Despite 7.3 per cent swing away NT Labor says win in Solomon is an indictment on the Chief Minister

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has hit back at the claim, saying “Labor aren’t good at counting”.

The Territory Opposition has framed Labor’s federal election win as an indictment on the CLP government and Lia Finocchiaro’s leadership.

However the Chief Minister has hit back at the claim, saying “Labor aren’t good at counting”.

“In the seat of Solomon, we saw the second biggest swing to a Coalition party in the entire country,” she said.

“That’s nothing that Luke Gosling, the member for Solomon, should be celebrating – he’s squarely on notice from Territorians that he wasn’t working hard enough.”

CLP candidate Lisa Bayliss and Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro greet a voter on election day, May 3. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The CLP’s federal campaign leaned heavily on the Territory government, hoping to leverage the electoral success of the NT CLP in the Territory election last year.

Mrs Finocchiaro appeared alongside candidate Lisa Bayliss in ads and corflutes, and Mrs Bayliss said her focus as an MP would be to support the Territory government to tackle law and order “in any way possible”.

Mr Gosling claimed victory on election night, but the contest was tight.

Solomon no longer considered a safe Labor seat after being reduced to a 1.1 per cent margin – a 7.3 per cent swing against the party bucking the national trend.

The CLP also won on first preferences, Mrs Bayliss receiving 36.32 per cent of votes compared with Mr Gosling’s 32.81 per cent.

In a press release Territory Labor said the CLP’s campaign message was clear that a vote for Lisa Bayliss was a vote for Lia Finocchiaro.

Leader of the Opposition Selena Uibo. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“The CLP Federal election loss in Solomon and Lingiari reflects the growing distrust in Lia Finocchiaro’s leadership,” Opposition Leader Selena Uibo said.

“Less than eight months into the CLP’s term, Territorians have sent a clear message that Lia Finocchiaro is failing them.

“Territorians have recognised that the leader they were promised isn’t what they are getting.”

Mrs Finocchiaro said she was proud to have backed Mrs Bayliss, and indicated that the Coalition’s devastating federal election defeat would not change their approach in the NT.

“The CLP takes heart in the courage and the effort that Lisa Bayliss has put in, and in the results. And at the end of the day, thousands more Territorians put a ‘1’ next to the CLP compared to Labor,” she said.

The Territory election saw traditional Labor heartland in Darwin’s northern suburbs turn against the party, the CLP picking up every seat across Darwin and Palmerston.

In the federal election last week the northern suburbs once again delivered strong results for Labor; Rapid Creek its best performing booth at 67.2 per cent Labor two-party preferred.

Meanwhile Palmerston remained the CLP’s stronghold, its best performing booth being Coolalinga at 60.36 per cent two-party preferred.