SEATS IN FOCUS: Bellwether Sanderson to fall whichever way the wider Territory says so
THE bellwether seat of Sanderson is the only northern suburb electorate the CLP has claimed from NT Labor in roughly the past two decades — though history shows unseating the incumbent will need a major Territory-wide political shift
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THE bellwether seat of Sanderson is the only northern suburb electorate the CLP has claimed from NT Labor in roughly the past two decades — though history shows unseating the incumbent will need a major Territory-wide political shift.
Covering the suburbs of Wulagi, Anula, Marrara and Malak, the seat of Sanderson has been around since 1974 and has been held, alternately, by CLP or Labor MLAs.
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Only two Sanderson MLAs have served in opposition, the most recent of whom was CLP’s Peter Styles.
This is largely because Sanderson is considered a bellwether seat that changes hands at times of major political upheaval.
Labor’s June D’Rozario snatched the seat from the CLP when NT Labor swept to power in 1977 then lost the seat to CLP’s Daryl Manzie in 1983 when the CLP won by a landslide.
The CLP’s collapse at the 2016 election meant Labor’s Kate Worden took Sanderson with a healthy swing, making it, on the margins, a safe seat for the party.
But former MLA Mr Styles reckons it’s just too close to call, owing also to the field of solid candidates this year.
Ms Worden’s challengers are CLP’s Derek Mayger, a qualified accountant and lawyer and Territory Alliance’s Amelia Nuku, an experienced executive in the vocational, education and training sector.
Mr Styles said the seat was diverse, including in terms of profession and income, and it was a relatively stable seat in terms of voter churn.
“You’ve got a mix of businesspeople and public servants … quite a large number of public housing.
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“For someone to hold this seat and maintain it … you need to be able to be all things to all people.”
Mr Styles, factoring in his loyalties, believes Mr Mayger is best suited for the seat.
Territory Alliance’s commissioned polling, done by James Lantry’s MediaReach, believes Ms Nuku can clinch it for the party.
Ms Worden’s two-party preferred margin is 10.5 per cent, smaller than the large margins her Labor colleagues in other northern seats like Nightcliff and Wanguri enjoy.
The swing at the 2016 election towards Labor was so aggressive in Sanderson that Ms Worden didn’t need preferences, securing 52 per cent of the initial vote.
As history shows, how Sanderson falls depends on what the wider Territory appetite is for political change.
CANDIDATES
NAME: Derek Mayger
PARTY: CLP
TELL US IN 100 WORDS OR LESS WHY PEOPLE SHOULD VOTE FOR YOU: A Territorian for over 25 years, I have worked in Darwin, remote communities and overseas for small, medium, and multinational entities. I am a professional accountant, lawyer, company director and trustee. I bring this unique combination of expertise and experience to the parliament, with a passion for accountability and good governance. I will be a strong advocate for the residents, businesses, sporting and community organisations of Sanderson. I seek your support to be a part of a new, energetic Country Liberal Party team that will work tirelessly to build a better and safer Territory, allowing all to pursue their aspirations.
NAME: Amelia Nuku
PARTY: Territory Alliance
TELL US IN 100 WORDS OR LESS WHY PEOPLE SHOULD VOTE FOR YOU:
I was raised in Darwin and my family lived in Anula for nearly 35 years. I am an experienced business manager with over 24 years of expertise in private enterprise working in the Vocational, Education and Training sector across the Northern Territory. I will listen to my local community and work hard to increase our local skilled workforce, create employment opportunities and strengthen our economy. We will reduce, and where possible, prevent crime with greater support for Police, swift justice and a fair community justice approach. We will ban fracking. Provide water security and protect the environment while supporting renewable energy.
NAME: Kate Worden
PARTY: NT Labor
TELL US IN 100 WORDS OR LESS WHY PEOPLE SHOULD VOTE FOR YOU: I have lived in the northern suburbs since 1995 and am a typical Territorian. I have over 20 years of small business experience and have held a broad range of jobs over my 38 year working life. I have extensive experience in government and am a passionate community volunteer. Before being elected I served as an alderman on council. I know how things work and I get things done. This is a job I love – since 2016 I have helped local residents fix the things that matter to them. I am proud to have delivered significant school upgrades and the Arafura Games. I am asking residents to allow me to continue this work.
HISTORY
One of the Northern Territory’s original electorates created in 1974, Sanderson gains its name from the title initially given to the area in 1879 before it was broken up into suburbs. Sanderson is a bellwether seat that has changed hands only during times of wider political upheaval in the NT. Election analyst Ben Raue, of the Tally Room, reckons “it seems likely that Labor will hold this seat but it can be unpredictable”.
AREA/SUBURBS
Sanderson is an urban electorate, taking in the Darwin suburbs of Anula, Marrara, Wulagi and part of Malak.
Electorate redistribution leaves Sanderson’s margin unchanged after gaining nine voters from Spillett, but the area of the electorate is more than doubled with the inclusion of Darwin Airport.
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2016 RESULTS
Two-party preferred:
Kate Worden, NT Labor: 60.5 per cent.
Peter Styles, CLP: 39.5 per cent
PREVIOUS MEMBERS
Liz Andrew, CLP, 1974-1977
June D’Rozario, NT Labor, 1977-1983
Daryl Manzie, CLP, 1983-2001
Len Kiely, NT Labor, 2001-08
Peter Styles, CLP, 2008-2016
Kate Worden, NT Labor, 2016- current.
Originally published as SEATS IN FOCUS: Bellwether Sanderson to fall whichever way the wider Territory says so