- Northern Territory general election, 2008
-
Northern Territory general election, 2008 
2005 ← 9 August 2008 → 2012 23 (of the 25) seats of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly First party Second party 
Leader Paul Henderson Terry Mills Party Labor Country Liberal Party Leader since 26 November 2007 29 January 2008 Leader's seat Wanguri Blain Last election 19 seats 4 seats Seats won 13 seats 11 seats Seat change 
6
7Popular vote 39,415 40,614 Percentage 49.3% 50.7% Swing 9.89.8
Chief Minister before election
Elected Chief Minister
General elections were held in the Northern Territory of Australia on 9 August 2008.[1] 23 of the 25 seats in the Legislative Assembly were contested; two safe Labor seats were uncontested. The incumbent centre-left Australian Labor Party (ALP), led by Chief Minister Paul Henderson won a narrow third term victory against the opposition centre-right Country Liberal Party (CLP), led by Terry Mills. Labor suffered a massive and unexpected swing against it, to hold a one seat majority in the new parliament.[2][3][4]
Contents
Results
NT Legislative Assembly (IRV) — Turnout 75.7% (CV) — Informal 4.1% [5][6] Party Votes % Swing Seats Change Australian Labor Party 34,557 43.2 −8.8 13 −6 Country Liberal Party 36,334 45.4 +9.7 11 +7 NT Greens 3,442 4.3 +0.1 0 0 Independents 5,696 7.1 −1.0 1 −1 Total 80,029 25 Australian Labor Party 39,415 49.3 −9.8 13 −6 Country Liberal Party 40,614 50.7 +9.8 11 +7 Independents: Gerry Wood
Two safe seats were won by the ALP by default as no CLP or other candidate was fielded. The Greens ran in six of the 25 seats, averaging around 16 percent.[7] Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage, Minister for Parks and Wildlife Len Kiely was defeated as was Minister for Sport and Recreation, Corporate and Information Services Matthew Bonson.
Background
The first territory election for the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly in 1974 saw the CLP led by Goff Letts win 17 of 19 seats on 49 per cent of the vote, while the ALP did not win a seat, on 30 per cent.[8] The CLP retained government under various leaders at each election until 2001, when the ALP led by Clare Martin unexpectedly won government, with 13 of 25 seats. The Martin-led ALP retained government in 2005 on 19 of 25 seats, leaving the CLP with four, the largest result since 1974. Clare Martin resigned as Chief Minister on the 26 November 2007, along with her Deputy Syd Stirling. Paul Henderson the then Minister for Employment, Education and Training took over as Chief Minister with Marion Scrymgour as Deputy, who was the highest ranking indigenous politician in Australia.
Key dates
- Issue of writ: 22 July
- Close of roll: 8pm 24 July
- Close of nominations: 12 noon 28 July
- Postal voting commences: 31 July
- Pre-poll voting commences: 4 August
- Polling Day: 9 August
Retiring members
The following members did not seek another term at the election.
Labor
- Clare Martin (Fannie Bay)
- Elliot McAdam (Barkly)
- Syd Stirling (Nhulunbuy)
Country Liberal
Independent
Candidates
Sitting members are in bold. Successful candidates are highlighted in the relevant colour.
Electorate Held By Labor Candidate CLP Candidate Greens Candidate Independent Candidates Arafura Labor Marion Scrymgour Tristan Mungatopi
Angie SeibertJone Lotu Araluen CLP John Gaynor Jodeen Carney Linda Chellew Arnhem Labor Malarndirri McCarthy Barkly Labor Gerry McCarthy Mick Adams Randall Gould
Barry NattrassBlain CLP Ken Vowles Terry Mills Braitling Independent Aaron Dick Adam Giles Jane Clark Eli Melky Brennan Labor James Burke Peter Chandler Casuarina Labor Kon Vatskalis Gary Haslett Daly Labor Rob Knight Wayne Connop David Pollock August Stevens Drysdale CLP Chris Natt Ross Bohlin Justin Tutty Fannie Bay Labor Michael Gunner Garry Lambert Fong Lim Labor Matthew Bonson Dave Tollner Goyder CLP Ted Warren Kezia Purick Greatorex CLP Jo Nixon Matt Conlan Lenny Aronsten Johnston Labor Chris Burns Jo Sangster Karama Labor Delia Lawrie Tony Bacus Dorothy Fox
Natalie HunterKatherine CLP Sharon Hillen Willem Westra Van Holthe Toni Tapp Coutts Macdonnell Labor Alison Anderson Nelson Independent Justine Luders-Searle Maureen Kohlman Gerry Wood Nhulunbuy Labor Lynne Walker Djwalpi Marika Nightcliff Labor Jane Aagaard Peter Manning Emma Young Port Darwin Labor Kerry Sacilotto John Elferink Gary Abbott Sanderson Labor Len Kiely Peter Styles Stuart Labor Karl Hampton Rex Granites Japanangka Wanguri Labor Paul Henderson Kerry Kyriacou Duncan Dean Seats changing hands
Seat Pre-2008 Swing Post-2008 Party Member Margin Margin Member Party Braitling Independent Loraine Braham 0.9 N/A 23.6* Adam Giles Country Liberal Brennan Labor James Burke 1.8 3.4 2.7 Peter Chandler Country Liberal Drysdale** Labor Chris Natt 1.3 9.6 10.1 Ross Bohlin Country Liberal Fong Lim Labor notional - new seat N/A 13.7 2.2 David Tollner Country Liberal Goyder** Labor Ted Warren 1.6 7.4 7.9 Kezia Purick Country Liberal Port Darwin Labor Kerry Sacilotto 1.1 5.0 3.0 John Elferink Country Liberal Sanderson Labor Len Kiely 8.4 17.4 7.4 Peter Styles Country Liberal - Members in italics did not contest their seat at this election.
- *Braitling's second figure is CLP vs. Labor
- **Due to boundary changes, Drysdale and Goyder were notionally CLP at the time of this election. However, as they were held by members of the ALP at this time, they are still included in this table.
References
- ^ Northern Territory News: NT election on 9 August
- ^ Mills concedes defeat in NT election - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
- ^ Opposition concedes NT election | The Australian
- ^ Labor narrowly wins NT election - Breaking News - National - Breaking News
- ^ Legislative Assembly results 2008: NT electoral commission
- ^ Legislative Assembly results 2005: NT electoral commission
- ^ Henderson denies NT leadership an issue: The Age 12/8/2008
- ^ Upperhouse.info - Australian Politics, Elections, Voting and More
External links
Electoral sites
Media sites
Party sites
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