New NT Cabinet to be announced next week as recounts expected in key seats

With thousands of postal and declaration votes yet to be counted, here’s when Territorians will know exactly who will be leading the NT for the next four years.

The new ministry leading the Northern Territory will not be confirmed until next week, as the electoral commission flags recounts in close seats.

The NT electoral commission will accept postal votes until midday Friday and announce the winners of all seats on September 9.

A further 1716 postal votes are expected to be returned.

The NTEC will also begin counting declaration votes on Monday, after more than 1900 declaration envelopes were assessed.

Current counts have fewer than 100 votes separating candidates in Barkly, Casuarina and Fannie Bay, although a CLP win is expected in all three.

Analysts hold some doubts about former Chief Minister Natasha Fyles retaining Nightcliff, where preferences could favour the Greens or independent Mililma May.

The CLP is expected to have won 17 seats in total, independents three, and Labor five – if it holds Nightcliff.

The NT's new Cabinet will not be revealed for another week.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said she would announce her frontbench after all seats were declared next Monday.

“I will ask His Honour Professor the Honourable Hugh Heggie AO PSM, Administrator of the Northern Territory, to swear the full cabinet in at Government House on Tuesday 10 September,” she said.

“The Territory is now moving forward with hope and optimism about the future.

“I have outlined to the Police Commissioner that we must do whatever it takes to support and empower our police to keep Territorians safe.

“Declan’s Law will be ready for the first sittings of parliament.

“I am proud of what we have achieved in week one of our new government and this week we will continue to drive change and show the federal government that the Territory deserves its fair share.”