2016 Northern Territory general election

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2016 Northern Territory general election

← 2012 27 August 2016 2020 →

All 25 seats of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
13 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Turnout74.0 (Decrease 2.9 pp)
  First party Second party
 
Leader Michael Gunner Adam Giles
Party Labor Country Liberal
Leader since 20 April 2015 14 March 2013
Leader's seat Fannie Bay Braitling
(lost seat)
Last election 8 seats 16 seats
Seats before 7 12
Seats won 18 2
Seat change Increase 11 Decrease 10
Popular vote 41,476 31,263
Percentage 42.2% 31.8%
Swing Increase 5.7 Decrease 18.8
TPP 57.5% 42.5%
TPP swing Increase 13.3 Decrease 13.3


Chief Minister before election

Adam Giles
Country Liberal

Elected Chief Minister

Michael Gunner
Labor

The 2016 Northern Territory general election was held on Saturday 27 August 2016 to elect all 25 members of the Legislative Assembly in the unicameral Northern Territory Parliament.[1]

Legislation was passed in February 2016 to change the voting method of single-member electorates from full-preferential voting to optional preferential voting.[2] Electoral districts were redistributed in 2015. The election was conducted by the Northern Territory Electoral Commission, an independent body answerable to Parliament.

The one-term incumbent Country Liberal Party (CLP) minority government, led by Chief Minister Adam Giles, was defeated by the Opposition Labor Party, led by Opposition Leader Michael Gunner, in a landslide. The CLP suffered the worst defeat of a sitting government in the history of the Territory, and one of the worst defeats of a sitting government in Australian history. It was the first time that a sitting Northern Territory government was defeated after only one term. From 11 seats at dissolution (and 16 at the 2012 election), the CLP suffered the worst election performance in its history, winning only two seats—those of second-term MPs Gary Higgins (the only survivor of the Giles cabinet) and Lia Finocchiaro. Labor won 18 seats, in the process winning the third-largest majority government in Territory history, and the second-largest since the Territory was granted self-government in 1978. Independents won five seats. Although the independent MPs outnumbered the CLP MPs, on official advice the CLP was recognised as the official opposition.[3]

Additionally, Giles lost his Alice Springs-based seat of Braitling to Labor, making him only the second sitting Chief Minister/Majority Leader to lose his own seat at an election. Labor also took Katherine, previously the safest seat in the Territory, off the CLP. It was the first and only election that saw Labor win seats in Katherine and inner Alice Springs.[4]

With the overall result beyond doubt, Gunner had himself, Natasha Fyles, and Nicole Manison sworn in as an interim three-person government on 31 August until the full Gunner Ministry could be sworn in on 12 September. The CLP's two surviving MPs, Higgins and Finocchiaro, became leader and deputy leader of the CLP on 2 September.[5][6][7]

Despite Labor's massive majority following the 2016 election, the new Labor government re-appointed CLP-turned-independent Kezia Purick as Speaker of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly for another term.[8]

Results[edit]

18 5 2
ALP Independents CLP
Results of the 2016 Northern Territory general election Legislative Assembly[9][10][11]
PartyVotes%+/–Seats+/–
Labor41,47642.19Increase 5.7318+10
Country Liberal31,26331.80Decrease 18.832-14
Independents18,51118.83Increase 12.795+4
1 Territory3,5203.58New0±0
Greens2,8172.87Decrease 0.430±0
Shooters and Fishers5230.53New0±0
Citizens Electoral Council1890.19New0±0
Total98,299100.0025
Valid votes98,29998.00
Invalid/blank votes2,0052.00-1.2
Total votes100,304100.00
Registered voters/turnout135,50674.02-2.9

Independents: Robyn Lambley (Araluen), Terry Mills (Blain), Kezia Purick (Goyder), Gerry Wood (Nelson), Yingiya Mark Guyula (Nhulunbuy)


Primary vote
Labor
42.2%
Country Liberal
31.8%
1 Territory
3.6%
Greens
2.9%
Shooters and Fishers
0.5%
CEC
0.2%
Independents
18.8%
Two-party-preferred vote
Labor
58.5%
Country Liberal
41.5%
Seats
Labor
72.0%
Country Liberal
8.0%
Independents
20.0%
Winning party in the territory's 25 divisions.

