2001 Northern Territory general election

A general election was held in the Northern Territory, Australia, on 18 August 2001. The centre-left Labor Party (ALP), led by Clare Martin, won a surprising victory over the Country Liberal Party (CLP).  Before this, the CLP had held 18 out the 25 seats in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly to the ALP's 7.  After this election, the ALP held the majority with 13 seats to the CLP's 10, consigning the CLP to opposition for the first time since the Territory gained responsible government.  Martin became Chief Minister, succeeding the CLP's Denis Burke.

While the CLP won a bare majority of the two-party vote, Labor picked up an unexpectedly large swing in the Darwin area.  Labor took all but one seat in the capital, including all seven seats in the northern part of the city.  Darwin's northern suburbs are somewhat more diverse than the rest of the city, and were on paper friendlier to Labor than the rest of the capital.  In the process, Labor unseated four sitting MLAs.  The result was not known for several days, in part due to a very close race in Millner between CLP incumbent Phil Mitchell and Labor challenger Matthew Bonson.  Ultimately, Bonson won by a knife-edge margin of 82 votes, allowing Labor to win government by one seat.

Two independents won seats at this election. Former CLP member Loraine Braham won the seat of Braitling and Gerry Wood won the seat of Nelson.

Retiring MPs

Labor
Maggie Hickey MLA (Barkly)
Maurice Rioli MLA (Arafura)

CLP
Stephen Hatton MLA (Nightcliff)
Daryl Manzie MLA (Sanderson)
Terry McCarthy MLA (Goyder)
Eric Poole MLA (Araluen)

Results

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Candidates

Sitting members are in bold. Successful candidates are highlighted in the relevant colour.

External links
Northern Territory Election 2001 Department of the Parliamentary Library

References 

Category:Elections in the Northern Territory
Category:2001 elections in Australia
Category:2000s in the Northern Territory
Category:August 2001 events in Oceania