CLP candidate for Braitling, Joshua Burgoyne, backs down on early victory claim
CLP candidate for Braitling Joshua Burgoyne is still waiting with “bated breath” for the official results to come in
Alice Springs
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CLP candidate for Braitling Joshua Burgoyne claimed an early victory on Saturday night but says he’s waiting with “bated breath” for the official results to come in.
Psephologist Kevin Bonham said Mr Burgoyne was the likely winner, leading the two candidate preferred count by 105 votes, ahead of ALP incumbent Dale Wakefield.
“In the NT it is rare for leads exceeding 100 to fall over,” Dr Bonham said.
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Mr Burgoyne said he was “very anxious” waiting for results on election night.
“When they did come out and it showed that I was leading obviously there was an initial excitement,” he said.
“Since coming back down to earth from Saturday night the reality has set in that there’s still a long way to go.
“The count needs to be concluded, and we are waiting for that final result.”
Mr Burgoyne said he Alice Springs had missed out on the “best deal” in the last government.
He said community feedback revealed “concerns haven’t been listened to for the last four years”.
“I honestly believe that a lot of people that I’ve spoken to feel that we don’t have that strong representative voice up in Darwin,” Mr Burgoyne said.
“That is something that I really hope that I can be for our town should I be elected, I want to be that strong voice for Alice Springs to make sure that we are getting the best deal for our town because for the last four years I don’t feel like we have got the best deal.”
Mr Burgoyne said he was still working in the community while he waited for the result.
“I was just meeting with someone in the electorate of Braitling because they had an issue that I’m trying to rectify, so they’re the sorts of things that I really want to be able to achieve as a local member,” he said.
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“Before being formally sworn in I’m out here in the electorate dealing with people and their issues and I believe that’s what a good local member does: they listen to their communities, and they try and fix things for them.
“At the end of the day that’s what you’re there for you’re elected by the people to work for them.”
Labor candidate and incumbent Dale Wakefield declined an interview with the NT News.
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