CLP set to reclaim Katherine thanks to preference votes after four year Labor stint

THE CLP looks set to reclaim its traditionally conservative electorate of Katherine

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THE CLP looks set to reclaim their traditionally conservative electorate of Katherine from Labor.

But preferences are likely to play a role in the outcome of the seat with Territory Alliance set to filter votes through to the CLP.

Despite trailing Labor’s Kate Ganley by 22 votes in primary votes, CLP candidate Jo Hersey remains quietly confident given the preference flows.

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“We’re celebrating and enjoying the fact we’ve come to the end of nine months and hopefully there’ll be a good result at the end but nothing’s set in stone so we are waiting and praying to the gods – I’m probably a bit reserved and I think I’ll wait and see what the result is,” she said.

“I do feel if you’re a good listener and you take on board what people say and are honest, have good integrity and morals, common sense has to prevail.”

CLP candidate Jo Hersey is quietly confident in the preferential voting which will take place over the coming days. Picture GLENN CAMPBELL

While leading after the first preference vote, Ms Ganley is far from guaranteed to hold on but was happy with the faith voters had shown her.

“Labor getting the most first preferences over conservative parties proves most of Katherine turned out to put Kate Ganley down as number one, I can only put that as credit to those who voted for who they thought would be the best representative for them in parliament,” she said.

“All the feedback I get is that they love me, they want me to be their representative, a lot of the conservative voters say they only wish I was a conservative vote.

“The crux of the matter is that it’s been a fashion to vote conservative in Katherine for too long, people are only now just becoming brave enough to show their true colours.”

Despite coming in third of four candidates in primary votes, Territory Alliance candidate Melanie Usher remains an outside chance, only 74 votes behind Ms Hersey.

“Early voter results have obviously made it very dicey and I am now just waiting for the postal votes and absentee votes to see if I’m still in the race or not,” Ms Usher said.

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“I might be able to get over the line on someone else’s preferences.”

With the majority of her Territory Alliance compatriots wiped out, Ms Usher said she would maintain the party’s values and was confident other candidates would bring strong results in the vote recount.