NTEC proposes electorate boundary changes ahead of 2024 election

Proposed changes to the NT’s 25 electorates and their boundaries have been revealed. Read how it could impact the polls, seat by seat.

The NT Electoral Commission has proposed a suite of changes to electorate boundaries in the 2024 election. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Proposed changes to Territory electorate boundaries have been released ahead of the 2024 election, with a few expected to result in some interesting political swings.

The NT Electoral Commission review, which happens every four years before an election, is designed to make sure the Territory’s 25 electorates each have a similar number of voters.

With about 6000 voters in every seat, shifts as small as a few hundred voters could have a big impact at the polls come August 2024.

The most significant changes are expected to hit Palmerston divisions, due to the area’s huge growth since the last election.

Wanguri will also lose about 640 voters due to new Muirhead development, while Coconut Grove residents will be split between Nightcliff and Fannie Bay seats.

Fong Lim and Karama – both government-held seats – are expected to gain voters from the CLP-held Spillett and Nelson.

The biggest changes are expected to impact Palmerston voters due to the satellite city’s rapid growth. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Alice Springs mayor Matt Paterson’s calls for a third seat in his town have also proven fruitless, with minimal changes to seats in the Red Centre.

No changes have been proposed for nine divisions – Araluen, Arnhem, Barkly, Braitling, Goyder, Katherine, Mulka, Namatjira and Port Darwin.

Arafura’s boundaries are set to extend to include the Vernon Islands, although this area has no enrolled voters.

Feedback on the proposed redistribution, which closes on June 23, can be sent to [e-mail]

Blain

Held by Mark Turner, Labor

This Palmerston seat, held by the outcast Labor member Mark Turner, is expected to receive about 1800 voters from Drysdale’s suburb of Moulden. However it will lose almost just as many voters in Rosebery, who are expected to shift to Brennan.

Brennan

Held by Marie-Clare Boothby, CLP

The Palmerston seat of Brennan is expected to gain 2800 Rosebery and Zuccoli voters from Blain and Spillett respectively. But it is also proposed to lose almost 1800 Gunn residents to Drysdale, which is currently held by Labor.

Casuarina

Held by Lauren Moss, Labor

This northern suburbs seat is expected to gain a few hundred Muirhead residents from Wanguri and lose slightly more Alawa voters to Johnston. As all three seats are held by the government, the shifts could have little impact at the next election.

Daly

Held by Dheran Young, Labor

Daly is expected to lose about 250 voters to Gwoja, which is also held by Labor.

Voter shifts from Brennan to Drysdale could give the CLP an upper hand at the 2024 election. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Drysdale

Held by Eva Lawler, Labor

The Treasurer’s seat is expected to lose about 1800 Moulden voters to Blain, but gain about 1700 Gunn voters from the CLP seat of Brennan. The proposed changes could put a larger CLP voter base in the electorate, which has changed hands between the CLP and Labor several times.

Fannie Bay

Held by Brent Potter, Labor

The seat of former chief minister Michael Gunner is expected to gain about 600 Coconut Grove voters from Johnston and Nightcliff, which are both government-held seats.

Fong Lim

Held by Mark Monaghan, Labor

This government-held electorate is poised to gain about 200 voters from CLP’s Spillett, who would come from parts of Berrimah, Northcrest and Hidden Valley. The change could lead to a small swing towards the CLP.

Gwoja

Held by Chansey Paech, Labor

This huge bush seat is expected to gain about 250 voters from Labor’s Daly as its northern boundary extends.

Johnston

Held by Joel Bowden, Labor

The northern suburbs seat of Johnston is expected to gain about 780 Alawa voters from Casuarina, but lose 800-odd Coconut Grove residents to Fannie Bay and Nightcliff. All seats are held by Labor and so the impact at the 2024 election could be minimal.

Karama

Held by Ngaree Ah Kit, Labor

Karama is expected to gain about 280 Knuckey Lagoon voters from the CLP seat of Nelson, and lose about 250 voters to Labor’s Sanderson. While minimal, the shift could result in a swing towards the opposition.

Nelson

Held by Gerard Maley, CLP

The rural seat is expected to gain almost 500 voters from Spillett, which is also held by the CLP, but lose about half as many to Labor’s Karama and Arafura electorates. This could bolster the CLP’s chances of retaining the seat next year.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles successfully led her team to victory in the Arafura by-election earlier this year, with Manuel Brown achieving a landslide win. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Nightcliff

Held by Natasha Fyles, Labor

The Chief Minister’s seat is expected to gain Coconut Grove voters from Johnston but also lose some to Fannie Bay, as the suburb splits between the electorates. All three seats are currently held by Labor.

Sanderson

Held by Kate Worden, Labor

Sanderson is expected to gain about 250 Berrimah and Marrara voters from Karama, which is also held by the government.

Spillett

Held by Lia Finocchiaro, CLP

There are a few changes proposed for this seat, most of which are between other CLP seats. However the opposition leader’s electorate is expected to lose a handful of voters to Labor’s Fong Lim. About 1000 Farrar residents currently in Brennan will likely move to Spillett.

Wanguri

Held by Nicole Manison, Labor

This northern suburbs seat is expected to lose about 640 Muirhead voters to Casuarina, which is also held by the government. It is not gaining any as Wanguri is significantly over quota due to new development.

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