The incoming Northern Territory Parliament could create Australian history as it shapes up to welcome a record number of female members.

Since 1987 – when not a single woman was elected as a member of the NT Parliament – the territory featured 11 female members in the previous 25-seat Legislative Assembly.

As of Sunday night, with 19 seats decided, the NT Parliament already included 10 women MLAs. 

Female candidates could yet win three of the six seats that are still too close to call, which would give the NT the first majority female parliament of any Australian state or territory.

Labor claimed a landslide victory over the Country Liberal Party (CLP) on Saturday to oust the Adam Giles-led government after just one term – the NT’s first ever one-term government.

Mr Giles told the ABC he had to put on a “shiny face and pearly whites” despite knowing the CLP would lose the election.

“Well I knew it was coming – I’m a realist,” he said.

“You’ve got to put on a shiny face with the pearly whites sticking out there, but we knew it was coming.”

Bloodshed and pain

Mr Giles has already forewarned “bloodshed and pain for some people” ahead of an overhaul of the CLP.

Former chief minister Adam Giles warns of a tough CLP rebuilding. Photo: AAP

Mr Giles said his greatest challenge had been holding his tongue when he wanted to speak out.

“One of my greatest challenges has always been seeking to rise above it – whenever there has been a sh*tstorm, to rise above it.

“The amount of times I would have loved to have spoken out and said what I really thought … maybe I should have spoken out and said what I really thought.

“But I always try to maintain a professional approach, but there’s only so many bits of muck that can go on before people have a gut full.”

The former chief minister would not be drawn on which incidents he would have liked to publicly comment on, and instead joked he may write a book.

“But my career is starting, not ending. So, what’s that saying? ‘Be careful about the arse you kick today might be the one you’ve got to kiss tomorrow?'”

Let’s hear it for the girls

Re-elected Labor MLA Nicole Manison said the high representation of women in the new Parliament shows that Labor is inclusive and “not all talk”.

“I thoroughly believe your parliament should be a reflection of your population,” she told AAP.

“I think we’re setting a great example … it’s ultimately going to lead to better decision-making around policy and around the performance of government.”

Speaker Kezia Purick has also been re-elected, now independent after winning the last election with the CLP. 

Speaker Kezia Purick has been re-elected, this time as an independent. Photo: AAP

Four female MLAs left the former government to become independent, as well as a former chief minister, a former party president, and the Mayor of Katherine, citing a toxic boys’ club culture within the CLP.

Ms Purick said higher female representation wouldn’t change political debate in substance but it would be a stylistic shift.

“This is what the public saw: boofy boys who just rabbited on and just alienated women and men… it was a style that wasn’t in step with contemporary standards,” she said of her former colleagues.

“You won’t get the tall, robust men yelling across the chamber – I’m not saying women can’t yell, they do – but you’ll actually get a different style of debate.”


The NT Electoral Commission will resume counting votes on Monday.

Incoming Labor government to ‘hit the ground running’

Michael Gunner celebrates on election night after his landslide win. Photo: AAP

The counting of results will continue on Monday, but ABC election analyst Antony Green predicted Labor would form government holding between 15–18 of the 25 seats in the Northern Territory Parliament.

On Sunday morning, the new chief minister-designate Michael Gunner outlined his first priorities for the incoming government – namely, to hold a meeting with the Department of Chief Minister and the Treasury, as well as a number of peak bodies.

Chief among them, Mr Gunner said he would be seeking a brief on the future of the now-infamous Don Dale youth detention centre.

“I will be seeking a meeting with the corrections commissioner and the CEO of Justice and the Aboriginal organisations and the NT Council of Social Services to be briefed on Don Dale [and] the welfare of the kids,” Mr Gunner said.

He added he would seek an update on outstanding legal issues.

Mr Gunner said he would not be naming a treasurer until his full Cabinet was named in about 10 days’ time, nor would they deliver a mini-budget ahead of the full budget.

“In my opinion – and I’ve said this consistently – I think it’s critical that we don’t apply a handbrake … and I think a mini-budget would do that,” he said.

“We think that we can bring our plans in through that transition phase, without affecting, interrupting the delicate business situation we currently have in the Northern Territory.”

Is that a mic drop from labor leader @fanniebay after decisive election win? #ntvotes @abcnewsNT pic.twitter.com/6La4k4W2LO

— James Oaten (@james_oaten) August 27, 2016

Re-elected Member for Wanguri Nicole Manison said one of the election points of difference between the CLP and Labor had been fracking.

“It’s a real issue of concern for many Territorians out there, and we took a moratorium position on this,” she said.

“From that we’re going to sit down and make a decision about whether or not fracking is banned in the Northern Territory, or if it is allowed – in what highly regulated way would it be allowed.”