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LiveNT decides: Northern Territory election 2024 live, rolling coverage
Chief Minister Eva Lawler has conceded the election. Ms Lawler, who will be unable to hold her seat against CLP challenger Clinton Howe, addressed the party faithful at Labor HQ at about 8.30pm. FOLLOW THE LIVE BLOG.
Today NT residents will decide who will guide and progress the Territory over the next four years.
As the votes begin to get counted, follow along with the NT News’ live blog for the latest election commentary and coverage.
Alice Springs election coverage: Independent MLA hopes for stronger relationships with incoming govt
9.46pm: The Araluen incumbent looks set to take her fifth term representing the electorate, and says she will hold the newest government “to the same level of account” as she has with previous.
Incumbent independent MLA Robyn Lambley looks set to retain her Alice Springs-based seat of Araluen, with “the signs good”, according to her.
“Every new government takes at least 100 days to settle in, and then I will hold them to the same level of account as I have previous governments,” she said.
“I hope to work with them a lot more closely than what I did with Labor.
“I really didn’t have a working relationship with Labor.”
Braitling back in Burgoynes hands, but Greens a “force to be reckoned with”
9:30pm: With a CLP landslide incoming, Red Centre Greens are celebrating their strong showing in polls too - with one candidate calling them “an absolute force to be reckoned with”.
With Braitling Greens candidate Asta Hill polling higher than Labor’s candidate Alison Bitar, there was a sense of elation at the party headquarters in Alice Springs.
But it was mixed with a sense of dejection, at what Ms Hill called an incoming “neoconservative government”.
“The heaviness I’m feeling is in relation to the CLP result, and that is so entirely separate to the Greens result tonight,” she said.
“What we have done, this election, is absolutely incredible, and I’m feeling so proud tonight.
“I’m like reconciling these really conflicting emotions of devastation for the fact that we’re going to have to live under a neoconservative government, against the fact that the territory is showing an absolute readiness to support the greens and elect the greens.”
Meanwhile at the CLP camp, south of Alice Springs, Josh Burgoyne was already looking to the future.
“I think what’s really important from here on out is just to continue to get out there in the electorate like I have been for the last four years, continue to represent the good people of Braitling, and continue to deliver on what we have promised, which is a safer territory for everyone,” he said.
Bill Yan: Greens swing a ‘wake up’ call for Labor
“Serious backlash” against Labor is the culmination of four years of work, according to one incumbent CLP MLA.
Speaking from the makeshift party headquarters at the Alice Springs Brewing Co, incumbent CLP Namatjira MLA Bill Yan said the greens polling ahead of Labor was a “wake up call”.
“I think there’s a serious backlash against Labor from what we’re seeing at the polls, from what I’ve seen so far, most of my polling is that the Greens have outpolled Labor in most respects,” he said.
“So that’s a wake up call for Labor, and I think it’s going to be very hard for them to come back from.”
Lawler concedes, Finocchiaro to be new chief minister
8:50pm: Chief Minister Eva Lawler has conceded the election.
Ms Lawler, who will be unable to hold her seat against CLP challenger Clinton Howe, addressed the party faithful at Labor HQ at about 8.30pm.
“I told Lia what an absolute privilege it is to be a chief minister and I have conceded, but there will still be some seats that need to be decided,” she said.
“This is truly a tough night for Labor.
“It wasn’t the result we wanted to see, but I think some of the decisions were made a long time ago.”
Ms Lawler said some of her government’s highlights included sealing the Tanami Hwy, building the Palmerston District Hospital, securing a funding deal to fund NT schools to 100 per cent of the school resourcing standard, and funding 200 new police officers for the Territory.
She promised Labor would work hard in opposition to hold the CLP government to account and improve the lives of Territorians.
“When we’re in opposition we are not going to be running the NT down,” she said.
“We love the Territory. We will be constructive.”
The ‘we’, however, did not include her.
“I’ve lost my seat,” Ms Lawler said.