Labor went into the election as unbackable favourites, with Northern Territory opinion polls indicating a massive swing against the CLP—as much as 19 points, by at least one account (see below). Giles later admitted that he'd known almost as soon as the writs were dropped that the CLP would not be reelected, but felt he had to keep up appearances to maintain morale.[12]

As expected, Labor swept the CLP from power in a massive landslide. It won 58.5 percent of the two-party vote on a swing of 14.3 percentage points, the largest two-party swing on record for a Territory election. It is only the second time Territory Labor has won a majority of the two-party vote at an election.

By only four percentage points, Labor won the third-largest majority government in Territory history, with 72 percent of the 25-seat Assembly. This was only bettered by Labor's landslide victory in 2005, when Labor won 19 seats (76 percent of the seats), and the first election in 1974, in which the CLP only faced two independents as opposition.

ABC election analyst Antony Green called the election for Labor at 6:41 pm Darwin time, less than an hour after counting began.[13] Giles phoned Gunner to concede defeat just after 9 pm, and Gunner publicly claimed victory an hour later.[14] Only one seat had been definitively called for the CLP by Sunday morning, with a second called on Monday morning.

The CLP lost a number of seats on swings of well over 10 percentage points. In some seats, the CLP suffered swings virtually unheard of in Australian politics. For example, Bess Price, one of several indigenous CLP members elected in 2012, was routed in her seat of Stuart, suffering a swing of nearly 31 points to Labor—easily the largest swing of the election (not counting swings picked up by former CLP members contesting as independents). The CLP was all but wiped out in the Darwin/Palmerston area, losing all but one seat there. This was all the more remarkable since Labor had historically run dead in Palmerston for most of the Legislative Assembly's existence. Labor picked up two Palmerston seats in its 2005 landslide, only to lose them both to the CLP in 2008.

By Sunday morning, Giles was trailing in his own seat of Braitling. He'd gone into the election sitting on a seemingly insurmountable majority of 19.6 percent after the redistribution. However, the ABC showed him trailing Labor challenger Dale Wakefield with counting still underway. Ultimately, Labor took the seat on a swing of almost 20 points, making Giles only the second Majority Leader/Chief Minister and the third major-party leader in the Territory to lose his own seat.[4] With former CLP member-turned-independent Robyn Lambley having retained the other Alice Springs-based seat, Araluen as an independent, Giles' defeat meant that the CLP was completely shut out in its other traditional stronghold for the first time ever.

Also of note, former Deputy Chief Minister Willem Westra van Holthe lost his seat of Katherine to Labor. Going into the election, Westra van Holthe sat on a majority of 22.3 percent, making Katherine the safest seat in the Territory. However, Westra van Holthe's primary vote almost halved, enabling Labor challenger Sandra Nelson to oust him by 33 votes.[15] Earlier, Green said that it would "truly be a disaster" for the CLP if both Braitling and Katherine fell to Labor; neither had ever been won by Labor before 2016.[16] The only blemish on Labor's otherwise massive victory came when deputy leader Lynne Walker, who had been tipped to become Deputy Chief Minister, lost in her own seat of Nhulunbuy to independent candidate Yingiya Mark Guyula by a mere eight votes. However, Labor left open the possibility of challenging the result.[4]

Although the CLP had fewer members than the independents, Territory Solicitor-General Sonia Brownhill SC advised that the independents should not be recognised as the Official Opposition because they did not have a realistic chance of forming an alternative government. While Labor was the only party to win enough seats for official party status in the legislature, Gunner promised that the CLP would be properly resourced as an opposition.[17]

