# Results of the 1997 Northern Territory general election

Northern Territory general election, 30 August 1997 Legislative Assembly
<< 1994–2001 >> :
| Enrolled voters | Enrolled voters | 101,886 | | | | |
| Votes cast | Votes cast | 80,479 | | Turnout | 79.0 | –1.7% |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 4,161 | | Informal | 5.0% | +1.2% |
| Summary of votes by party |||||||
| Party | Party | Primary votes | % | Swing | Seats | Change |
| | Country Liberal | 41,722 | 54.7% | +2.8% | 18 | +1 |
| | Labor | 29,365 | 38.5% | -2.9% | 7 | ±0 |
| | Independent | 4,327 | 5.7% | –1.0% | 0 | –1 |
| | Democrats | 484 | 0.6% | +0.6% | 0 | ± 0 |
| | Greens | 420 | 0.6% | +0.6% | 0 | ± 0 |
| Total | Total | 76,318 | | | 25 | |
| Two-party-preferred |||||||
| | Country Liberal | | 57.9% | +1.6 | | |
| | Labor | | 42.1% | –1.6 | | |
This is a list of electoral division results for the Northern Territory 1997 General Election in Australia.

## Results by electoral division
### Arafura

1997 Northern Territory general election: Arafura :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Maurice Rioli | 1,552 | 59.0 | -1.7 |
| | Country Liberal | Jacob Nayinggul | 1,078 | 41.0 | +25.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 2,630 | 93.3 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 188 | 6.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,818 | 66.7 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -19.0 | |

### Araluen

1997 Northern Territory general election: Araluen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Country Liberal | Eric Poole | 2,065 | 69.2 | -0.9 |
| | Labor | Lilliah McCulloch | 919 | 30.8 | +0.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 2,984 | 93.1 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 223 | 6.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,207 | 84.1 | |
| | Country Liberal hold | Country Liberal hold | Swing | -0.9 | |

### Arnhem

1997 Northern Territory general election: Arnhem :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Jack Ah Kit | 1,037 | 43.9 | -30.6 |
| | Country Liberal | Alan Wright | 841 | 35.6 | +10.1 |
| | Independent | Lance Lawrence | 277 | 11.7 | +11.7 |
| | Greens | Thomas Maywundjiwuy | 208 | 8.8 | +8.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 2,363 | 92.0 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 207 | 8.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,570 | 62.8 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Jack Ah Kit | 1,365 | 57.8 | -16.7 |
| | Country Liberal | Alan Wright | 998 | 42.2 | +16.7 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -16.7 | |

### Barkly

1997 Northern Territory general election: Barkly :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Maggie Hickey | 1,591 | 56.8 | +11.3 |
| | Country Liberal | Mark John | 1,118 | 39.9 | -6.2 |
| | Independent | Barry Nattrass | 93 | 3.3 | +3.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 2,802 | 94.8 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 153 | 5.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,955 | 74.4 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Maggie Hickey | 1,625 | 58.0 | +6.0 |
| | Country Liberal | Mark John | 1,177 | 42.0 | -6.0 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +6.0 | |

### Blain

1997 Northern Territory general election: Blain :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Country Liberal | Barry Coulter | 2,491 | 73.8 | +14.7 |
| | Labor | Richard Bawden | 884 | 26.2 | -8.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,375 | 92.9 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 257 | 7.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,632 | 88.8 | |
| | Country Liberal hold | Country Liberal hold | Swing | +11.8 | |

### Braitling

1997 Northern Territory general election: Braitling :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Country Liberal | Loraine Braham | 1,870 | 66.4 | -4.5 |
| | Labor | Peter Brooke | 947 | 33.6 | +4.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 2,817 | 93.1 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 208 | 6.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,025 | 79.8 | |
| | Country Liberal hold | Country Liberal hold | Swing | -4.5 | |

### Brennan

1997 Northern Territory general election: Brennan :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Country Liberal | Denis Burke | 2,747 | 74.3 | +21.9 |
| | Labor | Stephen Bennett | 950 | 25.7 | -8.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,697 | 94.3 | −2.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 222 | 5.7 | +2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,919 | 86.7 | |
| | Country Liberal hold | Country Liberal hold | Swing | +13.3 | |

### Casuarina

1997 Northern Territory general election: Casuarina :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Country Liberal | Peter Adamson | 1,828 | 56.7 | +1.3 |
| | Labor | Douglas McLeod | 1,226 | 38.0 | -6.6 |
| | Independent | Timothy Stewart | 169 | 5.2 | +5.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,223 | 96.0 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 134 | 4.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,357 | 82.1 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Country Liberal | Peter Adamson | 1,866 | 57.9 | +3.0 |
| | Labor | Douglas McLeod | 1,357 | 42.1 | -3.0 |
| | Country Liberal hold | Country Liberal hold | Swing | +3.0 | |

### Drysdale

1997 Northern Territory general election: Drysdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Country Liberal | Stephen Dunham | 1,844 | 57.0 | -3.1 |
| | Labor | Paul Nieuwenhoven | 908 | 28.0 | -11.9 |
| | Democrats | Stuart Edwards | 484 | 14.9 | +14.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,236 | 95.5 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 154 | 4.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,390 | 85.8 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Country Liberal | Sephen Dunham | 2,048 | 63.3 | +3.0 |
| | Labor | Paul Nieuwenhoven | 1,188 | 36.7 | -3.0 |
| | Country Liberal hold | Country Liberal hold | Swing | +3.0 | |