Right from the moment the first numbers dropped just after 7pm, Territory Labor has looked like it was headed for a bloodbath, with a Territory-wide swing of 11.4 per cent on two-party preferred.
Some seats have featured swings to the CLP of up to 20 per cent or more.
Ms Finocchiaro is yet to deliver her victory speech.
Sky calls election for CLP after just 140 minutes of vote counting
8.30pm: Sky News has called the election for the CLP after early counting indicated an 11.4 per cent two-party preferred swing towards the centre-right party.
According to Sky, 10 seats are already certain for the CLP, with commentators increasingly confident the CLP will be able to govern in its own right, although this remains up in the air.
Former deputy Chief Minister, Nicole Manison, told Sky there would be a lot of “grieving and mourning”.
“The people of the NT have spoken tonight and we’re going to have to listen very deeply to what we’ve been told,” she said.
Ms Manison congratulated Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro, who was famously one of just two CLP members left in the Legislative Assembly after the 2016 election.
“She’s run a very disciplined, tight campaign,” she said.
Northern Territory CLP Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said she thought Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s failed Voice referendum helped turn voters away from Territory Labor.
“I think certainly Prime Minister Albanese and what he’s done in Australia had a hand in the NT election,” she said.
Lawler being blown out of the water in Drysdale
8.12pm: Chief Minister Eva Lawler is in the fight of her political life to save her seat of Drysdale, with her CLP competitor securing more than double her first preference votes with just under one third of the votes counted.
According to figures published by the NTEC at 7.56pm, Clinton Howe had secured 1095 first preferences against Ms Lawler’s 542.
Independent Cindy Mebbingarri Roberts had secured 204 votes.
The margin between Mr Howe and Ms Lawler is currently so great that even if all Ms Roberts’ preferences flowed to the chief minister, she would not prevail.
Speaking before the release of Drysdale’s early results, federal Solomon MP Luke Gosling said he didn’t believe Ms Lawler, who he rated highly for her pro-development credentials, had received enough time to right the party’s listing ship.
“[With] only nine months of the Lawler government, it was difficult for them to change the public’s perception and lived reality.”
Labor hopes fading in seat it needs to pick up
7.49pm: Territory Labor’s hopes are fast fading that it will pick up Barkly, which was a must-win seat for the party if it had a snowflake’s chance of squeaking into minority government.
As at 7.30pm, CLP member Steve Edgington had secured 557 votes to Labor candidate Lizzie Hogan’s 443.
Labor strategists had eyed off Barkly and Namatjira (held by Bill Yan on a margin of 0.3 per cent) as possible gains to offset expected losses, particularly in Darwin’s northern suburbs, but outgoing Wanguri MLA Nicole Manison told Sky News that Barkly already looked out of reach.
“To be in the race for government we have to have Barkly, and it’s not looking too good in that regard,” she said.
“To see how it’s falling right now, it’s hard to watch.”
Early estimates point to just 65 per cent voter turnout: NTEC
7.45pm: Northern Territory Electoral Commissioner Kirsten Kelly says early data indicates just 65 per cent of enrolled Territorians turned out to vote.
“We’ve had 20,000 Territorians pass their vote on election day, which is quite similar to the 2020 election,” Ms Kelly said, speaking from the Eaton vote counting centre after polls closed.
“At the moment we’re looking at a participation rate of around over 65 per cent.
“In 2020 the voter turnout was just under 75 per cent, so it is a lesser number but we now have more people on the electoral roll - over 12,000 more people on the electoral roll than we did in 2020.”
She said about 61,000 people participated in early voting across the NT, about 1000 more than last election.
Remote polling turnout was down by about 700 votes from 2020.
BY THE NUMBERS: Votes as at 7.30pm on election night
7.30pm: The CLP is leading six seats, Territory Labor in three and the Greens in one.
ALP’s Manuel Brown is leading in Arafura with 398 votes compared to the CLP candidate’s 215.