With the overall result beyond doubt, Gunner had himself, Natasha Fyles, and Nicole Manison sworn in as an interim three-person government on 31 August until the full Gunner Ministry could be sworn in on 12 September.[5][6][7]

On 2 September, Higgins became leader of what remained of the CLP, and hence Opposition Leader, with Finocchiaro as his deputy.[3]

Post-election pendulum[edit]

Labor seats
Marginal
Braitling Dale Wakefield ALP 0.3
Katherine Sandra Nelson ALP 0.5
Karama Ngaree Ah Kit ALP 0.8 v IND
Brennan Tony Sievers ALP 2.6
Port Darwin Paul Kirby ALP 2.8
Arafura Lawrence Costa ALP 4.7
Drysdale Eva Lawler ALP 5.2
Fairly safe
Fong Lim Jeff Collins ALP 7.8
Barkly Gerry McCarthy ALP 8.0 v IND
Namatjira Chansey Paech ALP 8.5
Safe
Sanderson Kate Worden ALP 10.5
Casuarina Lauren Moss ALP 11.3
Fannie Bay Michael Gunner ALP 14.2
Arnhem Selena Uibo ALP 14.3
Johnston Ken Vowles ALP 14.7
Wanguri Nicole Manison ALP 19.9
Stuart Scott McConnell ALP 25.4
Nightcliff Natasha Fyles ALP 26.9
Country Liberal seats
Marginal
Daly Gary Higgins CLP 2.1
Safe
Spillett Lia Finocchiaro CLP 13.1
Independent seats
Nhulunbuy Yingiya Mark Guyula IND 0.1 v ALP
Blain Terry Mills IND 1.4 v ALP
Araluen Robyn Lambley IND 8.2 v CLP
Nelson Gerry Wood IND 23.0 v CLP
Goyder Kezia Purick IND 25.3 v CLP

Seats changing hands[edit]

Seat Pre-2016 election Swing Post-2016 election
Party Member Margin Margin Member Party
Arafura Country Liberal Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu 2.4 7.2 4.7 Lawrence Costa Labor
Araluen Independent Robyn Lambley 20.0 (CLP) 28.1 8.2 Robyn Lambley Independent
Arnhem Independent Larisa Lee 4.3 (CLP) 18.6 14.3 Selena Uibo Labor
Blain Independent Nathan Barrett 15.1 (CLP) N/A 1.4 Terry Mills Independent
Braitling Country Liberal Adam Giles 19.6 19.9 0.3 Dale Wakefield Labor
Brennan Country Liberal Peter Chandler 14.0 16.6 2.6 Tony Sievers Labor
Drysdale Country Liberal Lia Finocchiaro 11.5 16.6 5.2 Eva Lawler Labor
Fong Lim Country Liberal Dave Tollner 0.2 7.9 7.8 Jeff Collins Labor
Goyder Independent Kezia Purick 16.0 (CLP) 41.3 25.3 Kezia Purick Independent
Karama Independent Delia Lawrie 6.4 (ALP) −5.6 0.8 Ngaree Ah Kit Labor
Katherine Country Liberal Willem Westra van Holthe 22.3 22.7 0.5 Sandra Nelson Labor
Namatjira Independent Alison Anderson 20.8 (CLP) 29.2 8.5 Chansey Paech Labor
Nhulunbuy Labor Lynne Walker 13.7 13.8 0.1 Yingiya Mark Guyula Independent
Port Darwin Country Liberal John Elferink 9.7 12.5 2.8 Paul Kirby Labor
Sanderson Country Liberal Peter Styles 3.1 13.6 10.5 Kate Worden Labor
Stuart Country Liberal Bess Price 5.5 30.9 25.4 Scott McConnell Labor
  • Members in italics did not re-contest their Legislative Assembly seats at this election.

