RECAP: NT election: Labor suffers small swing, CLP gains ground

22 Aug 2020 8:39pm

Thanks for reading and farewell!

I’m signing off for the evening - here’s the situation with 22 per cent of the vote counted.

Territory Labor are currently well placed to remain the largest party, but could lose a handful of seats after suffering a small swing against it
The Country Liberal Party is gaining ground from the 2016 election drubbing
The Territory Alliance are struggling early on, with leader Terry Mills in real trouble in his seat of Blaine

You can find more on the state of play below.

Northern Territory Election: Counting underway but result may not be known for days

For more updates, you can follow our NT Correspondent Aneeta Bhole on twitter @AneetaBhole.

SBS News will have a full wrap of the result overnight on our website with reaction and analysis on SBS World News at 6:30pm tomorrow night.

Thanks for following the count, hope you have a great evening!

22 Aug 2020 8:10pm

CLP making ground but Labor holding firm

The CLP are currently mounting a strong challenge against Labor in Port Darwin with challenger Toby George ahead on first preferences.

The seat was a traditional Liberal hold but was picked up by Labor during its 2016 election rout.

The CLP also look well ahead in Barkly, with Steve Eddington wiping away Labor’s 16 per cent margin.

On early figures, Labor are on track to take Fong Lim and Namatjira.

While the Territory Alliance is likely to snap up Katherine, with Melanie Usher ahead on first preferences with 60% of the vote counted.

22 Aug 2020 7:54pm

Early results are coming in

Results are beginning to trickle in from booths across the NT.

So far on first preferences, the incumbent Labor government vote share is down on their last showing, hovering around 40 per cent.

The Country Liberals are slightly down on their 2016 performance at 28 per cent.

The Territory Alliance has just over 13 per cent of the share, while the Green Party has secured just over 5 per cent of the share.

22 Aug 2020 7:38pm

Terry Mills in early strife

Source: AAP

Territory Alliance leader Terry Mills looks to be in trouble early on in the night.

He’s currently running last behind Labor and CLP candidates in his seat of Blain, with 20 per cent of the vote counted.

On two party preferences, he’s trailing the ALP’s Mark Turner by 17 per centage points.

Of course, pre-poll results and postal votes are yet to be counted, but still it’s not looking good for the former Chief Minister.

22 Aug 2020 7:30pm

CLP President: We’ve earned back the trust of the people

CLP President Ron Kelly was optimistic about the party’s prospects, saying party leader Lia Finocchiaro’s has done enough to win back voters who ditched the party in 2016.

“I believe that Territorians and certainly I do, want a party and a leader who can walk and chew gum at the same time,” he told the ABC.

“ Yes, there's issues about coronavirus which are very important but there's also the economic recovery and plans the CLP put to Territorians and our plans and credentials firmly on the table.”

“We are looking for a return of the vote that left us last time because we believe we've earned the trust back of people.”

22 Aug 2020 7:06pm

NT Correspondent Aneeta Bhole on how the night is shaping up

SBS NT Correspondent Aneeta Bhole Source: SBS / SBS World News

Our Northern Territory Correspondent Aneeta Bhole spoke a few minutes ago with SBS World News presenter Anton Enus.

“At the moment it’s looking like it could be a close result, however Labor is tipped for the win,” she said.

“Labor needs to get thirteen seats to win, but the incumbent Mr Gunner said this morning that won’t be making any deals with independents to form a minor government coalition.”

“Counting is already started for tonight. However, the postal votes haven't come in today and will be counted tomorrow."

"The Northern Territory Electoral Commission says remote voting has still come back with really poor results.”

22 Aug 2020 6:43pm

Darwin hosts Dreamtime AFL match amid Indigenous flag dispute

Eddie Betts of the Blues is seen wearing a Free The Flag tee shirt prior to the Round 13 AFL match in Darwin. Source: AAP

If the Territory election is not a big enough news story for the Northern Territory, Darwin is also hosting the annual Dreamtime AFL match for the first time.

