NT election 2024: Recount of votes puts Greens ahead of Labor in Nightcliff

A rethrow of preferences in what used to be considered Labor’s safest seat has the former Chief Minister set to lose by 42 votes.

A rethrow of preferences in the seat of Nightcliff has former Chief Minister Natasha Fyles set to lose to the Greens.

While final vote counts are yet to be confirmed by the NT Electoral Commission, the updated count has Ms Fyles just 42 votes behind the Greens’ Kat McNamara in a two candidate preferred count: 2200 votes to 2242.

The northern suburbs seat of Nightcliff was considered Labor’s safest seat in the Territory, Ms Fyles winning with more than half of the primary vote at the last election.

Natasha Fyles.

Kat McNamara. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

This year gunning for a fourth term, Ms Fyles has so far picked up 32.8 per cent of first preferences – indicating an almost 25 per cent swing away from Labor.

The NTEC had previously distributed preferences between Labor and the CLP in Nightcliff, leaving the outcome of the seat in doubt as a Greens and Labor match up was most likely.

A Greens win would be the first time the party had a candidate elected to the NT parliament.

It would also leave Territory Labor with just four members in its caucus – all Indigenous, and all representing bush seats.

The CLP is expected to have won 17 seats in total.

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

Current counts have fewer than 100 votes separating candidates in Barkly, Casuarina, Fannie Bay and Nightcliff.