Candidates[edit]

Sitting members are listed in bold. Successful candidates are highlighted in the relevant colour. Where there is possible confusion, an asterisk is used.

Electorate Held by Labor candidate CLP candidate Greens candidate 1TP candidate Other candidates
 
Arafura CLP Lawrence Costa Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu Jon Lotu Tristan Mungatopi (Ind)
Araluen CLP Adam Findlay Stephen Brown Robyn Lambley (Ind)
Arnhem CLP Selena Uibo Ian Gumbula James Gaykamangu Lance Lawrence (Ind)
Larisa Lee (Ind)
Barkly Labor Gerry McCarthy Tony Jack Jack Green (Ind)
Elliot McAdam (Ind)
Blain CLP Damian Hale Marie-Clare Boothby Gregory Knowles (Ind)
Terry Mills* (Ind)
Braitling CLP Dale Wakefield Adam Giles Dalton Dupuy Jane Clark (Ind)
Alfred Gould (Ind)
Eli Melky (Ind)
Phil Walcott (Ind)
Brennan CLP Tony Sievers Peter Chandler Dorothy Fox
Casuarina Labor Lauren Moss Giovanna Webb
Daly CLP Anthony Venes Gary Higgins Joan Growden Ian Barry (CEC)
Thong Sum Lee (Ind)
Regina McCarthy (Ind)
Allan McKay (Ind)
Kevin Wanganeen (Ind)
Drysdale CLP Eva Lawler Ben Hosking Hayden Bray David Cartwright Margy Kerle (Ind)
Lyle Mackay (Ind)
Fannie Bay Labor Michael Gunner Karen Brown Greg Strettles
Fong Lim CLP Jeff Collins Tim Dixon Sue Fraser-Adams Ilana Eldridge (Ind)
Goyder CLP Mick Taylor Carolyn Reynolds Billee McGinley Peter Flynn (CEC)
Kezia Purick* (Ind)
Johnston Labor Ken Vowles Steven Klose Melanie Ross
Karama Labor Ngaree Ah Kit Jarred Ilett Edward Solo Jimmy Gimini (Ind)
Sonja Jebbink (Ind)
Trevor Jenkins (-)
Delia Lawrie (Ind)
Katherine CLP Sandra Nelson Willem Westra van Holthe Braedon Earley Leon Cellier (Ind)
Dean David (Ind)
Chris Righton (SFP)
Namatjira CLP Chansey Paech Heidi Williams Vincent Forrester Alan Keeling (Ind)
Nelson Independent Kirsty Hunt Gerard Maley Brigid McCullough (CEC)
Marty Reinhold (SFP)
Gerry Wood* (Ind)
Nhulunbuy Labor Lynne Walker Charles Yunupingu Jackson Anni (Ind)
Yingiya Mark Guyula* (Ind)
Nightcliff Labor Natasha Fyles Ted Dunstan Matt Haubrick
Port Darwin CLP Paul Kirby Rohan Kelly David Cameron Matthew Baker (Ind)
Carol Phayer (Ind)
Kenneth Wu (Ind)
Sanderson CLP Kate Worden Peter Styles Trudi Andersson Andrew Arthur (Ind)
Thomas Lynch (Ind)
Spillett CLP Phil Tilbrook Lia Finocchiaro Jeff Norton Trudy Campbell (CEC)
Sonia Mackay (Ind)
Richard Smith (Ind)
Stuart CLP Scott McConnell Bess Price Andi Bracey Maurie Ryan (Ind)
Wanguri Labor Nicole Manison Steven Doherty Shauna Mounsey (Ind)
Jan Pile (Ind)

Opinion polling[edit]

An opinion poll conducted by ReachTEL and commissioned by The Australian which surveyed 1036 residents via robocall on the afternoon of Sunday 1 March 2015, a month after the 2015 CLP leadership spill, across all 18 electorates in Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs indicated a 17.6-point two-party swing against the incumbent CLP government since the last election. Had this been repeated at a general election, it would have delivered a comprehensive victory for Labor.[18][19][20]

