2021 Northern Territory local elections explained

Country:Northern Territory
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Election Date:28 August 2021
Previous Election:2017 Northern Territory local elections
Previous Year:2017
Next Election:2025 Northern Territory local elections
Next Year:2025
Registered:139,105
Turnout:57.49%
Leader1:N/A
Party1:Independents
Seats1:115
Popular Vote1:64,818
Percentage1:87.22%
Leader2:Lia Finocchiaro
Party2:Country Liberal Party
Popular Vote2:2,937
Seats2:3
Percentage2:3.96%
Leader4:Michael Gunner
Party4:Australian Labor Party (Northern Territory Branch)
Seats4:2
Popular Vote4:4,044
Percentage4:5.44%
Leader5:No leader
Party5:Northern Territory Greens
Seats5:2
Popular Vote5:2,508
Percentage5:3.38%
Swing5:-->

The 2021 Northern Territory local elections were held on 28 August 2021 to elect the councils of the 17 local government areas (LGAs) in the Northern Territory, Australia. Six councils also held mayoral elections.[1] [2]

303 candidates contested the elections to fill a total of 159 council and mayoral positions. Two councils did not have enough nominations to fill all vacancies, causing supplementary elections to be held.[3]

A record number of voters were on the electoral roll, with an increase of more than 5,000 people compared to the 2017 elections. More than 25,000 people voted at an early voting centre.[4] [5]

Party changes before elections

A number of councillors joined or left parties before the 2021 elections.

Council Ward Councillor Former party New party Date
Alice SpringsUnsubdividedEli Melky Independent Country8 February 2019
Alice SpringsUnsubdividedMarli Banks Independent Country14 June 2019
Alice SpringsUnsubdividedCatherine Satour Independent Country14 June 2019
Alice SpringsUnsubdividedMatt Paterson Independent Territory Alliance11 May 2020
Alice SpringsUnsubdividedMatt Paterson Territory Alliance IndependentLate 2020
Alice SpringsUnsubdividedEli Melky Federation Independent20 August 2021

Results

Mayoral elections

Mayors in italics did not recontest their positions.

CouncilBeforeResult after preference distribution
MayorPartyPartyCandidate%Result
Alice SpringsDamien RyanCountry LiberalIndependentMatt Paterson50.01Independent gain
IndependentJimmy Cocking49.99
BarklySteve EdgingtonCountry LiberalIndependentJeffrey McLaughlin65.29Independent gain
IndependentHal Ruger34.71
DarwinKon VatskalisLaborLaborKon Vatskalis57.23Labor hold
IndependentAmye Un12.69
KatherineFay MillerCountry LiberalIndependentLis Clark53.89Independent gain
IndependentKevin South46.11
LitchfieldMaree BredhauerIndependentIndependentDoug Barden54.68Independent gain
IndependentMaree Bredhauer45.32
PalmerstonAthina Pascoe-BellIndependentIndependentAthina Pascoe-Bell73.99Independent hold
IndependentRyan Pettifer15.61

Council totals

CouncilSeats
IndependentsLaborCountry LiberalGreens
Alice Springs710
Barkly101
Belyuen5
Central Desert4
Coomalie4
Darwin8211
East Arnhem6
Katherine6
Litchfield6
MacDonnell6
Palmerston7
Roper Gulf11
Tiwi Islands111
Victoria Daly2
Wagait5
West Arnhem12
West Daly5

Aftermath

The Alice Springs mayoral election was decided by just two votes, the closest result that Northern Territory Electoral Commissioner Iain Loganathan said he had ever seen.[6] Unsuccessful candidate Jimmy Cocking requested a new recount, but it was rejected by the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal in October 2021.[7]