In Braitling, incumbent Josh Burgoyne of the CLP is leading on 236 votes ahead of Asta Hill for the Greens on 136 and Labor’s Allison Bitar on just 38 votes.
CLP incumbent Marie-Clare Boothby is leading in Brennan on 252 votes compared to Labor candidates Tony Sievers with 88.
The Greens have taken a strong lead in Fannie Bay with candidate Suki Dorras-Walker on 300 votes ahead of the CLPs Laurie Zio on 255 and Brent Potter for Labor on 234.
In Gwoja, Chansey Paech for Labor is leading with 247 votes ahead of the CLP on 118.
In Karama, Labor incumbent Ngaree Ah Kit is in trouble with CLP candidate Brian O’Gallagher ahead by a fair margin with 447 votes compared to her 255, while independent Justine Glover is in third with 157.
In Namatjira, Bill Yan for the CLP is up with 68 votes ahead of Greens candidate Blair McFarland on 26 and Labor hopeful Sheralee Taylor on 23.
Nelson MLA Gerard Maley is likely to retain his seat with a strong lead of 306 compared to Independent Beverley Ratahi on 74 and Labor’s Anthony Venes on 49.
CLP leader Lia Finocchiaro is romping it home in Spillet with 278 votes compared to Labor’s Caleb Burke.
It’s a tighter race in Sanderson, where Labor’s Kate Worden has a slight lead of 262 ahead of the CLPs Jinson Charles on 242.
LATEST ON THE NUMBERS: CLP leading the way, Manison ‘concerned’
7.13pm: NT Labor Senator Malandirri McCarthy says she “thinks we are doing okay” as early voting counts flow through.
“I’m quite comfortable and (at) this point, that we are doing okay,” she said.
“Especially in the early counting in the seat of Daly … I think, I think we are doing okay.”
She said she believed it was a tight race but it was “marvellous we are even here talking about the fact that we are so tight in maintaining government”.
“We are so tight that we could just get over the line … (and it's a) reminder of just how much Eva Lawler as our Chief Minister has fought to bring Labor (to) this position,” she said.
“You (Eva) are an absolute legend to turn your party around … we are fighting back and you should be incredibly proud of that.”
Early voting figures indicate in the seat of FANNIE BAY, Greens candidate Suki Dorras-Walker has secured 300 votes, CLP candidate Laurie Zio follows closely behind at 255 while Police Minister Brent Potter lags at 234.
Nicole Manison said she was “very concerned” and that Ms McCarthy said she was “hearing different numbers”.
“It can be a bit chaotic ... you’re trying to get data and watch TV screens … but now those official numbers are coming gin from the Electorial Commission … I am a concerned Labor Party member.”
Insurance prices out of control in the NT: Liddle
7.03pm: Liberal Senator Kerrynne Liddle has claimed home and contents insurance is $1000 dearer in the Northern Territory than the rest of Australia.
Speaking from Alice Springs, Ms Liddle said the CLP were “working hard to improve the situation” for the embattled town, which has seen spikes of intense violence leading to two snap curfews being called in an attempt to quell crime in the past five months.
She questioned whether the Greens would work in Alice Springs.
“We need stability in the Northern Territory … The Closing The Gap indicators are going in the wrong direction … There is a problem with the Northern Territory – there is absolutely a problem with the Labor government and there needs to be change here.”
‘We’ve done the work’: Manison hits out at ‘activism’ hindering NT economy ahead of ‘surge’
6:36pm: Senator Price says the Country Liberal Party may reap the results of candidates who have been “going hard” with campaigning and doorknocking ahead of the election.
Speaking to Kieran Gilbert and a panel including outgoing Labor MLA Nicole Manison on Sky News, Ms Price acknowledged the seats of Fong Lim and Port Darwin were looking particularly tight.
“We are looking at Fong Lim with a margin of 2.1 per cent and Port Darwin with a margin of 2.1 per cent – I think they are absolutely in play for the CLP,” she said.