The Northern Territory News commissioned its own MediaReach poll in late July 2016, more than a week before the writ was formally dropped. It showed the two-party swing had further widened to 19 points in favour of the opposition Labor Party. Had this been repeated at a general election, it would have resulted in a landslide Labor victory. It also showed Labor leading by substantial margins in the Darwin area, including a 63–37 percent two-party margin in Palmerston, a conservative bastion for most of the last four decades. This suggested that the CLP was in danger of losing most, if not all, of its parliamentary representation in the Darwin/Palmerston area. The same poll also showed that Labor leader Michael Gunner had a substantial lead over Giles as preferred chief minister.[21]

In what proved to be a warning sign, the 2016 federal election saw a 7.4 percent swing to Labor, which would have been more than enough for a Labor victory had this been repeated at a general election. The CLP also suffered large swings in the Territory's two seats. Solomon, which is largely coextensive with the Darwin/Palmerston area, saw CLP incumbent Natasha Griggs rolled by Labor challenger Luke Gosling on a swing of more than seven points. Warren Snowdon, the Labor member for Lingiari, which covers the rest of the Territory, picked up a healthy swing of seven points.

Voting intention[edit]

Date Primary vote TPP vote
CLP ALP GRN OTH CLP ALP
27–29 Jul 20161 26% 36% 6% 29% 36% 64%
1 Mar 20153 34.4% 41.8% 8.8% 15.0% 38.2% 61.8%
25 Aug 2012 election 50.6% 36.5% 3.3% 9.6% 55.8% 44.2%
  1. ^ 3% of voters recorded their intentions as undecided.
  2. ^ 13.7% of voters were initially undecided as to their primary vote, with the CLP on 30.2%, the ALP on 38.0%, the Greens on 6.9% and others on 11.3%. Asked which party the 13.7% undecided had "even a slight leaning" for: 30.8% to the CLP, 27.9% to the ALP, 13.7% to the Greens and 27.7% to others. As a proportion of 13.7%, this equated to CLP 4.2%, ALP 3.8%, Greens 1.9%, other 3.8%, which have been added to the initial totals in the table.

By region[edit]

Alice Springs[edit]
Date Primary vote TPP vote
CLP ALP GRN OTH CLP ALP
27-29 Jul 2016[22] not asked 37% 63%
18-22 May 2016[23] 28% 24% N/A 25% not asked
Darwin CBD[edit]
Date Primary vote TPP vote
CLP ALP GRN OTH CLP ALP
18-22 May 2016[21] not asked 44% 56%
Darwin outskirts[edit]
Date Primary vote TPP vote
CLP ALP GRN OTH CLP ALP
18-22 May 2016[21] not asked 46% 54%
Northern Darwin[edit]
Date Primary vote TPP vote
ALP CLP GRN OTH ALP CLP
18-22 May 2016[21] not asked 78% 22%
Palmerston[edit]
Date Primary vote TPP vote
CLP ALP GRN OTH CLP ALP
18-22 May 2016[21] not asked 37% 63%

By seat[edit]

Braitling[edit]
Date Primary vote TPP vote
CLP ALP GRN OTH CLP ALP
27-29 Jul 2016[22] 42% 37% not asked
25 Aug 2012 election 67.6% 17.5% 9.1% 5.8% 73.6% 26.4%

Leadership polling[edit]

Better Chief Minister and satisfaction polling*
Date Firm Better Chief Minister Giles Gunner
Giles Gunner Satisfied Dissatisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied
18-22 May 2016 NT News[a][23] not asked 34% 47% not asked
1 Aug 2016 NT News[24] 29% 46% not asked
14 Mar 2016 NT News[25] 35% 38% not asked

Timing[edit]

