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NT set to head to the polls

Posted August 9, 2008 00:30:00
Updated August 9, 2008 00:42:00

There are 25 seats in NT - Labor holds 19, the CLP has four, and the remaining two seats are held by Independents.

There are 25 seats in NT - Labor holds 19, the CLP has four, and the remaining two seats are held by Independents.

People across the Northern Territory are heading to the ballot boxes today to elect a new government.

Labor are strong favourites to return to power, but the ABC's election analyst Antony Green is predicting a swing towards the Country Liberals (CLP).

There are 25 seats in NT - Labor holds 19, the CLP has four, and the remaining two seats are held by Independents.

But Mr Green says the CLP does need to pick up some extra seats in today's poll to ensure that it remains viable.

He says if the CLP cannot make up ground the situation could get even worse.

"If they do badly at this election there may well be an outbreak of a central Australian party and that would threaten the CLP," he said.

During the three-week election campaign an e-mail was accidentally sent to the media saying the party was short of funds and the CLP leader, Terry Mills, has described the election a David-versus-Goliath battle.

But Mr Mills says he is happy with his campaign.

"I don't count chickens before they've hatched ... I just focus on crossing that line," he said.

"My focus has been on delivering good honest leadership and making sure that we've presented a clear alternative to Territorians and I believe we've done that."

Bookmakers have Labor as the likely victors, with more than 99 per cent of punters putting money on an ALP win.

But the Northern Territory's Chief Minister Paul Henderson says nothing is certain.

"What we've seen in the last three Territory elections is that there can be massive swings out there," he said.

"It has happened in the Northern Territory.

"A handful of votes in a handful of seats will determine the outcome of this election and I'm fighting very hard to hold each and every of the 19 seats we have."

Sporting candidates

Labor has three former Northern Territory sporting talents running as candidates in three marginal seats, with former local cricketing great Ken Vowles aiming to oust Mr Mills from his seat of Blain.

Mr Henderson says Vowles can provide the icing on the 2008 election cake.

"Kenny Vowles ... is doing a magnificent job in Blain," he said.

"He's working really hard, he's out on the doors.

"He's a born and bred Territorian who's well known in Palmerston."

But Mr Mills says he is confident he will keep his seat.

"Nine years serving that community and 10 years working at a Palmerston community as a school principal, they know who I am," he said.

Other sporting personalities running for Labor are Mining and Fishing Minister Chris Natt, a former Australian Rules Football player, and former basketball player Matthew Bonson, who is locked in a tight contest with former federal Coalition senator Dave Tollner in the new seat of Fong Lim.

The NT election is the first since the Rudd Government won power.

Tags: government-and-politics, states-and-territories, australia, nt, darwin-0800

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