A general election was held in the Northern Territory, Australia on Saturday 3 December 1983. The result was a landslide victory for the incumbent Country Liberal Party (CLP) under Chief Minister Paul Everingham over the Australian Labor Party (ALP) opposition under Opposition leader Bob Collins.
For this election, the size of the assembly was increased from 19 to 25.
The only independent of the Legislative Assembly, Dawn Lawrie, lost her seat of Nightcliff at this election to the CLP.
Retiring MPs
CLP Les MacFarlane MLA (Elsey)
Results
↓ 19 6 CLP Labor
Candidates
Sitting members are listed in bold. Successful candidates are highlighted in the relevant colour. Where there is possible confusion, an asterisk is used.
Electorate Held by Labor CLP Other Arafura New Bob Collins Robert Woodward Kevin Doolan (Dem)Araluen New Allen Joy Jim Robertson Goff Letts (Ind)Arnhem Labor Wes Lanhupuy David AmosDavid Daniels Klaus Rogers (Dem)Barkly CLP Charles Hallett Ian Tuxworth Berrimah New Colin Young Barry Coulter Braitling New Ross Kerridge Roger Vale Casuarina CLP Lionel Crompton Nick Dondas Elsey CLP Trevor Surplice Roger Steele James Forscutt (Ind)Fannie Bay Labor Pam O'Neil Marshall Perron Gerald Luck (Ind)Flynn New Peter Hughes Ray Hanrahan Pamela Gardiner (Ind)Jingili CLP Martin Jacob Paul Everingham Koolpinyah New Robert Wesley-Smith Noel Padgham-Purich Murray Leeder (Dem)Michael Sanderson (Ind)Leanyer New John Waters Mick Palmer Ludmilla CLP Allan O'Neil Col Firmin Macdonnell Labor Neil Bell Ian McKinlay Ted Hampton (Dem)Millner Labor Terry Smith Lorraine Palfy Christopher Fenner (Ind)Nhulunbuy Labor Dan Leo Kevin Graetz Nightcliff Independent Colin Dyer Stephen Hatton Dawn Lawrie (Ind)Port Darwin CLP Russel Kearney Tom Harris Sadadeen New Morgan Flint Denis Collins Sanderson Labor June D'Rozario Daryl Manzie Stuart CLP Brian Ede Bobby Liddle Victoria River Labor Dennis Bree Terry McCarthy*Ronald Wright Jack Doolan (Ind)Maurie Ryan (Dem)Wagaman New Brian Reid Fred Finch Wanguri New Pat Burke Don Dale Edward Miller (Ind)
Post-election pendulum The following pendulum is known as the Mackerras pendulum, invented by psephologist Malcolm Mackerras. The pendulum works by lining up all of the seats held in the Legislative Assembly according to the percentage point margin they are held by on a two-party-preferred basis. This is also known as the swing required for the seat to change hands. Given a uniform swing to the opposition or government parties, the number of seats that change hands can be predicted.
Country Liberal seatsMarginalSandersonDaryl ManzieCLP4.8Fairly safeNightcliffStephen HattonCLP7.9 v INDLudmillaCol FirminCLP8.2Fannie BayMarshall PerronCLP9.8SafeBarklyIan TuxworthCLP10.3WagamanFred FinchCLP11.1WanguriDon DaleCLP11.4Victoria RiverTerry McCarthyCLP15.2CasuarinaNick DondasCLP15.4ElseyRoger SteeleCLP15.8LeanyerMick PalmerCLP15.9AraluenJim RobertsonCLP16.2 v INDPort DarwinTom HarrisCLP18.6BerrimahBarry CoulterCLP18.7FlynnRay HanrahanCLP19.2Very safeKoolpinyahNoel Padgham-PurichCLP20.1SadadeenDenis CollinsCLP20.5JingiliPaul EveringhamCLP21.8BraitlingRoger ValeCLP27.8
Labor seatsMarginalNhulunbuyDan LeoALP1.2MillnerTerry SmithALP4.4Fairly safeArnhemWes LanhupuyALP8.6MacdonnellNeil BellALP8.9SafeArafuraBob CollinsALP11.7StuartBrian EdeALP14.3
References