The timing of the election is dictated by the Northern Territory Electoral Act. Section 23 of the Act fixes polling day as the fourth Saturday in August of the fourth year after the previous election (unless that election had been an extraordinary election). The last election was in 2012, and was a regular election. Therefore, the next election was scheduled for Saturday, 27 August 2016.[26]

An earlier election was possible in the event that a motion of no confidence in the government was passed by the assembly. Section 24 of the act states that an early election can be called if a motion of no confidence in the NT government is passed by the assembly, and no new government can secure the assembly's confidence within eight days. The original confidence motion must be tabled with at least three days' notice.[27] Alternatively, section 25 mandates an early election if the assembly rejects an appropriation bill.[28]

Background[edit]

The Terry Mills-led CLP opposition defeated the Paul Henderson-led Labor government at the 2012 election, winning 16 of 25 seats.

Adam Giles was elected by the CLP party-room to replace Mills as Chief Minister and CLP leader less than a year later at the 2013 CLP leadership ballot.[29] Giles became the first indigenous head of government of an Australian state or territory.[30][31]

Resulting from the 2015 CLP leadership ballot on 2 February, the possibility of a confidence motion being put to the assembly was raised by Willem Westra van Holthe to take over the leadership from Giles, however Giles managed to retain the leadership and continued to govern.[32]

Five months later, in July 2015, CLP member Kezia Purick defected from the party, the fourth parliamentarian to leave the CLP since the previous election, reducing the CLP to minority government.[33] Giles raised the possibility of an early election on 20 July stating that he would "love" to call a snap poll, but that it was "pretty much impossible to do". Crossbenchers dismissed the notion of voting against a confidence motion to bring down the government.[34]

Redistribution[edit]

A redistribution of the Northern Territory's electoral boundaries commenced in February 2015, with draft boundaries released in June. Once finalised, these boundaries would apply to the 2016 general election.[35]

On 16 June 2015, the NTEC released their proposals for redistribution. Major changes included in the proposal were:[36][37]

  • A new seat called Spillett would be created in the northern parts of Palmerston
  • Alice Springs would lose a seat due to its current three seats being under quota, with Araluen merging with the large rural seat of Stuart to form a new seat, Battarbee
  • Two seats would be renamed: Nhulunbuy would become Milirrpum, and Wanguri would become Somerville
  • The two retained districts of Drysdale and Fong Lim would lose over half of their existing electorates
  • More minor changes would be made to the boundaries of all but five of the remaining districts

A period of thirty days in which interested parties and individuals could lodge objections ended on 16 July 2015.

On 16 September 2015, the NTEC released their final report into boundaries for 2016 and beyond. The changes that occurred were less severe than those proposed in June:[38]

  • The proposed new seat of Spillett was created to the north of Palmerston but has a slightly different composition
  • Araluen and Stuart were retained with the division of Greatorex being abolished. Its electors were transferred to Araluen, Braitling and Namatjira
  • The seats of Nhulunbuy and Wanguri were retained
  • Drysdale and Fong Lim saw smaller changes than previously proposed
  • Four seats remained completely unchanged by the proposals – Karama, Katherine, Nightcliff and Sanderson

Following the completion of the final report, it was tabled in the assembly on 16 September 2015.[39]

Election timetable[edit]

  • 8 August – Issue of the writ
  • 10 August – Close of electoral roll
  • 12 August – Close of candidate nominations
  • 15 August – Postal and early voting commences
  • 27 August – Election day
  • 31 August – Giles Ministry resigns, interim Gunner Ministry sworn in
  • 5 September – A recount is held in five seats where the winning margin is fewer than 100 votes (Blain, Braitling, Karama, Katherine and Nhulunbuy)
  • 9 September – Deadline for the receipt of postal votes
  • 12 September – The writ was returned to the Administrator and the result formally declared[40][41]

Retiring MPs[edit]

Country Liberal[edit]

Independent[edit]

Electoral pendulum[edit]

The following pendulum is known as the Mackerras pendulum, invented by psephologist Malcolm Mackerras. The pendulum works by lining up all of the seats held in the Legislative Assembly according to the percentage point margin they are held by on a two-party-preferred basis. This is also known as the swing required for the seat to change hands. Given a uniform swing to the opposition or government parties, the number of seats that change hands can be predicted.[47]

Pre-election pendulum[edit]

Incumbent members who have become and remained an independent since the 2012 election are indicated in grey.