“CLP candidates have been doorknocking quite regularly – going hard.
“This is the election to win for the CLP – of the back that people are most concerned with crime – I think we are quietly confident, but we will wait and see.”
Off the topic of crime, which has been a cornerstone in the CLP’s campaign messaging – Mr Gilbert asked Ms Manison if she believed Labor could pull through in terms of a promising economic move for the NT.
“This one (election) seems like a really good one, economically, things are about to shift,” Mr Gilbert said.
Ms Manison said the 2024 election was the “complete opposite” of what she experienced in 2016.
“We are about to see a huge economic surge in the Northern Territory,” she said.
Federal Labor this week announced approvals for the embattled SunCable project.
“Another issue (is) activists in the Northern Territory (are) constantly (trying) to derail sensible developments in the Northern Territory – like Middle Arm,” she said.
“When I see some of these senate reports come in (such as Middle Arm) … it’s a joke,” she said.
“We have really well regulated industries in the Northern Territory, strong environmental protections. We do these things to the highest of standards.
“They’re good for Territorians and they’re good for this nation. When I have people from inner-city Melbourne and Sydney making their way up to the Northern Territory (and telling us what to do) – it drives me absolutely insane.
“People want to see what is good for the Territory, we have done the hard work in the environmental space, in the water space … Any colleagues of mine who have had an issue with this, they have come on the journey and are … now very supportive.”
‘Got to listen to your constituents’: Action for Alice founder
6.29: Action for Alice anti-crime Facebook group founder and Red Centre business owner has said there are “glimmers of hope” as counting of votes begins.
Mr Clarke, speaking live on Sky News on Saturday evening as the polls closed acknowledged the wins of Chief Minister Eva Lawler.
“Eva Lawler is probably on the wrong side of politics, she’s come in hard and had a crack and you gotta tip your hat to the lady,” he said.
“Lia (Finocchiaro) has come out with the CLP (messaging of) extra prisons and extra police – well it’s going to take a while before any extra prisons are out here, and take a while before we get any extra police … There may be some green soots here tonight, it’s a bit early to call yet – but a glimmer of hope is there.”
Mr Clarke said whoever claimed government had to “listen to the people” and their concerns.
“You have to listen to your constituents because they don’t lie; they tell you the truth and they’re concerned,” he said.
“Because what is happening in Alice Springs in the last six years is an absolute disgrace.”
Manison, Price live on Sky News
6.16pm: Outgoing Labor MLA Nicole Manison and Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price are speaking on Sky News as polls close across the Territory.
Ms Price told Kieran Gilbert that she estimated a minority government would befall the Territory.
Ms Manison said she believed it would be a “big challenge” to get “faith back” in Labor and get that third term.
“Will it be enough for the CLP to get those 13 seats?,” she said.
“I’m seeing this as a very tight contest tonight, there are so many possibilities, the way things can go this election – particularly with the independents.”
She said Chief Minister Eva Lawler was “what you see, what you get” as a leader.
“I think Eva done a tremendous job since taking over as Chief Minister – people want to see confidence in decision (making) and that is what she has done.
“(Eva is) not someone who sits in the background and listens to people’s personal ideologies, she asks what is best for the NT – and that is exactly what she goes about.
“People says she is very refreshing, her leadership style and (how she makes) tough decisions – those are people who I would classify as swing voters …”
CLP ready to drive the Territory forward: Finocchiaro
5:24pm: Country Liberal Party leader Lia Finocchiaro says she is feeling “good” and ready to “deliver a better Territory” ahead of polls closing in less than an hour.
Speaking at the Sacred Heart Primary School voting centre in Woodroffe, Mrs Finocchiaro said voters were telling her they felt concerned about crime, cost of living, and the economy going backwards.
“That’s something we’ve really made sure we’ve responded to with our policy platform,” she said.
“We continue to push Territorians to know that Labor have had their chance – 19 of the last 23 years – Labor could have made the Territory a better place and they haven’t.
