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Labor Candidate Ed Smelt Wins Nightcliff By-election, Recapturing Seat

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Labor Reclaims Nightcliff: Ed Smelt Wins NT By-Election

Labor candidate Ed Smelt has won the Nightcliff by-election in the Northern Territory, officially confirmed by a check count from the Northern Territory Electoral Commission. The win returns the seat, historically a Labor stronghold, to the party after it was briefly held by the Greens.

After a hard-fought by-election, Labor's Ed Smelt has officially reclaimed the Nightcliff seat, returning the historically Labor stronghold to the party.

By-election Triggered by Greens Resignation

The by-election was prompted by the resignation of former Greens MLA Kat McNamara, who cited health reasons. The Nightcliff by-election was held for the electorate encompassing Darwin's northern suburbs, including Nightcliff, Rapid Creek, and parts of Coconut Grove. Ms. McNamara, who secured the Nightcliff seat in the 2024 Northern Territory election, was the first Greens member to win a seat in the territory parliament, taking the marginal seat from Labor by 36 votes. Nightcliff had been a Labor stronghold for 23 years prior to McNamara's 2024 victory. During her tenure, McNamara opposed certain government policies, including the Territory Coordinator position and new gas development.

The Contenders and Their Platforms

Four candidates contested the Nightcliff seat:

  • Greens: Suki Dorras-Walker, a former schoolteacher.
  • Independent: Phil Scott, an anti-fracking activist.
  • Labor: Ed Smelt, a civil engineer and two-term Darwin City Councillor.
  • Country Liberal Party (CLP): Anjan Paudel, a lawyer.

Throughout the campaign, community safety and environmental concerns were identified as prominent issues by candidates and voters.

Key Policy Stances:

  • Labor's Stance on Lee Point Development: Labor candidate Ed Smelt confirmed a shift in the party's position on the Defence Housing Australia (DHA) housing development at Lee Point. The party, which previously supported the project, now supports a moratorium on further works, citing community feedback. The development, planned for 800 homes across 131 hectares, has faced opposition from environmentalists and traditional owners. Mr. Smelt had previously supported a council motion in 2021 to halt construction.
  • Greens' Platform: Suki Dorras-Walker affirmed commitment to Greens' policies, including on crime, community safety, improved renter protections, and rent controls.
  • Independent Priorities: Phil Scott expressed intentions to advocate for a small business forum in Nightcliff to support local businesses and promote transparency in government spending.
  • Labor Candidate's Local Focus: Ed Smelt centered his campaign on local issues such as the repair of the Nightcliff jetty, the establishment of a community battery, improved health services, and stronger environmental protections.
  • Country Liberal Party (CLP) Position: The CLP supports the Lee Point development.

Campaign Funding and Voter Engagement

Disclosures by the NT Electoral Commission revealed over $100,000 in donations across the four candidates.

Funding Breakdown:

  • Greens: Received the most funding with over $43,000.
  • Labor: Followed with $31,000.
  • CLP: Secured $23,000.
  • Independent Phil Scott: Received over $12,000.

Notable donors to Labor candidate Ed Smelt included former Labor chief ministers Clare Martin, Paul Henderson, and Michael Gunner. Paspaley Pearling Co and KPMG made donations to the Country Liberal Party.

Voter Turnout:

Early voting for the by-election commenced by February 23. Voter turnout for the by-election was recorded at under 67%, which included 907 votes cast on election day, 2,657 early votes, and approximately 160 of 441 postal votes counted. This figure is lower than the 76.6% turnout observed in the 2024 Northern Territory election.

The Count: Preferences Pave the Way for Labor

Vote counting began on Saturday night, with a check count conducted by the Northern Territory Electoral Commission confirming the final outcome. Labor's Ed Smelt was confirmed as the winner, securing a lead of 158 votes over the Greens' Suki Dorras-Walker after the distribution of preferences.

Initial tallies indicated the Greens leading in first preferences. However, the preference flow ultimately favored Mr. Smelt. The Greens achieved 33 percent of the primary vote, while Labor's primary vote share was 29 percent, a decrease of four percent from the previous election. Mr. Smelt received 79 percent of the CLP's preferences and 41 percent of Independent Phil Scott's preferences, contributing significantly to his victory. In the 2024 election, the Greens had secured the seat with significant preferences from CLP voters directed to the Greens over Labor.

"Labor's Ed Smelt secured a 158-vote lead over the Greens' Suki Dorras-Walker after crucial preference flows."

Post-Election Reactions

Following the final count, Ed Smelt addressed Labor supporters, acknowledging his lead and thanking his campaign team. He attributed his positive reception to his experience on the Darwin City Council, his background as an engineer, his focus on local issues, and Labor's revised position on the Lee Point housing development.

Suki Dorras-Walker of the Greens expressed pride in her party's efforts during the campaign, stating that the Greens were influencing Labor's environmental policies. She cited the moratorium on Lee Point and scrutiny of the Middle Arm development as examples of this influence.