Members listed in italics did not re-contest their seat at the election.

Country Liberal seats
Marginal
Fong Lim Dave Tollner CLP 0.2
Arafura Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu CLP 2.4
Sanderson Peter Styles CLP 3.1
Arnhem Larisa Lee CLP 4.3
Daly Gary Higgins CLP 5.2
Stuart Bess Price CLP 5.5
Fairly safe
Port Darwin John Elferink CLP 9.7
Safe
Drysdale Lia Finocchiaro CLP 11.5
Blain Nathan Barrett CLP 13.2
Brennan Peter Chandler CLP 14.0
Goyder Kezia Purick CLP 16.0
Spillett new seat CLP 17.9
Braitling Adam Giles CLP 19.6
Araluen Robyn Lambley CLP 20.0
Namatjira Alison Anderson CLP 20.8
Katherine Willem Westra van Holthe CLP 22.3
Labor seats
Marginal
Fairly safe
Fannie Bay Michael Gunner ALP 6.4
Karama Delia Lawrie ALP 6.4
Johnston Ken Vowles ALP 6.6
Wanguri Nicole Manison ALP 6.9
Barkly Gerry McCarthy ALP 7.6
Casuarina Lauren Moss ALP 8.9
Nightcliff Natasha Fyles ALP 9.2
Safe
Nhulunbuy Lynne Walker ALP 13.7
Independent seats
Nelson Gerry Wood IND 9.2 v CLP

