At the 2016 election, the one-term incumbent Country Liberal Party minority government, led by Chief Minister Adam Giles, was defeated by the Labor Party Opposition, led by Opposition Leader Michael Gunner. The CLP suffered the worst defeat of a sitting government in the history of the Territory, and one of the worst defeats of a sitting government in the history of Australia. It was the first time that a sitting Northern Territory government was defeated after only one term. From 11 seats at dissolution, the CLP suffered the worst election performance in its history, winning only two seats. Labor won 18 seats, in the process winning the third-largest majority government in Territory history. Independents won five seats. With only two members in the CLP caucus, Gary Higgins became opposition leader and CLP leader while Lia Finocchiaro became deputy CLP leader on 2 September. Although the independent MPs outnumbered the CLP MPs, on official advice the CLP was recognised as the official opposition. Additionally, Giles lost his seat of Braitling to Labor, making him only the second Chief Minister/Majority Leader to lose their seat at an election. Along with the seat of Katherine, the election represented the first time Labor had won a seat in Alice Springs or Katherine. With the overall result beyond doubt, Gunner had himself, Natasha Fyles, and Nicole Manisonsworn in as an interim three-person government on 31 August until the full Gunner Ministry could be sworn in on 12 September. The position of Speaker of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly has been held by CLP-turned-independent MP Kezia Purick since 23 October 2012. Despite Labor's massive majority following the 2016 election, the incoming Labor government re-appointed Purick as Speaker.
Background
In 2018, three sitting members of the Labor party were dismissed, with the members then sitting on the Crossbench as independents. Jeff Collins later joined Territory Alliance, Ken Vowles later resigned leading to the 2020 Johnston by-election, and Scott McConnell later announced that he would not contest the election in 2020. The 2020 Johnston by-election was a close contest between the Labor Party and the newly formed Territory Alliance, which resulted in Labor Party holding the seat by a 2.6% margin. In March 2020, Independents Robyn Lambley and Jeff Collins joined Territory Alliance, bringing their total number of seats to three. Party leader Terry Mills then claimed opposition status, with his party holding more seats than the two held by the CountryLiberal Party. CLP leader Lia Finocchiaro raised a motion under the chamber's standing orders which allowed the assembly to determine the opposition. The motion was carried, confirming the CLP as the official opposition.
Date
The parliament has fixed four-year terms, with elections to be held on the fourth Saturday of August every four years.
Redistribution
A boundary redistribution for electoral divisions in the Northern Territory commenced on 27 February 2019, with the boundary commission releasing its report of the final boundaries on 4 September 2019.
The seat of Gwoja will extend south to the South Australian border, taking what was the western half of Namatjira.
Namatjira will also gain electors from the town of Alice Springs, including the suburbs of Larapinta and Stuart, and parts of Araluen, Braitling, Mount Johns and Sadadeen. To compensate for the influx of Alice Springs electors, the boundaries of Namatjira will contract from the north transferring to Barkly and from the west, transferring into Gwoja.
Pendulum
Registered parties
Eight parties are currently registered with the Northern Territory Electoral Commission.