The clash between Richmond and Essendon was moved from the MCG due to the coronavirus lockdown, with just 5,461 fans to attend the event at Marrara Oval to watch the event.

The match comes in the middle of the AFL’s Indigenous round, which this year has been overshadowed by a copyright dispute around the use Indigenous flag.

The NITV News team have explained how the AFL clubs are campaigning to “free the flag.”

22 Aug 2020 6:30pm

Polls have now closed across the NT

It’s 6pm in the Northern Territory, which means polls have closed across the region.

The vote count will soon get underway but a record number of pre-poll and postal votes means we will likely not have a clear winner tonight.

The Northern Territory Electoral Commission will keep counting ballots all the way up until midnight ACST.

The count will then resume 10am Sunday.

Here’s a quick video from the NTEC explaining how the votes will be tallied in 2020.

22 Aug 2020 6:16pm

Counting an election during COVID-19

Here’s an early look at how the votes will be counted tonight, courtesy of our NT Correspondent Aneeta Bhole who is at a voting centre in Darwin’s eastern suburbs.

Polling officials will need to keep their social distance while sifting through thousands of ballots over the next few hours.

The Northern Territory has also returned to full preferential voting, meaning voters will have had to number every single box on their ballot.

22 Aug 2020 6:00pm

A hot day of voting about to come to a close

Polls close across the Northern Territory at 6:00pm ACST - that's less than an hour.

The atmosphere is already pumping at the Territory Alliance Election Headquarters, with al-fresco dining and easy access to the pool.

Some election volunteers might be partial to a dip after a long day working the booths.

Temperatures in Darwin topped 30 degrees with humidity hovering around 50 per cent according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

22 Aug 2020 5:29pm

The TikTok campaign urging First Nations voters to go to the polls

Earlier we mentioned the Northern Territory Electoral Commissioner had voiced concerns Indigenous Territorians were missing out on having their say in the election.

It’s estimated 16,000 First Nations Australians are missing from the NT electoral roll and just 68.2 per cent of Indigenous Austrlians are enrolled to vote, down on the national average of 76.6 per cent.

Seed Mob, an Indigenous youth climate network, has been using TikTok to encourage people to vote.

"We wanted to reach people where they're at, so both online and then face-to-face in communities, so we thought that using Tik Tok would be a fun way to raise awareness,” National Director Amelia Telford told NT Correspondent Aneeta Bhole.

You can read more here.

22 Aug 2020 4:25pm

‘Mad Frackers’ hold protest in Alice Sprngs

In Alice Springs, a ‘Mad Frackers’ tea party gathered at the Todd Mall to protest against the political parties' stances on fracking.

Mr Mills, a former CLP chief minister and architect of the year-old Alliance party, said hydraulic fracturing doesn't have a social licence to operate in the NT and if Territorians support it, they can "vote for the other two parties".

Both Territory Labor and the Country Liberal Party both support on-shore gas-fracking projects.

But the plan is opposed by the Territory Greens, who are running nine candidates and activist Group Get Up.

The Territory Alliance has also voiced its opposition to expanding hydraulic fracking.

Leader Terry Mills has said hydraulic fracturing doesn't have a social licence to operate in the NT and if Territorians support it, they can "vote for the other two parties".

WITH AAP

22 Aug 2020 3:50pm

Burt, the ‘Psychic Croc’ delivers his election prediction

Few have been willing to predict the results of this year’s Northern Territory election, with a long count expected tonight, but there was one ‘analyst’ who wasn’t afraid to make a call early.

Burt, the ‘psychic crocodile’ called the election for the CLP’s Lia Finocchiaro on Thursday, snapping up a piece of chicken attached to a photo of her face.

The inhabitant of Darwin's Crocosaurus Cove Zoo took two swipes at the photo of Territory Alliance leader Terry Mills and snubbed incumbent Chief Minister Michael Gunner completely.

But take this prediction with a pinch of (chicken) salt - Burt sided with the polls to incorrectly call the last Federal Election for Labor candidate Bill Shorten.