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Polling conducted in Alice Springs. Respondents were also asked questions related to federal politics, which saw then-Prime Minister and Liberal leader Malcolm Turnbull have a net positive rating, while then-Opposition Leader and Labor leader Bill Shorten have a net negative rating.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Green, Antony (27 May 2013). "Blog: Timetable for Future Elections". ABC News. Australia. Archived from the original on 10 June 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  2. ^ Antony Green (11 February 2016). "Northern Territory Adopts Optional Preferential Voting and Bans Campaigning Near Polling Places". Blogs.abc.net.au. Archived from the original on 11 February 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Gary Higgins becomes Country Liberals' new leader, Lia Finnochiaro his deputy". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 September 2016. Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  4. ^ a b c "Former NT chief minister Adam Giles loses seat". ABC News. 9 September 2016. Archived from the original on 9 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  5. ^ a b Breen, Jacqueline (31 August 2016). "Labor leader Michael Gunner sworn in as Northern Territory Chief Minister". ABC News. Archived from the original on 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  6. ^ a b "NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner unveils new Cabinet". Northern Territory News. 11 September 2016. Archived from the original on 16 October 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  7. ^ a b Oaten, James (13 September 2016). "New female-majority NT cabinet sworn in, Chief Minister vows to keep team". ABC News. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  8. ^ "NT Government announces female-dominated Cabinet". 11 September 2016. Archived from the original on 3 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2023 – via www.abc.net.au.
  9. ^ "Legislative Assembly General Election". Northern Territory Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 30 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  10. ^ "Northern Territory Election 2016". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 30 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  11. ^ "Northern Territory 2-Party Preferred Swings". Antony Green - Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 August 2016. Archived from the original on 30 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  12. ^ "Adam Giles predicted CLP's landslide defeat but he had to 'put on a shiny face'". ABC News. 28 August 2016. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  13. ^ @abcnewsNT (27 August 2016). "NT Election" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ^ La Canna, Xavier (28 August 2016). "NT election: Labor leader Michael Gunner says Territorians have rejected chaos after landslide win". ABC News. Australia. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  15. ^ "NT Labor dominates, wins two more seats". Special Broadcasting Service. 9 September 2016. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  16. ^ Green, Antony. Northern Territory Election Result Updates Archived 2 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine. ABC News, 2016-08-28.
  17. ^ Oaten, James (30 August 2016). "Independents won't be recognised as opposition in NT: official advice". ABC News (Australia). Archived from the original on 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  18. ^ "The Australian – Northern Territory poll – 1 March 2015". Reachtel.com.au. 2 March 2015. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  19. ^ 105.7 ABC Darwin (3 March 2015). "Adam Giles-led Country Liberals Government facing crushing NT electoral defeat, new poll figures". Abc.net.au. Archived from the original on 9 September 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ "ReachTEL 18-point swing to Labor in Northern Territory: Poll Bludger". Blogs.crikey.com.au. 3 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2 October 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  21. ^ a b c d e "Labor NT on track for landslide win in Territory election". NT News. Australia. 1 August 2016. Archived from the original on 8 November 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  22. ^ a b https://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/poll-shows-chief-minister-adam-giles-in-fight-to-retain-seat-of-braitling/news-story/f4d357833f5ef9353f7604ef3c538211
  23. ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 April 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  25. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 March 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  26. ^ "Electoral Act section 23". Northern Territory Consolidated Acts. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  27. ^ "Electoral Act section 24". Northern Territory Consolidated Acts. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  28. ^ "Electoral Act section 25". Northern Territory Consolidated Acts. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  29. ^ "Mills dumped as Giles takes top Territory job". ABC News. Australia. 13 March 2013. Archived from the original on 4 September 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  30. ^ Everingham, Sara (14 March 2013). "Indigenous politician Adam Giles to replace Terry Mills as NT Chief Minister". AM (ABC Radio). Australia. Archived from the original on 20 May 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  31. ^ "Giles denies plot to overthrow Mills". ABC News. Australia. 14 March 2013. Archived from the original on 14 March 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  32. ^ "Adam Giles remains NT chief minister". SBS News. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  33. ^ "Kezia Purick quits Northern Territory Country Liberals party, Government loses one-seat majority". Abc.net.au. 20 July 2015. Archived from the original on 2 September 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  34. ^ "Adam Giles would 'love to go to an early election' after Kezia Purick resigns Country Liberals party". Abc.net.au. 20 July 2015. Archived from the original on 1 September 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  35. ^ "Redistribution 2015". Northern Territory Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  36. ^ Green, Antony (16 June 2015). "Draft Electoral Boundaries Released for the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly". Antony Green's Election Blog. ABC. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  37. ^ "Redistribution Report" (PDF). Northern Territory Electoral Commission. p. 47. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  38. ^ "Final Report" (PDF). Northern Territory Electoral Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  39. ^ "Redistribution Report" (PDF). Northern Territory Electoral Commission. NTEC. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  40. ^ "The WRIT for the 2016 Territory election has now been returned. #ntpol #NTVotes". Twitter. @NTEC. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  41. ^ "Election timetable". NTEC. Archived from the original on 13 July 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  42. ^ "Alice Springs MLA Matt Conlan has announced he will not contest the next election". 16 March 2015.
  43. ^ "CLP Minister John Elferink declares in parliament that he won't run at next election". 19 November 2015.
  44. ^ "Dave Tollner fails to win preselection for NT seat of Spillett, will not contest election". 28 November 2015. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  45. ^ Hind, Rick (3 August 2016). "Alison Anderson announces retirement from Northern Territory politics". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  46. ^ "Sex scandal: NT politician Nathan Barrett will not recontest August election". 12 June 2016. Archived from the original on 17 July 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  47. ^ Antony Green (17 September 2015). "Northern Territory Electoral Boundaries Finalised". Blogs.abc.net.au. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.

External links[edit]