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Former NT chief minister Adam Giles loses seat in final election count Former NT chief minister Adam Giles loses seat in final election count
(about 1 hour later)
Former chief minister Adam Giles, his former deputy Willem Westra Van Holthe, and deputy Labor leader Lynne Walker have all lost their seats in close counts in the Northern Territory election. The former chief minister Adam Giles, his former deputy Willem Westra Van Holthe and deputy Labor leader Lynne Walker have all lost their seats in close counts in the Northern Territory election.
The deadline for postal votes passed at lunchtime Friday, two weeks after Labor’s resounding election victory, and the final count found Walker lost her remote seat of Nhulunbuy by just seven votes to independent Mark Yingiya Guyula.The deadline for postal votes passed at lunchtime Friday, two weeks after Labor’s resounding election victory, and the final count found Walker lost her remote seat of Nhulunbuy by just seven votes to independent Mark Yingiya Guyula.
The final split was 50.1% to 49.9% and Labor is considering a legal challenge due to some “irregularities”.The final split was 50.1% to 49.9% and Labor is considering a legal challenge due to some “irregularities”.
In Giles’ seat of Braitling the split was similarly close, with Labor candidate Dale Wakefield winning by 23, taking 50.3% of the two-candidate-preferred vote despite Giles gaining more first preference votes.In Giles’ seat of Braitling the split was similarly close, with Labor candidate Dale Wakefield winning by 23, taking 50.3% of the two-candidate-preferred vote despite Giles gaining more first preference votes.
Giles said he had expected to lose after the Four Corners broadcast on juvenile detention, and would not be challenging the result. He said he had left a legacy of fixing tourism and the economy, and reducing crime.Giles said he had expected to lose after the Four Corners broadcast on juvenile detention, and would not be challenging the result. He said he had left a legacy of fixing tourism and the economy, and reducing crime.
“I feel a bit worried for Alice Springs, I think most certainly Alice Springs will go backwards,” he said.“I feel a bit worried for Alice Springs, I think most certainly Alice Springs will go backwards,” he said.
“I was elected to do a job, I think I did a job over the last eight years, the voters have decided they want someone else to do the job now so it’s up to them.”“I was elected to do a job, I think I did a job over the last eight years, the voters have decided they want someone else to do the job now so it’s up to them.”
Wakefield earlier on Friday told ABC Alice Springs they needed to focus on growing the economy in the town.Wakefield earlier on Friday told ABC Alice Springs they needed to focus on growing the economy in the town.
Westra Van Holthe lost Katherine – which had never been out of CLP hands – to Labor’s Sandra Nelson by 28 votes.Westra Van Holthe lost Katherine – which had never been out of CLP hands – to Labor’s Sandra Nelson by 28 votes.
Nelson said Katherine – ordinarily a CLP stronghold – had begun to feel taken for granted and overlooked.Nelson said Katherine – ordinarily a CLP stronghold – had begun to feel taken for granted and overlooked.
“It’s been 27 years of CLP representation and people were really ready for something different,” Nelson told Guardian Australia.“It’s been 27 years of CLP representation and people were really ready for something different,” Nelson told Guardian Australia.
“And secondly I think the contrast between the candidate and myself and the other candidate is what Katherine was looking for. I’m always happy and very positive, and I use positive language and [believe] no obstacle is too big, there’s no hurdle you can’t overcome working together. It’s always been about community with me and I think that’s what Katherine was looking for.”“And secondly I think the contrast between the candidate and myself and the other candidate is what Katherine was looking for. I’m always happy and very positive, and I use positive language and [believe] no obstacle is too big, there’s no hurdle you can’t overcome working together. It’s always been about community with me and I think that’s what Katherine was looking for.”
The former governing Country Liberal Party has now been left with just two seats in the new parliament, Gary Higgins and Lia Finocchiaro, who have formed an opposition despite objection from within the larger group of independent candidates. The former governing Country Liberal party has now been left with just two seats in the new parliament – Gary Higgins and Lia Finocchiaro – who have formed an opposition despite objection from within the larger group of independent candidates.
Chief minister Michael Gunner declined to answer questions, but congratulated Wakefield and Nelson on their wins, and paid tribute to Walker who was to be deputy chief minister. The chief minister, Michael Gunner, declined to answer questions, but congratulated Wakefield and Nelson on their wins, and paid tribute to Walker who is to be deputy chief minister.
“This is obviously a hard time for Lynne and her family, particularly having had to wait almost two weeks for this result,” said Gunner.“This is obviously a hard time for Lynne and her family, particularly having had to wait almost two weeks for this result,” said Gunner.
“I want to pay tribute to Lynne’s tireless work for her community and as my Deputy Leader. Labor’s election success is in no small part the result of her work ethic, passion and integrity.” “I want to pay tribute to Lynne’s tireless work for her community and as my deputy leader. Labor’s election success is in no small part the result of her work ethic, passion and integrity.”