22 Aug 2020 3:31pm

Coronavirus front of mind for voters

While the majority of voters filed their ballots before polling day, there were still long socially distanced queues at polling booths as voters had their say.

NT Correspondent Aneeta Bhole has been speaking with voters in Darwin.

Haidee Mandap

Haidee Mandap (right) and her family at a voting booth in Darwin. Source: SBS / SBS News: Aneeta Bhole

Haidee Mandap is backing the incumbent Michael Gunner, pleased with his response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

“He kept us safe in the Northern Territory, which is really good, so I believe in what he believes, so I’m just going to go for him.

“What really shows off is his loyalty and support for Territorians, it's just really obvious in this crisis.”

Elizabeth Gurd

Elizabeth Gurd at the polling booth in Parap. Source: SBS / SBS News: Aneeta Bhole

Former nurse Elizabeth Gurd was also satisfied by the government’s handling of COVID-19.

“Up till now they’ve handled it very well,” she said.

But she’s voting for the CLP and doesn’t believe a change of government would jeopardise the Territory’s virus response.

“They might be a bit more lenient that’s the thing, but it’s one day at a time, that’s the thing.”

Damien Sproules

Damien Sproules in front of a socially distanced voting queue. Source: SBS / SBS News: Aneeta Bhole

Territory Labor’s coronavirus response was also front of mind for Damien Sproules.

“I think as a state, and things like the Territory’s done a really job, so I’m quite happy with how things are going lately.”

“I think Gunner’s done a pretty good job so I can’t see any point in changing anything, I’m just going to stick with him.”

22 Aug 2020 2:44pm

‘Expect the unexpected.” Territory Alliance hoping to defy predictions

Territory Alliance leader Terry Mills. Source: AAP

The third horse in this election race, the Territory Alliance is headed up by former Chief Minister Terry Mills, who was dumped by former party the CLP less then a year into the job.

The party holds three seats, with Mr Mills expecting the voters to deliver predictions and deliver a surprise result.

“From what's occurred in our democratic process in recent times, we are to expect the unexpected and I think that’s what’s happened here,” Mr Mills said.

"Territorians won't be taken for fools here - they know that we're in a very unusual situation and they know that we've already been in an economic crisis for some time.”

“The fact that people have come out early tells me something that they've settled this in their own minds they've simply come out and they've made their decision known.”

Mr Mills has also ruled out the potential of forming a coalition with the CLP.

22 Aug 2020 2:24pm

Country Liberals fighting to win outright majority

Lia Finocchiaro, CLP Leader (Centre) campaigns at a polling booth in Darwin. Source: AAP

They came into this election with only two seats in parliament, but the Country Liberal Party is optimistic they can secure a majority at this year's vote.

“We are completely focused on winning majority government,” leader Liia Finocchiaro said, the only MP from her party to recontest her seat in the 2020 election.

“We know we are coming from an incumbency of one but we have the best plan.”

"We want the Territory to be a can-do place that it used to be. This government has squandered that opportunity to make people's lives better.”

Returned to power in 2012, The Country Liberals suffered the worst defeat of a sitting government in Territory history, losing 14 seats

22 Aug 2020 1:56pm

Voting in a pandemic

This is the first state or territory election to take place during the Coronavirus pandemic.

So how has the NT fared in it’s response to the virus?

Well, the territory has recorded just 34 coronavirus cases, 0.1 per cent of all cases in Australia and zero deaths.

The state has recorded no new cases in the past 22 days, and it’s last locally acquired case was recorded all the way back on April 3.

Still, the NTEC is taking precautions, enforcing social distancing in voting queues, providing hand sanitiser at booths and issuing 150,000 single use pencils for voting forms.

Elsewhere today, Victoria recorded 182 new cases and 13 deaths, while Queensland and New South Wales each recorded 9 new cases.

