1977 Northern Territory general election

A general election was held in the Northern Territory on Saturday 13 August 1977. Though the election was won by the incumbent Country Liberal Party (CLP), the party lost five of its seven executive members. Surprisingly, one of the casualties was Majority Leader Goff Letts—one of the few instances where a major-party leader at any level in Australia lost his own seat. The election also marked the emergence of the Labor Party as a parliamentary force: Labor took six seats in the new assembly.

The Progress Party contested the elections, winning 9.76% of the primary vote across the territory, but failed to secure any assembly seats.

The Country Liberals chose Paul Everingham to succeed Letts as Majority Leader. Everingham appointed a new Executive, which included future Chief Ministers Marshall Perron and Ian Tuxworth. The following year, the Territory attained self-government. Everingham became Chief Minister, while his Executive became a Ministry with greatly expanded powers.

Independent Dawn Lawrie retained her seat of Nightcliff at this election, while Ron Withnall lost his seat of Port Darwin to the CLP.

Retiring MPs

CLP Eric Manuell MLA (Alice Springs) Hyacinth Tungutalum MLA (Tiwi)

Results

↓ 12 1 6 CLP Ind 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 Progress Other Alice Springs CLP Rosalie McDonald Rod Oliver Brian Evans Arnhem CLP Bob Collins Rupert Kentish Phillip Brain Barkly CLP Jean Havnen Ian Tuxworth Neville Andrews Margaret ConwayBilly FosterCasuarina CLP Dennis Bree Nick Dondas Robert Hoey Elsey CLP Les MacFarlane Deidre Killen Davis DanielsPatricia DaviesFannie Bay CLP Pam O'Neil Grant Tambling Edward Osgood William FisherGillen CLP John Thomas Jim Robertson Peter Johncock Jingili CLP Diana Rickard Paul Everingham David Cooper John McCormackGeorge TarasidisLudmilla CLP Christopher Draffin Roger Steele Terry Johnson Macdonnell CLP Neville Perkins Dave Pollock Mark Fidler Millner CLP Jon Isaacs Roger Ryan Elva Pearce Nhulunbuy CLP Denise Fincham Milton Ballantyne Jacob De Vries Nightcliff Independent Ronald Nobbs Uldis Blums Dawn LawriePort Darwin Independent Michael Scott Tom Harris Ian Smith Brian ManningRon WithnallSanderson CLP June D'Rozario Liz Andrew Geoffrey Bennett Kitty FischerHerbert SinclairStuart CLP Trevor Cutter Roger Vale Kenneth Kitto Stuart Park CLP Judith Muras Marshall Perron Kenneth Day Ernest ChinTiwi CLP Harry MaschkeBernard Tipiloura Noel Padgham-Purich*Cyril Rioli George Ryan Terrence O'BrienStriderVictoria River CLP Jack Doolan Goff Letts Frank Favaro

Seats changing hands

Seat Pre-1977 Swing Post-1977 Party Member Margin Margin Member Party Arnhem  Country Liberal Rupert Kentish 16.9 34.1 17.2 Bob Collins Labor  Fannie Bay  Country Liberal Grant Tambling N/A N/A 1.1 Pam O'Neil Labor  Macdonnell  Country Liberal Dave Pollock 7.9 20.8 13.8 Neville Perkins Labor  Millner  Country Liberal Roger Ryan 14.3 26.5 12.2 Jon Isaacs Labor  Port Darwin  Independent Ron Withnall 3.3 13.8 10.5 Tom Harris Country Liberal  Sanderson  Country Liberal Liz Andrew 6.5 14.8 8.3 June D'Rozario Labor  Victoria River  Country Liberal Goff Letts 19.7 23.4 3.7 Jack Doolan Labor 

References

See also Everingham Executive First Everingham Ministry Second Everingham Ministry Third Everingham Ministry Fourth Everingham Ministry