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Counting resumes in tight NT election race

Vote counting has resumed in the knife-edge Northern Territory election, with incumbent Labor hoping to it can form a majority government.

Aug 24, 2020, updated Aug 24, 2020
NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner. (Photo: ABC)

NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner. (Photo: ABC)

The three-way race, which includes the County Liberal Party and newcomers Territory Alliance, is the first major political test of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner told supporters he was “very confident Labor will form the next government” following Saturday’s poll. But the battle is close with the CLP clawing back valuable votes during Sunday’s count of about 4000 postal votes.

The final result is expected to come down to a handful of key seats, including Arnhem, Barkly, Brennan, Braitling, Daly, Katherine and Namatjira.

Labor is ahead on primary votes in Arnhem and Katherine but the electoral commission has not provided a two-party preferred count, saying they will be recounted on Monday.

The party was also ahead of the CLP in Barkly by 102 votes, two-party preferred, when counting ended on Sunday.

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The race is tighter in Daly and Namatjira, where the CLP led Labor by seven and 25 votes respectively on a two-party preferred basis.

Gunner’s team is on track to take at least 12 seats in the 25-seat assembly but Labor scrutineers expect 13 seats will be secured, delivering a majority.

Labor won 18 seats in the 2016 poll. A formal declaration of the poll is not scheduled until September 7, three days after postal votes close.

-AAP

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