Counting In Northern Territory Election Underway

7.00pm AEST - Polls have closed for elections to the 25 seats in the Northern Territory's Legislative Assembly. The Country-Liberal government led by Chief Minister Denis Burke, which has ruled continuously since self-government in 1974, is expected to be re-elected, although many commentators are predicting a swing to the ALP.

At the last election in 1997, the Country-Liberal Party polled 54.67% of the primary vote, compared to 38.48% for Territory Labor. Independent candidates polled 5.45%.

On a two-party-preferred basis, the CLP secured 57.8% to Labor's 42.2%.

At present, Labor holds 6 of its 7 seats in rural or outback areas. In all these seats Aborigines make up in excess of 50% of the voting population. The electorate of Arnhem has 86.9% Aboriginal population. Labor's other seat is in Darwin and is held by the party's leader, Clare Martin.

The CLP holds 12 seats in Darwin, all 4 seats in Alice Springs and Katherine, and 2 seats in outback areas, including one in the Top End.

Because the electorates only have around 2500 voters each, campaigning is different in the NT. It is possible for sitting members to personally speak to every constitutent. The highly transitory nature of the Territory population also works in favour of sitting members.

The issue of race is never far from the surface in Territory politics. The CLP government has campaigned on its economic development record, but also places a lot of emphasis on mandatory sentencing laws and its recent "anti social behaviour" laws. To most non-territorians, these laws are blatant attempts to ensnare the Aboriginal population, but they are apparently popular amongst CLP supporters. Law and order issues have featured prominently in the campaign.

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