“We really believe the CLP can drive the Territory forward for the better.
She said the record number of early voters had made this a quieter election day than usual, but she had been taking “every opportunity to make sure Territorians understand how important the choice is”.
“I also just want to thank Territorians for the opportunity to serve them. It’s a privilege to be a member of parliament and serve your community, and so no matter the outcome tonight, I know my team and the CLP are really proud to be able to give this choice to Territorians.”
Chief Minister: ‘Vibe’ at Palmerston school polling station ‘positive’
5.18pm: Chief Minister Eva Lawler darted between Palmerston and the northern suburbs to touch base with her colleagues and party faithful, but spent the majority of the day at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School in Woodroffe.
“I’ve been here most of the day, it’s been good,” she said.
“You don’t get to talk to a lot of people though, it’s a bit hard to get a read, but it’s been a nice and really lovely day.”
Ms Lawler dedicated the remaining couple of hours of the voting window in the same space as her opposite, Lia Finocchiaro, who opted to greet and sway voters at the same location.
Ms Lawler, however, said “the vibe” was positive.
“It’s been a nice feel here,” she said.
“Everybody’s been really positive and happy everywhere I’ve gone and it’s the same here.”
While the day was “hot and sweaty”, Ms Lawler said she still had work to do and looked forward to sitting down with her supporters Saturday evening, regardless of the result.
“We’ve got a great group of people who have given up lots of their own time so I want to thank those people – (that’s) my number one thing,” she said.
Labor ‘quietly confident’ in Leanyer
5pm: Labor candidate Shlok Sharma says he’s feeling “quietly confident” for the seat of Wanguri – and keen for a couple of cold ones when the polls close on a “long election slog”.
“We’re quietly confident that we’ll get over the line, but overwhelmingly, it’s been a feeling of politeness, collegiality, people are just keen to get their ballot and go and vote,” he said from Leanyer Primary School.
“We’ve had a great day, it’s been quieter than usual but we live in a wonderful community.
“My volunteers have carried me for the last few weeks. I would be nowhere without them, and the only reason why I’m in with a chance is because of them.”
Marion Scrymgour: NTEC needs to ‘step up’ election communication out bush
4.20pm: A federal member has been floating around Alice Springs on election day, who says the Territory’s Electoral Commission needs to “step up” its election communication with communities out bush.
Labor Lingiari MHR Marion Scrymgour said she’s been traversing her electorate – from the Top End Tiwi Islands to the southern parts of the Territory – where she said not many communities were aware an election was on.
“Before the election, I spent a couple of weeks up in the Top End, because my seat covers everything except Darwin,” she said.
“There’s been very little information that’s been out to people that an election is going to be on.
“We’ve said to people there’s going to be an election on this day, there’ll be mobile polling starting on this day.
“We’ve got to get better information and communication, particularly from the Electoral Commission.
“I think they’re the ones that need to step up here, because political parties shouldn’t be involved in that.”
Rumblings of the Red Centre turning green?
4.20pm: An election day Red Centre earthquake has left a minor party hopeful it translates into a larger movement of support for them.
The NT Greens have been campaigning in Alice Springs for the seats of Braitling, Araluen, and Namatjira.
NT Greens Braitling candidate Asta Hills said the Alice Springs election day earthquake could be a sign.
“I hope that is an auspicious sign for the territory because we desperately need it here,” she said.
“So many people I’m speaking to are really keen for change.”
NT Greens Namatjira candidate Blair McFarland held a similar position.
“The Earth moved for us all, and there’ll be change,” he said.
“Ominous signs” and doughnut runs: Bill Yan and his Kiwi postie bike
4.11pm: While most candidates have been parked up out the front of voting centres, one candidate has taken a different approach today.
Incumbent CLP Namatjira MLA Bill Yan has been out and about in Alice Springs on his electric motorbike election day, getting drinks and doughnuts for his volunteers.
