Labor claims historic Territory first with victory in Daly by-election

Territory Labor has claimed a historic victory in the Daly by-election, snatching the seat from the Country Liberal Party in what is a stunning first for a sitting NT government.

Labor’s candidate Dheran Young has won the seat of Daly with Territory Labor claiming an historic victory, snatching the seat from the Country Liberal Party in a by-election in what is a first for a sitting NT government. Picture Supplied/Facebook

UPDATED: TERRITORY Labor has claimed an historic victory in the Daly by-election, snatching the seat from the Country Liberal Party in what will be a first for a sitting NT government.

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of the CLP’s Ian Sloan who won the seat by a whisker at last year’s Territory election with another close result expected when the tally began on Saturday. But in the end Labor’s Dheran Young romped home, with Chief Minister Michael Gunner publicly calling the result for his man by about 7.30pm, describing the result as “incredibly humbling”.

“Dheran Young is a decent, honest and hardworking Territorian – and he will be a terrific Labor member for Daly,” he said.

Celebrating the morning after ... Labor’s successful Daly candidate Dheran Young at Wagait Beach on Sunday morning after yesterday’s Daly by-election. Picture: Supplied/Facebook

“Tonight’s result only encourages us to work even harder for all Territorians. We are so grateful that you have backed us – and we will keep backing you every day.

“We are especially grateful for the overwhelming support the bush has shown us. We don’t take that support for granted – and we will work even harder to keep your trust.”

Mr Young said he was “blown away” by the support of voters.

“The Chief (Minister) has been a huge support and the message I got loud and clear was that Territorians want us to keep them safe from Covid,” he said.

A breakdown of first preferences by voting centre showed the battle was won and lost in the bush. The CLP’s Kris Civitarese outpolled Labor in rural area booths like Coolalinga and Berry Springs but it was the more remote communities that took Labor to victory.

Mr Civitarese and independent Rebecca Jennings, both more than doubled Mr Young’s first preference votes in Berry Springs.

But Mr Young took the lead in the Daly mobile teams, with upwards of 1100 votes, compared to Mr Civitarese’s 457.

At the end of the night, Mr Young was sitting pretty on 1532 primary votes to Mr Civitarese’s 1160. Ms Jennings had racked up 530 primary votes with fellow independent Wayne Connop trailing on 189.

Dheran Young, front, with Chief Minister Michael Gunner and others during voting at Wadeye. Picture: Supplied/Facebook

“This result is historic and I know I have to work really hard to keep their trust,” Mr Young said.

NT Electoral Commissioner Iain Loganathan said with postal and declaration votes still to count, the official result would not be known for another two weeks. But with only about 440 of those votes still outstanding and Mr Young already 372 primary votes ahead of Mr Civitarese, Labor’s history-making by-election win is all but assured.

UPDATE 9.30pm: Soon to be crowned member for Daly Dheran Young has officially claimed victory in the historic by-election, saying he was “blown away” by the support of voters.

“The Chief (Minister) has been a huge support and the message I got loud and clear was that Territorians want us to keep them safe from Covid”,” he said.

“This result is historic and I know I have to work really hard to keep their trust.”

UPDATE 7.38pm: A breakdown of the first preferences by voting centre shows the CLP was more popular in places like Coolalinga and Berry Springs but it was the more remote communities that took Labor to victory.

The CLP’s Kris Civitarese, and independent Rebecca Jennings, both more than doubled Labor’s Dheran Young’s first preference votes in Berry Springs.

However, Mr Young took the lead in the Daly mobile teams, with upwards of 1100 votes, compared to Mr Civitarese’s 457.

Ms Jennings was the most popular in Berry Springs, where she was “born and bred”.

UPDATE 7.25pm: Chief Minister Michael Gunner has called the Daly by-election for Labor.

Government sources say it is the first time in Territory history the government has won a seat off the opposition in a by-election.

The source said it was looking like a 6.5 per cent swing towards Labor on the Two Candidate Preferred, and a 10 per cent increase on primary vote.

It’s understood the increase in voter turnout in the bush made a big difference.

The CLP’s unsuccessful candidate for Daly, Kris Civitarese. Picture: Glenn Campbell

UPDATE 7.20pm: The NT News has been told the Daly by-election is pretty much “done and dusted”, with Labor’s Dheran Young looking likely to steal the seat from the CLP.

With more than 60 per cent counted, the NT News understands the final votes are likely to be tallied within the next hour.

The CLP’s Kris Civitarese was leading early in the count but Mr Young came in with a surge of votes.

He now leads with 1497 primary votes and 56.3 per cent of the Two Candidate Preferred poll.

Mr Civitarese has 1102 primary votes.

According to a source in the counting room, many ballot papers preferenced the two major parties one and two.

UPDATE 7.13pm: And just like that, Labor is leading in the Daly by-election.

The results are coming in thick and fast, with almost 60 per cent of the votes already counted just an hour in.

Labor’s Dheran Young is leading with 1455 first preference votes, ahead of the CLP’s Kris Civitarese on 1078 votes.

Independent Rebecca Jennings has so far scored 478 votes and Wayne Connop is pulling up the rear with 165.

UPDATE 7.08pm: Labor’s Dheran Young has slipped ahead of the CLP’s Kris Civitarese in first preference votes, as just over 35 per cent of votes are counted.

But with only an extra 70 first preference votes, and independent Rebecca Jennings’ preferences likely to go to the CLP, Mr Civitarese has increased his margin in the Two Candidate Preferred numbers.

There, the CLP is sitting at 60 per cent of the vote.

UPDATE 6.50pm: With just over 1000 of the 5706 votes counted, the Country Liberal Party’s Kris Civitarese is currently ahead on 44.8 per cent.

Independent Rebecca Jennings is also making a strong showing, just ahead of Labor’s Dheran Young on 26.3 per cent of the vote to Mr Young’s 25.1 per cent.

The count continues.

UPDATE 6.15pm: The votes are in and NT Electoral Commission staff are tallying the numbers after ballots from remote communities in the Daly electorate were unsealed in Darwin.

Scrutineers will now keep a close watch over the next few hours as the fate of each of the four candidates emerges via the democratic process.

The first cab off the rank is from “mobile team one” which visited some of the smaller remote communities collecting ballot papers earlier in the day.

UPDATE 6.03pm: The polls have closed in the Daly by-election, with counting already underway.

Some Territorians from the electorate, which stretches from Darwin’s rural area to Kakadu National Park in the east and Katherine in the south, headed to the polls, including at Berry Springs Primary School, on Saturday but many had voted ahead of time.

EARLIER: TERRITORIANS living in the Daly electorate are reminded today to cast their vote for the by-election.

The polling booths are open at Berry Springs School and Wagait Beach Community Centre from 8am to 6pm.

Pre-polling in remote areas across the electorate occurred in the lead up to today.

The Country Liberal Party’s Kris Civitarese is looking to retain the seat for the CLP vacated by outgoing member Ian Sloan who resigned from politics last month.

Labor’s man, Dheran Young, said his priorities for the electorate were “better roads, housing and telecommunications, more opportunity for young people, support for local business, access to health services and more”.

As one of two independents looking to offer and alternative to the major parties, one time Territory Alliance candidate Rebecca Jennings said if elected, her focus would be on “connectivity — connectivity of roads, businesses, industry, essential services, infrastructure and people”.