By-elections

CouncilWardBeforeChangeResult after preference distribution
CouncillorPartyCauseDateDatePartyCandidate%
CoomalieBatchelor Township20 November 2021 IndependentRichard Luxton60.00
 IndependentBill Baldwin26.15
Central DesertAkityarre10 February 2022 IndependentRosslyn CampbellN/A
 Elected unopposed
West DalyNganmarriyanga10 February 2022 IndependentTerry SamsN/A
 Elected unopposed
East ArnhemGumurr Gattjirrk17 February 2022 IndependentJoe DjakalaN/A
 Elected unopposed
East ArnhemGumurr Miyarkka17 February 2022 IndependentWesley Bandi Bandi WunungmurraN/A
 Elected unopposed
Roper GulfNumbulwar Numburindi17 February 2022 IndependentKathy-Anne NumamurdirdiN/A
 Elected unopposed
East ArnhemGumurr Miwatj7 July 2022 IndependentMarrpalawuy Marika61.74
 IndependentWesley Dhamarrandji18.79
East ArnhemAnindilyakwa22 July 2022 IndependentLionel JaragbaN/A
 Elected unopposed
East ArnhemGumurr Miyarkka22 July 2022 IndependentBobby WunungmurraN/A
 Elected unopposed
DarwinWatersJustine GloverIndependentResignation3 May 20227 July 2022 IndependentKim Farrar51.20
 Country LiberalGary Haslett24.45
Central DesertAnmatjere4 November 2022No nominations received
Alice SpringsUnsubdividedJimmy CockingIndependentResignation202229 October 2022 IndependentGavin Morris56.77
 Country LiberalSean Heenan43.23
West ArnhemGunbalanya18 March 2023 IndependentGabby Gumurdul70.80
 IndependentOwen Naborlhborlh29.20
BarklyAlyawarr6 April 2023 IndependentLucy JacksonN/A
 IndependentMark PetersonN/A
 Elected unopposed (two vacancies)
East ArnhemGumurr Miwatj5 May 2023 IndependentMarrpalawuy Marika76.90
 IndependentIneke Wallis23.10
BarklyPatta6 May 2023 IndependentElliot McAdam33.83
 IndependentSharon Lake25.30
MacDonnellRodinga19 May 2023 IndependentAndrew DavisN/A
 IndependentAloyiscois HayesN/A
 Elected unopposed (two vacancies)
Central DesertAnmatjereN/AN/ANo nominations received4 November 202216 June 2023 IndependentDavid McCormackN/A
 Elected unopposed
Central DesertSouthern Tanami16 June 2023 IndependentWarren WilliamsN/A
 Elected unopposed
MacDonnellLuritja Pintubi16 June 2023 IndependentTommy Jabanardi Conway58.90
 IndependentAmos Egan41.10
BelyuenUnsubdivided13 July 2023No nominations received
KatherineUnsubdivided15 July 2023 IndependentKerrie Mott27.39
 IndependentPeter McDougall27.28
Victoria DalyTimber Creek27 July 2023 IndependentDeborah JonesN/A
 Elected unopposed
Tiwi IslandsBathurst IslandPeter KantillaIndependentResignation forced after not attending council meetings22 February 20233 August 2023 IndependentJohn Ross PilakuiN/A
 Elected unopposed
Roper GulfNever Never1 September 2023No nominations received
DarwinLyonsPaul ArnoldIndependentResignation3 May 20232 September 2023 IndependentSam Weston53.03
 GreensSuki Dorras-Walker46.97
West ArnhemKakadu9 September 2023 IndependentMickitja Onus61.00
 IndependentCharlotte Meneer39.00
Tiwi IslandsBathurst Island28 September 2023 IndependentDeanne RioliN/A
 Elected unopposed
Roper GulfNever NeverN/AN/ANo nominations received 4 November 2022 9 September 2023 IndependentEdna Prescilla Iles56.93
 IndependentCecilia Lake43.07

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Results . Northern Territory Electoral Commission . https://web.archive.org/web/20240106122046/https://ntec.nt.gov.au/elections/past-elections/past-local-government-elections/2021-local-government-elections/results2 . 6 January 2024.
  2. Web site: Today is the NT local government election day. Here's everything you need to know to have your say . ABC News.
  3. Web site: 303 nominate for 2021 Local Government Elections . Northern Territory Electoral Commission.
  4. Web site: Record number of electors on roll for 2021 Local Government Elections . Northern Territory Electoral Commission.
  5. Web site: 25,000 Territorians have early voted . Northern Territory Electoral Commission.
  6. Web site: Two votes decide Alice Springs mayoral race . ABC News.
  7. Web site: NTCAT rejects Jimmy Cocking's bid for new recount of Alice Springs mayoral vote . ABC News.

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