“So of all things, it’s a New Zealand postie bike, funnily enough,” he said.
Mr Yan said he’d been riding into town on a “bacon and egg” run on Saturday morning when a magnitude three earthquake wobbled Alice Springs this morning.
Speaking on the election day earthquake, Mr Yan said it’s an “ominous sign”.
“It’s like having a thunderstorm or something like that,” he said.
“It’s always an ominous sign.”
Seats to watch
3:47pm: A party needs 13 seats to win a majority government in the Northern Territory.
Labor currently holds 14, the Country Liberal’s seven, and independents four to make up the 25 seat NT parliament.
Political expert Rolf Gerritsen predicted the CLP would win between 14 and 12 seats, forming either a majority or minority government.
Key seats to watch include Port Darwin, Wanguri and Goyder – the three electorates without incumbent members in the race.
Chief Minister Eva Lawler’s seat of Drysdale is also in question and would be a significant win for the CLP.
The bush seat of Daly is another Labor seat tipped to change hands.
For detailed analysis, plus every candidate’s top priorities see the NT News’ election guides:
> Guide to inner Darwin: Port Darwin, Fong Lim and Fannie Bay
> Guide to Palmerston: Blain, Brennan, Drysdale and Spillett
> Guide to the Rural Area: Barkly, Daly, Goyder, Katherine and Nelson
> Guide to Alice Springs: Namatjira, Braitling and Araluen
> Guide to Darwin’s northern suburbs: Casuarina, Karama, Nightcliff, Johnston, Sanderson and Wanguri
Will we get a result tonight?
3:08pm: If the election is a tight race, there’s a chance Territorians will go to bed without knowing the outcome.
Vote counts will begin at 6pm when polls close, and continue until 11pm on Saturday.
Winners and losers for most of the seats should be known by then.
Last year several seats were decided by less than 100 votes – and if key electorates are extremely close it could mean waiting for a definitive result of who will form the next government.
Remaining counts will resume at 10am on Sunday.
Greens get their party on at Parap Primary
3.00pm: At Parap Primary School, voters were greeted by a multitude of dancing Greens supporters, bringing their best moves to the streets despite the cruel heat overhead.
Greens candidate for Fannie Bay Suki Dorras-Walker said the exuberance was in line with the party’s principles.
“We are people powered, we don’t run on corporate donations, we have a shoestring budget and so we rely on people’s time and energy to get ourselves across the line.”
Ms Dorras-Walker said she sensed the momentum had shifted within Fannie Bay, currently held by Police Minister Brent Potter.
“We’ve been speaking with people who are voting Greens for the first time, ready for change and wanting to see integrity back in Parliament,” she said.
“There are voters who want a party that isn’t on the dime of corporate donations and a party that speaks on behalf of the community.”
In the red stall next door, Mr Potter was engaged in deep discussion with voters, taking his time to talk through issues such as energy, crime and economy.
Country Liberal Party candidate for Fong Lim Tanzil Rahman was also on-site, encouraging voters to consider his party’s vision for the Territory.
Burgoyne: the winds of change are here
2:53pm: The CLP’s Braitling incumbent Joshua Burgoyne says the winds of change have arrived to the Red Centre on the Territory’s big day.
Stationed at the Braitling Primary School voting centre, Mr Burgoyne said the word on the ground was people wanted change.
“From what I’m hearing a lot of people in Alice Springs are hoping for change,” Mr Burgoyne said.
“People have had enough of their homes being broken into.
“They’ve had enough of being affected by crime, and they want to see that real change, and that’s what we’re offering.”
Mr Burgoyne also added he didn’t feel this morning’s earthquake in the Red Centre – despite being “up since 3.30am”.
Wadeye polling booth closed
2:14pm: The mobile polling booth at Wadeye was shut down for one of four days of polling due to a death in the community.
The Northern Territory’s biggest Aboriginal community was due to have a voting centre open from Tuesday to Friday this week.
