Sunday August 23

In a typically volatile Northern Territory election, the incumbent Labor Party has come home with a clear path to form Government, if not an outright majority.

With counting to resume today, Labor has won at least eleven of the thirteen seats it needs to govern in its own right, with six others still in play.

If Labor does not get to thirteen seats it will need to rely on the support of one or two of a number of independents. The results somewhat mirror the political City, Country divide that we see across Australia, with Labor doing well in inner Darwin and the Northern Suburbs and the opposition Country Liberal Party ahead in rural Darwin, Katherine, Palmerston and the Red Centre.

Whilst all parties were relatively quiet on policy around hunting during the election campaign, big game hunters have enjoyed a good relationship with the Gunner Government in its first term, with strong support for the NT Firearms Council’s Back Country Hunting Initiative.

The Australian Deer Association has also worked closely with Aboriginal Rangers for a number of years now through our Remote Area Hunter Education initiative and we are encouraged by the Gunner Government’s clear and ongoing commitment to grants for Aboriginal Ranger Groups.