2020 Northern Territory opposition leadership dispute

2020 Northern Territory
opposition leadership dispute
Part of 13th Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
Lia Finocchiaro and Terry Mills
Date18–24 March 2020
Resulted inCLP opposition status retained
Parties
Lead figures

The 2020 Northern Territory opposition leadership dispute occurred in March 2020 in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, the unicameral legislature of Australia’s Northern Territory (NT).[1]

Territory Alliance (TA) claimed to have become the official opposition after surpassing the Country Liberal Party (CLP) in parliamentary seat numbers.[2] However, no motion acknowledging a change was passed by the parliament, and the CLP retained its opposition status after a week-long dispute.[3]

This would have been the only time in the history of the Legislative Assembly that the title of opposition leader was not held by a member of the CLP or the Australian Labor Party (ALP).[4]

Background

2016 election

Main article: 2016 Northern Territory general election

The 2016 NT election resulted in a landslide victory for the Labor Party led by Michael Gunner, which won 18 out of 25 seats in parliament. The CLP, which came to power in 2012, was reduced to just two seats (Gary Higgins in Daly and Lia Finocchiaro in Spillett). Five independents were elected.

It was suggested that the independents would obtain opposition status, however the Office of the Clerk and the Solicitor-General of the NT stated that an alliance of independents "could not be recognised as an opposition because it could not form an alternative government".[5][6] Five days after the election, Higgins was announced as the new leader of the CLP, replacing Adam Giles (who lost his seat of Braitling).[7][8]

Opposition alliance bid

In February 2019, three independents – Terry Mills, Robyn Lambley and Yingiya Mark Guyula – established a formal alliance, seeking to become the official opposition.[9][10] The request was denied by Kezia Purick, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.[11][12]

Territory Alliance dispute

Mills established Territory Alliance (TA) on 31 August 2019.[13] On 10 March 2020, independent MLA Jeff Collins (who resigned from Labor in 2019) joined TA, giving the party two seats in parliament and bringing it level with the CLP.[14] Amid speculation that TA could become the official opposition, Lambley stated she would not join the party because "it doesn't resonate with my community", but would support Mills in a vote to become opposition leader.[15]

On 18 March 2020, Lambley joined Territory Alliance, giving the party a third seat which surpassed the CLP.[16] In a statement released at 3.42pm ACST the same day, Territory Alliance said it had been granted official opposition status by the Legislative Assembly.[17] According to Lambley, Legislative Assembly clerk Michael Tatham told her "you are the opposition" and the CLP would have to vacate the opposition leader's office.[17] Lia Finocchiaro, who replaced Higgins as CLP leader in February 2020, said she was "awaiting advice".[18]

Despite this, no motion acknowledging a change was passed by the parliament, with Finocchiaro continuing to be referred to as opposition leader in Hansard following Lambley's defection.[4] On 23 March 2020, the NT Parliament website named Mills as the leader of the opposition, Lambley as the deputy leader of the opposition, and Collins as the opposition whip.[19] Mills was also referred to as the opposition leader by Gunner and several media outlets.[4]

Mills presented a shadow cabinet on 24 March 2020, but Finocchiaro moved on the same day the office of opposition leader be declared vacant as it was "unclear" who the "official opposition" was, and that a secret ballot between the two be held to determine opposition status.[4] Finocchiaro won the ballot 5–3, with Labor MLAs not voting.[20] Independent MLA Gerry Wood publicly supported the CLP returning to opposition status.[21]

Aftermath

At the NT election held on 22 August 2020, Labor retained government with a reduced majority, while the CLP won eight seats.[22] Territory Alliance received 12.9% of the territory-wide vote but only won a single seat (Lambley in Araluen), with Mills and Collins both losing their seats.[23]

Lambley resigned from Territory Alliance on 21 October 2020, with the party dissolving before the end of the year.[24]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Up for grabs: Too close to call in the Northern Territory". Nexus APAC. 13 August 2020. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  2. ^ Green, Antony (12 August 2020). "Election Preview". ABC News. Archived from the original on 14 September 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  3. ^ Muller, Damon (11 November 2020). "The 2020 Northern Territory election: a quick guide". Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d "King Of Nothing For A Day: Did Terry Mills Return As NT Opposition Leader?". Dr Kevin Bonham. 25 March 2020. Archived from the original on 24 June 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  5. ^ Oaten, James (30 August 2016). "Independents won't be recognised as opposition in NT: official advice". ABC News. Archived from the original on 24 July 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  6. ^ Oaten, James; Terzon, Emilia (31 August 2016). "Explainer: How will a Northern Territory opposition be formed?". ABC News. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  7. ^ La Canna, Xavier (2 September 2016). "Gary Higgins becomes Country Liberals' new leader, Lia Finnochiaro his deputy". ABC News. Archived from the original on 14 January 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  8. ^ Oaten, James (9 September 2016). "NT election sees Adam Giles, former chief minister, lose seat of Braitling". ABC News. Archived from the original on 24 July 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  9. ^ Roberts, Greg (6 February 2019). "Gunner blocks independents' opposition bid". The Border Mail. Archived from the original on 21 November 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  10. ^ Purick, Kezia (18 February 2019). "The Role of a Speaker in Determining the Opposition" (PDF). Parliament of Queensland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 November 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  11. ^ Walsh, Christopher (5 February 2019). "NT Speaker blocks attempt to seize official opposition status from Country Liberal Party". ABC News. Archived from the original on 25 August 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  12. ^ "NT independents bid for opposition status". SBS News. 5 February 2019. Archived from the original on 21 November 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  13. ^ Sorensen, Hayley (31 August 2019). "Former NT chief minister Terry Mills to form new political party". The Daily Telegraph. NT News. Archived from the original on 20 November 2025. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  14. ^ James, Felicity (10 March 2020). "NT election 2020: Independent Jeff Collins joins Territory Alliance, ramping up threat to CLP". ABC News. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  15. ^ Vivian, Steve (11 March 2020). "NT Speaker Kezia Purick says she won't rule on who should be the Territory's political opposition". ABC News. Archived from the original on 25 August 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  16. ^ Roberts, Lauren (18 March 2020). "Territory Alliance claims opposition status from CLP after Robyn Lambley joins party". ABC News. Archived from the original on 3 May 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  17. ^ a b Mokrzycki, Alyce; Aisthorpe, Judith (18 March 2020). "Territory Alliance says it has taken NT Opposition status". The Daily Telegraph. NT News. Archived from the original on 21 November 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  18. ^ Koch, Ainsley (18 March 2020). "Territory Alliance now in opposition as Robyn Lambley joins party fold". 9News. Archived from the original on 21 November 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  19. ^ "Shadow Ministry - 13th Assembly". Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory. 23 March 2020. Archived from the original on 24 March 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  20. ^ Emeck, Natasha (25 March 2020). "CLP returned as NT Opposition in shock ballot". The Daily Telegraph. NT News. Archived from the original on 21 November 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  21. ^ Hind, Rick (25 March 2020). "NT opposition status switches back to Country Liberal Party from Territory Alliance in surprise vote". ABC News. Archived from the original on 30 April 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  22. ^ Vivian, Steve (25 August 2020). "NT Labor boosted by reclaiming its majority — but the election isn't over yet". ABC News. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  23. ^ "Northern Territory election: Terry Mills loses seat on devastating night for Territory Alliance". ABC News. 22 August 2020. Archived from the original on 3 May 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  24. ^ James, Felicity (21 October 2020). "Territory Alliance party ousts Robyn Lambley, leaving it with no seats in Parliament". ABC News. Archived from the original on 3 May 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
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