Gunner likely to win Fannie Bay with massive lead over rival, poll suggests
CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner looks certain to hold off a challenge from high-profile CLP candidate Tracey Hayes and win his seat of Fannie Bay, with independent polling revealing he holds a massive lead over his rival.
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CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner looks certain to hold off a challenge from high-profile CLP candidate Tracey Hayes and win his seat of Fannie Bay, independent polling reveals.
Mr Gunner holds a massive lead over his rival, according to the MediaReach poll commissioned by Territory Alliance.
The poll has the Chief Minister on 59 per cent, well ahead of Ms Hayes on 23 per cent.
Territory Alliance is on 5 per cent, with much of the polling conducted before the party announced Rebecca Jennings as its candidate.
The result is a blow for the CLP which had hoped its high-profile candidate could cause a major upset and unseat the Chief Minister.
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Ms Hayes is a former chief executive of the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association. She spearheaded the legal battle against the Commonwealth over the Gillard government’s 2011 ban on live exports, which ended with a famous victory in the Federal Court last month.
Mr Gunner has held Fannie Bay since 2008. He held the seat by just 76 votes at his first outing but has increased his margin at every election since.
The Chief Minister’s popularity has been boosted by his performance during the coronavirus crisis, although the gloss has worn off in recent weeks.
The CLP has already announced Ms Hayes would become treasurer if the party wins the election.
But it may now be ruing its decision to stand one of its best candidates in one of Labor’s safest seats.
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Some within the party had urged Ms Hayes to stand in Port Darwin – a seat her mentor Shane Stone held for nine years.
But she chose to run in Fannie Bay because she lives in the electorate.
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