Walker had previously flagged a legal challenge if the result went against her, a plan confirmed by Labor party NT president Syd Stirling.Walker had previously flagged a legal challenge if the result went against her, a plan confirmed by Labor party NT president Syd Stirling.
Stirling told media on Friday Labor would take legal advice and discuss over the weekend whether to take the result to the Court of Disputed Returns due to some “significant” irregularities. Stirling told media on Friday Labor would take legal advice and discuss over the weekend whether to take the result to the court of disputed returns due to some “significant” irregularities.
On Thursday the NT electoral commission confirmed there were about 20 postal votes for Nhulunbuy which had arrived unsigned, and were therefore deemed invalid. On Thursday the NT Electoral Commission confirmed there were about 20 postal votes for Nhulunbuy which had arrived unsigned, and were therefore deemed invalid.
“If a person’s won by 250 votes it doesn’t matter, the will of the people has been expressed,” he said.“If a person’s won by 250 votes it doesn’t matter, the will of the people has been expressed,” he said.
“When the difference is just seven, I think it is incumbent to ensure it has been played out to the fullest properly”.“When the difference is just seven, I think it is incumbent to ensure it has been played out to the fullest properly”.
He anticipated claims of “sour grapes” would be made but said there was a responsibility to ensure the will of the people was accurately expressed.He anticipated claims of “sour grapes” would be made but said there was a responsibility to ensure the will of the people was accurately expressed.
Gunner pledged to work constructively with the independent MP who ousted his deputy. Guyula, a Liya-dhälinymirr Djambarrpuyŋu man, former pilot, and former lecturer at Charles Darwin University on Yolngu studies, ran on a campaign which included calls for a treaty between the NT government and Indigenous groups, and greater self-governance for Indigenous people.Gunner pledged to work constructively with the independent MP who ousted his deputy. Guyula, a Liya-dhälinymirr Djambarrpuyŋu man, former pilot, and former lecturer at Charles Darwin University on Yolngu studies, ran on a campaign which included calls for a treaty between the NT government and Indigenous groups, and greater self-governance for Indigenous people.
Guyula had spoken out about a lack of funding and resources reaching remote Indigenous communities, particularly in Arnhem Land, which contains the seat Nhulunbuy. Guyula had spoken out about a lack of funding and resources reaching remote Indigenous communities, particularly in Arnhem Land, which contains the seat of Nhulunbuy.
He has served as spokesman for the Yolngu Nations Assembly group, pushing for a treaty.He has served as spokesman for the Yolngu Nations Assembly group, pushing for a treaty.
“Everyone knows we have sought a treaty from Australian governments since the Barunga Statement of 1988, and with two later petitions in 1998 and 2008,” he said prior to the election.“Everyone knows we have sought a treaty from Australian governments since the Barunga Statement of 1988, and with two later petitions in 1998 and 2008,” he said prior to the election.
“Governments have largely ignored these diplomatic gestures, so we decided to stop waiting and get started.”“Governments have largely ignored these diplomatic gestures, so we decided to stop waiting and get started.”
Gunner criticised Guyula last week over comments he made to the NT News that domestic violence orders broke up families and the legal system favoured women.Gunner criticised Guyula last week over comments he made to the NT News that domestic violence orders broke up families and the legal system favoured women.
“I’m not saying anything against women but it needs to be fair because a lot of the time, women start the fighting and men end up in jail,” Guyula had said.“I’m not saying anything against women but it needs to be fair because a lot of the time, women start the fighting and men end up in jail,” Guyula had said.
Gunner said he couldn’t agree. “It’s not the way it’s been put to me by the men and women working with the scourge of family violence,” he said.Gunner said he couldn’t agree. “It’s not the way it’s been put to me by the men and women working with the scourge of family violence,” he said.
Walker, who held the seat since 2008, on Wednesday said Guyula’s Yolngu background may have helped in the predominantly Indigenous electorate, but refuted that she could not represent her Yolngu constituents.Walker, who held the seat since 2008, on Wednesday said Guyula’s Yolngu background may have helped in the predominantly Indigenous electorate, but refuted that she could not represent her Yolngu constituents.
“I’m not Yolngu, I know that, I can’t be Yolngu, but over the years I’ve worked really hard to engage with Yolngu community and I’ve spent a lot of time with Yolngu,” she told the ABC.“I’m not Yolngu, I know that, I can’t be Yolngu, but over the years I’ve worked really hard to engage with Yolngu community and I’ve spent a lot of time with Yolngu,” she told the ABC.
Federal Labor member for Lingiari, Warren Snowdon, congratulated the two new Labor members, Wakefield and Nelson, calling the result “historic”. The federal Labor member for Lingiari, Warren Snowdon, congratulated the two new Labor members, Wakefield and Nelson, calling the result “historic”.
“It is a credit to their stamina, their determination and commitment that voters in Braitling and Katherine had a valid alternative to the indifferent, scandal-ridden representation offered by the CLP.”“It is a credit to their stamina, their determination and commitment that voters in Braitling and Katherine had a valid alternative to the indifferent, scandal-ridden representation offered by the CLP.”