Australian Territory Elections, 2016

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Both of the Australian mainland territories have elections this year.

The first (and funniest) is the 27th August Northern Territory election. The present CLP NT government is one of the biggest farces you will ever see (so much so that I can't even begin to really cover it). After coming in to power with a historic swing against Labor by rural aboriginal voters, everything just ... fell apart immediately (there was a by-election almost immediately afterwards with a +12.4 swing towards the ALP.

They lost their first Chief Minister in less than a year, kicked off in a coup. The new CM Adam Giles, would narrowly avoid the same fate in a ludicrously botched coup himself. His government has been characterised by gaffes (homphobia, misogyny and general stupidity) from him and his senior ministers, by scandals that would be ludicrous in a parish council (like selling off the lease to the Chinese for a completely unspecified sum, a stream of leaks and backstabbing, insane instability at the top levels (there have been seven deputy chief ministers and at least 15 cabinet reshuffles), trying to impeach the Speaker (who is a hilarious person who openly bitches about federal politicians on social media) only to have the parliament immediately reelect her on the secret ballot, the defection of the aboriginal MP's to Palmer United, the defection of the party President, the loss of the majority due to further defections, slush fund allegations, the sacking of the police comissioner and an endless saga surrounding developments on Port Melville (and whether it legally is a port just because it's called "port". Right now its rising star Nathan Barret has been disgraced and kicked from the party for sending videos of himself masturbating to a constituent.

With that in mind, the Labor party under Michael Gunner should have no illusions that he won't be next Chief Minister. Various independents have reason to be cheerful as well. But the CLP itself is in a desperate battle for every single seat they have - there is some talk that it is the last election the (formerly dominant) party will ever contest under the name.

ACT election will be less fun though. The chamber is bigger than last election, with five five-member electorates. No idea who that helps.

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Yet another scandal, and it's quite an awful one involving the treatment of juvenile prisoners, has rocked the party. Giles' comments before he became CM about wishing to ignore Un regulations on prisons and throw them in a big hole mercilessly being dragged up by opposition.

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Poll:

AlP - 64
CLP - 36

Primary

Alp - 36
CLP - 26
Green - 6
1TP - 6
Other - 21

Interestingly Labor's primary vote hasn't changed at all since last election, but the Other category (including Greens and "1TP" (a CLP split) have blown up.

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Well there is one prominent independent running in Blain, the former seat of the ousted premier Terry Mills, and then home to now disgraced minister Barrett. The identity of this Indy? Why none other than Terry Mills himself, who is returning to politics with a grudge.

Also former Labor leader Delia Lawriee, who resigned from the party after deselection is standing in Karama.