December 5, 2023
Paul Henderson is the new Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, following this morning’s resignation by Clare Martin and her deputy, Syd Stirling.
Martin has been in office since August 2001 and was the first Labor leader to win a Northern Territory election.
Henderson has been Minister for Employment, Education and Training, amongst other portfolios.
Peter Beattie’s resignation as Queensland Premier will elevate South Australia’s Mike Rann to the position of longest-serving state premier. Rann was elected in March 2002.
The Northern Territory Chief Minister, Clare Martin, will become the longest-serving state or territory head of government, having been elected in August 2001. She just eclipses the ACT’s Jon Stanhope, elected in November 2001.
The retirements of Bob Carr (elected 1995), Steve Bracks (1999) and Beattie (1998) have resulted in the Labor governments which dominate the Australian states and territories moving to a second-generation of leaders.
Western Australian Premier Geoff Gallop (elected February 2001) resigned due to ill-health in January 2006. Tasmanian Premier Jim Bacon (elected September 1998) also resigned due to ill-health in February 2004.
Rann remains the last-elected and only original member of the clutch of Labor Premiers elected between 1995 and 2002.
John Howard remains the longest-serving head of government, having been Prime Minister since March 11, 1996.
This is audio of the press conference following the annual Council of Australian Governments meeting.
The press conference was chaired by Prime Minister John Howard. The other participants were the six State Premiers: Steve Bracks (Vic), Morris Iemma (NSW), Peter Beattie (Qld), Alan Carpenter (WA), Mike Rann (SA) and Paul Lennon (Tas). The Territory Chief Ministers were Jon Stanhope (ACT) and Clare Martin (NT).
This is the ministerial team announced by the new ALP Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, Clare Martin.
10.30pm – Clare Martin is on the verge of becoming the first Labor Party Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, following today’s election.
The ALP has a certain 12 seats, one short of an outright majority, with the final outcome hinging on the distribution of preferences in the seat of Millner.
The ALP has won 5 seats from the Country Liberal Party: Karama, Casuarina, Sanderson, Johnston and Nightcliff.
In addition to the 5 seats won by Labor, the CLP has also lost 2 seats to independents. The Alice Springs electorate of Braitling has been retained by the sitting member, Loraine Braham, who was disendorsed by the CLP. In Nelson, a Darwin electorate, the independent candidate, Gerry Wood, will win on Labor preferences.
The CLP primary vote has fallen 9% to 45.6%, whereas the Labor primary vote has risen 2.1% to 40.6%. One Nation has polled 1.3% and other candidates have polled 12.5%.