However the NT Electoral Commission has revealed that Wadeye’s voting centre was suddenly cancelled on Thursday morning at the community’s request.
The cancellation could disadvantage incumbent MLA Dheran Young at the polls, who enjoys stronger support in the southern part of his Daly electorate.
Lia Finocchiaro fronts cameras on election day
1:50pm: In Woodroffe, opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro and CLP candidate for Drysdale Clinton Howe met with voters and even pitched in with barbecue duties.
Ms Finocchiaro told the media that Territorians were on the cusp of a “turning point”.
“Labor have been power for 19 of the last 23 years and life isn’t better,” she said.
“We know that Territorians can’t afford another four years of Labor and we’re asking Territorians to get out and vote today, vote for a change of government, and the only way to change the government is to vote CLP.”
Asked if independent candidates posed a threat to the CLP, Ms Finocchiaro said she expected a “difficult” election.
“We’re taking nothing for granted, the CLP will be out working incredibly hard until 6pm tonight to make sure every single Territorian understands how important their vote is,” she said.
“The choice they have can change the Territory for the better.”
‘It could be an omen’: Earthquake rumbles Red Centre on election day
12.39pm: An earthquake in Red Centre was news to punters on election day – with one claiming he was “laying on the ground and felt nothing”.
Geoscience Australia reported a magnitude three earthquake wobbled Alice Springs at 9.47am on election day.
With a depth of 10km, Cheeky Chandler said “we were laying on the ground and everything at the time and didn’t feel nothing”.
Meanwhile, a volunteer at Blatherskite park voting centre said “the dogs didn’t even wake up”.
“Three’s not even a wobble,” he said.
But to Victorian tourist Peter, an earthquake on election day could signal something bigger.
“It could be an omen,” he said.
Education Minister predicts ‘long day of quiet’, unlike past elections
12.03pm: With just hours left until the next Territory government is determined, Territorians are filing through the booths to cast their votes.
In Darwin city, the queues were short at the Darwin Entertainment Centre, where volunteers and candidates outnumbered voters.
Member for Fong Lim Mark Monaghan said the slow day was unlike previous elections.
“(Today) may be a long day of quiet, peaceful solitude, which is unlike the days gone past where people enjoyed running the gauntlet and having their democracy sausage and that’s all sort of past now,” Mr Monaghan said.
“The great thing though is that people get to come out and make a decision and that’s great for democracy.”
The latest data from the NT Electoral Commission showed that by close of business on Friday, almost 83,000 Territorians had lodged an early vote – more than half the number of Territorians enrolled.
Asked if voters had approached Mr Monaghan with questions, the Education Minister said there had been little engagement from the public.
“They’ve not asked any questions to be perfectly honest,” he said.
“I think people who come out now at this time pretty much know how they’re going to vote.”
A few feet away, Country Liberal Party candidate for Port Darwin Robyn Cahill said the site had been “civilised” throughout the morning.
“It’s been good, people have been positive and willing to chat,” she said.
Greens candidate for Fong Lim Simon Niblock said he was not surprised by the slow tide of voters.
“Pre poll numbers have been really high so it is a bit quieter today,” he said.
“We’re probably catching the last 40 per cent or so of people today.”
Regardless of today’s result, Mr Niblock said he would celebrate the campaign alongside his fellow party members.
“We’ll celebrate the campaign down at the bowls club.”
STAY INFORMED: PRE-ELECTION COVERAGE
10am: As punters head to cast their votes, catch up on the pre-election coverage you need to know.
- How husband’s cancer diagnosis pushed Eva Lawler into politics
- SNAP POLL: Psychic croc Speckles predicts who will win election
- NT election guide: Rural seats to watch
- NT election guide: What to expect in Darwin’s northern suburbs
- NT election guide: What to expect in the bush seats
- NT minister booted from pre-polling station
- CLP blows Labor away financially with 85 per cent rise in donations
More Coverage
Originally published as NT decides: Northern Territory election 2024 live, rolling coverage
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