votes.
The seat of Namatjira also dropped out of the CLP’s column, with Labor’s Sheralee Taylor leading Bill Yan by 20 votes on a two-candidate preferred basis.
Labor senator Don Farrell, a factional colleague of NT chief minister
Michael Gunner, told the Senate on Monday the results were positive.
“It does appear sometime today or tomorrow we will find (Gunner) has been returned with majority government in the Northern Territory and continue the terrific work he is doing, particularly in the circumstance of the pandemic,” Farrell said.
ABC election analyst Antony Green on Monday afternoon said Labor had secured 13 seats and could “potentially” win two more.
Labor was ahead in Arafura, Arnhem, Barkly, Blain, Casuarina, Drysdale, Fannie Bay, Fong Lim, Johnston, Karama, Gwoja, Namatjira, Nightcliff, Port Darwin, Sanderson and Wanguri.
The CLP appeared on track to win Braitling, Brennan, Daly, Katherine, Nelson and Spillett.
Independents will hold Mulka and Goyder while the Territory Alliance is set to take Araluen.
The alliance leader, Terry Mills, was the biggest casualty of election night, losing his seat of Blain.