Michael Gunner 'very confident' Labor will retain government after NT election but CLP yet to concede - ABC News

Labor is set for a second term in office in the Northern Territory after securing enough seats to form at least a minority government, according to the ABC's projections.

Key points:

• Labor is likely to retain government in the Northern Territory
• Chief Minister Michael Gunner has been returned by voters in the seat of Fannie Bay
• Territory Alliance leader Terry Mills has lost his seat of Blain

ABC chief election analyst Antony Green says it is likely the party has won at least 12 seats, one shy of the 13 needed to form a majority government.

Labor Chief Minister Michael Gunner addressed a raucous crowd at the Labor Party's headquarters, telling supporters he was "very confident Labor would form the next government of the Northern Territory".

As supporters within the party room chanted "four more years", Mr Gunner said "Labor is in front on the votes, Labor is on front on the seats" and said the party was "not done winning seats yet".

Chief Minister Michael Gunner has been successful in his own seat, comfortably winning the Darwin electorate of Fannie Bay over high-profile candidate Tracey Hayes.

Michael Gunner arrives at the Labor Party's election HQ on Saturday night.(ABC News: Felicity James)

If it can only win a minority, Labor would need at least one of two independents, former speaker Kezia Purick and Yingiya Guyula in the electorate of Mulka, to agree to give Labor confidence and supply in Parliament.

Mr Gunner and the Labor party campaigned heavily on the party's response to coronavirus, making it the main issue on their re-election platform.

Labor MPs Nicole Manison, Paul Kirby and Lauren Moss celebrate at Labor Party headquarters on election night.(ABC News: Andie Smith)

Mr Gunner directed his speech at party headquarters shortly after 11:20pm to the coronavirus pandemic, saying his party would try to rebuild the Territory’s economy and "save lives".

"If we are fortunate to keep serving, we will work for you, for all Territorians, we won't just save job, we will create them," he said.

"We will keep rebuilding, building renewables to power our economy, infrastructure to strengthen the bush and better housing for those who need it. We will keep investing in schools."

Labor Party candidates are celebrating as it looks like the party will see four more years in power in the Northern Territory.(ABC News: Andie Smith)

Despite the projections, the CLP is refusing to concede defeat at this stage.

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CLP leader Lia Finocchiaro has not conceded defeat in the election

"There are still a lot of votes to count," said its leader Lia Finocchiario, whose party is projected to secure at least six seats, four more than it won at the last election.

Striking an upbeat tone at the CLP election headquarters, Ms Finocchario declared "the CLP is back" after the party's electoral wipe-out in 2016.

"We heard you when you said you wanted to live in safe communities, you want to be safe in your business, you want to be safe in your homes," she said.

The election campaign, which was billed as a three-horse race between Labor, the CLP and newly-minted party Territory Alliance

Territory Alliance, the party former CLP chief minister Terry Mills started in 2019 and said would act free of ideology and govern with common sense, has struggled to gain traction, with the party not predicted to win any seats at this stage in the count.

Terry Mills served as the CLP member for Blain from 1999 to 2014 before re-winning the seat as an independent in 2016.(ABC News: Eleni Roussos)

The new party failed to live up to its expectations, suffering the deflating blow of losing its leader Terry Mills in his seat of Blain, according to projections.

Mr Mills has not yet formally conceded the seat but told the ABC he could "see plainly what appears to be the case".

"It's something we couldn't have predicted, particularly as a young party — very difficult to campaign — and still I think we've given it a good shot."

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Territory Alliance leader Terry Mills says despite a bruising result, he's proud of what the party achieved.

CLP leader Lia Finocchiaro has been voted back in for a second term in the seat of Spillett.

"As a party, we have rebuilt and we have strengthened our resolve, because the Territory needs us," Ms Finocchiaro said speaking at the CLP's election headquarters.

Lia Finocchiaro addresses the CLP support base on election night.(ABC News: Michael Park)

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiamh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA4LTIyL250LWFiYy1wcm9qZWN0cy1sYWJvci1zZXQtdG8tcmV0YWluLWdvdmVybm1lbnQtbnQtZWxlY3Rpb24vMTI1ODYzNTbSASdodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTI1ODYzNTY?oc=5

2020-08-22 11:46:00Z
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