22 Aug 2020 1:29pm

Chief Minister Gunner says there will be “no deals” with independents if government loses majority

Michael Gunner speaks in Darwin. Source: AAP

NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner has urged voters to “stay the course” and back the return of the Territory Labor government, while the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

The government currently has 16 seats in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly and will have to hold onto at least 13 seats to keep its majority.

But even if Territory Labor struggles at the polls, Mr Gunner says he won’t be making deals with independents or other parties to form a minority government.

“I won’t do any deals. We want that stability and certainty when it comes to government. Especially during a public health emergency. No deals,” he said this morning.

22 Aug 2020 1:05pm

Fancy a Democracy Laksa?

COVID-19 restrictions across the Territory have put an end to the traditional election day barbeque.

But our correspondent Aneeta has found an alternative at the Parap Markets in the seat of Fannie Bay.

Why have a ‘Democracy Sausage’ when you can have a ‘Democracy Laksa’ instead?

22 Aug 2020 12:59pm

A day before the NT election, thousands of Indigenous Australians remained unenrolled

Despite the high level of pre-polling, the NTEC has voiced concerns that indigenous and remote communities will miss out on having their say on how they are governed.

Around 25,000 Territorians have not enrolled to vote, and 16,412 of those come from indigenous communities.

NTEC Commissioner Iain Loganathan said the coronavirus pandemic will have had an impact on turnout, but the problem is “more systemic.”

Our correspondent Aneeta Bhole spoke to Alawa Elder, Aunty Naomi Wilfred, who said voters in remote communities face language barriers and a lack of culturally sensitive education around enrolling to vote.

A day before the NT election, thousands of Indigenous Australians remain unenrolled

RECAP: NT election: Labor suffers small swing, CLP gains ground

The vote count is underway in the Northern Territory. Here is the latest recap on today's Northern Territory election via the SBS News live blog.

Thanks for reading and farewell!

READ MORE

CLP making ground but Labor holding firm

Early results are coming in

Terry Mills in early strife

CLP President: We’ve earned back the trust of the people

NT Correspondent Aneeta Bhole on how the night is shaping up

Darwin hosts Dreamtime AFL match amid Indigenous flag dispute

Polls have now closed across the NT

Counting an election during COVID-19

A hot day of voting about to come to a close

The TikTok campaign urging First Nations voters to go to the polls

‘Mad Frackers’ hold protest in Alice Sprngs

Burt, the ‘Psychic Croc’ delivers his election prediction

Coronavirus front of mind for voters

‘Expect the unexpected.” Territory Alliance hoping to defy predictions

Country Liberals fighting to win outright majority

Voting in a pandemic

Chief Minister Gunner says there will be “no deals” with independents if government loses majority

Fancy a Democracy Laksa?

A day before the NT election, thousands of Indigenous Australians remained unenrolled

READ MORE

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1of2

next

RECAP: NT election: Labor suffers small swing, CLP gains ground

The vote count is underway in the Northern Territory. Here is the latest recap on today's Northern Territory election via the SBS News live blog.

Thanks for reading and farewell!

READ MORE

CLP making ground but Labor holding firm

Early results are coming in

Terry Mills in early strife

CLP President: We’ve earned back the trust of the people

NT Correspondent Aneeta Bhole on how the night is shaping up

Darwin hosts Dreamtime AFL match amid Indigenous flag dispute

Polls have now closed across the NT

Counting an election during COVID-19

A hot day of voting about to come to a close

The TikTok campaign urging First Nations voters to go to the polls

‘Mad Frackers’ hold protest in Alice Sprngs

Burt, the ‘Psychic Croc’ delivers his election prediction

Coronavirus front of mind for voters

‘Expect the unexpected.” Territory Alliance hoping to defy predictions

Country Liberals fighting to win outright majority

Voting in a pandemic

Chief Minister Gunner says there will be “no deals” with independents if government loses majority

Fancy a Democracy Laksa?

A day before the NT election, thousands of Indigenous Australians remained unenrolled

READ MORE

previous

1of2

next

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