### Fannie Bay

1997 Northern Territory general election: Fannie Bay :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Clare Martin | 1,782 | 53.0 | +10.9 |
| | Country Liberal | Michael Kilgariff | 1,582 | 47.0 | -10.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,364 | 95.7 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 150 | 4.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,514 | 84.1 | |
| | Labor gain from Country Liberal | Labor gain from Country Liberal | Swing | +10.9 | |

### Goyder

1997 Northern Territory general election: Goyder :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Country Liberal | Terry McCarthy | 1,845 | 59.4 | +5.7 |
| | Labor | Wayne Connop | 1,070 | 34.4 | +3.0 |
| | Independent | Strider | 191 | 6.1 | +6.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,106 | 95.9 | −1.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 134 | 4.1 | +1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,240 | 83.0 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Country Liberal | Terry McCarthy | 1,915 | 61.7 | +1.0 |
| | Labor | Wayne Connop | 1,191 | 38.3 | -1.0 |
| | Country Liberal hold | Country Liberal hold | Swing | +1.0 | |

### Greatorex

1997 Northern Territory general election: Greatorex :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Country Liberal | Richard Lim | 1,853 | 60.5 | +16.6 |
| | Labor | Peter Kavanagh | 1,211 | 39.5 | +10.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,231 | 94.8 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 167 | 5.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,398 | 89.7 | |
| | Country Liberal hold | Country Liberal hold | Swing | -1.8 | |

### Jingili

1997 Northern Territory general election: Jingili :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Country Liberal | Steve Balch | 1,570 | 50.9 | -3.4 |
| | Labor | Catherine Phillips | 1,093 | 35.4 | -10.3 |
| | Independent | Stephen Barnes | 310 | 10.0 | +10.0 |
| | Independent | Ross Forday | 110 | 3.6 | +3.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,083 | 96.1 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 124 | 3.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,207 | 84.4 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Country Liberal | Steve Balch | 1,748 | 56.7 | +2.7 |
| | Labor | Catherine Phillips | 1,335 | 43.3 | -2.7 |
| | Country Liberal hold | Country Liberal hold | Swing | +2.7 | |

### Karama

1997 Northern Territory general election: Karama :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Country Liberal | Mick Palmer | 1,811 | 51.7 | +0.9 |
| | Labor | John Tobin | 1,692 | 48.3 | +4.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,503 | 95.8 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 154 | 4.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,657 | 85.5 | |
| | Country Liberal hold | Country Liberal hold | Swing | -1.3 | |

### Katherine

1997 Northern Territory general election: Katherine :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Country Liberal | Mike Reed | 1,984 | 69.6 | -1.0 |
| | Labor | Michael Pierce | 583 | 20.4 | -9.0 |
| | Independent | Peter Byers | 284 | 10.0 | +10.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 2,851 | 95.7 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 122 | 4.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,973 | 74.5 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Country Liberal | Mike Reed | 2,124 | 74.5 | +4.4 |
| | Labor | Michael Pierce | 727 | 25.5 | -4.4 |
| | Country Liberal hold | Country Liberal hold | Swing | +4.4 | |

### MacDonnell

1997 Northern Territory general election: MacDonnell :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Country Liberal | John Elferink | 945 | 36.1 | +2.0 |
| | Labor | Mark Wheeler | 906 | 34.6 | -31.3 |
| | Independent | Kenneth Lechleitner | 767 | 29.3 | +29.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 2,618 | 95.0 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 137 | 5.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,755 | 63.6 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Country Liberal | John Elferink | 1,383 | 52.8 | +18.7 |
| | Labor | Mark Wheeler | 1,235 | 47.2 | -18.7 |
| | Country Liberal gain from Labor | Country Liberal gain from Labor | Swing | +18.7 | |

### Millner

1997 Northern Territory general election: Millner :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Country Liberal | Phil Mitchell | 1,782 | 53.8 | +6.8 |
| | Labor | Peter O'Hagan | 1,133 | 34.2 | -8.2 |
| | Greens | June Mills | 212 | 6.4 | +6.4 |
| | Independent | Ian Mills | 187 | 5.6 | +5.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,314 | 94.8 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 183 | 5.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,497 | 78.2 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Country Liberal | Phil Mitchell | 1,945 | 58.7 | +7.8 |
| | Labor | Peter O'Hagan | 1,369 | 41.3 | -7.8 |
| | Country Liberal hold | Country Liberal hold | Swing | +7.8 | |

### Nelson

1997 Northern Territory general election: Nelson :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Country Liberal | Chris Lugg | 1,461 | 44.5 | +0.8 |
| | Independent | Dave Tollner | 1,174 | 35.8 | +35.8 |
| | Labor | Theresa Francis | 646 | 19.7 | -5.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,281 | 96.6 | −1.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 116 | 3.4 | +1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,397 | 87.8 | |
| Notional two-party-preferred count ||||||
| | Country Liberal | Chris Lugg | 2,122 | 64.7 | +7.8 |
| | Labor | Theresa Francis | 1,159 | 35.3 | -7.8 |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Country Liberal | Chris Lugg | 1,661 | 50.6 | +3.7 |
| | Independent | Dave Tollner | 1,620 | 49.4 | +49.4 |
| | Country Liberal gain from Independent | Country Liberal gain from Independent | Swing | +3.7 | |

### Nhulunbuy

1997 Northern Territory general election: Nhulunbuy :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Syd Stirling | 1,880 | 72.1 | +17.5 |
| | Country Liberal | Richard Davey | 728 | 27.9 | -17.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 2,608 | 93.9 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 170 | 6.1 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,778 | 66.9 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +17.5 | |

### Nightcliff

1997 Northern Territory general election: Nightcliff :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Country Liberal | Stephen Hatton | 1,792 | 49.1 | -7.2 |
| | Labor | Paul Henderson | 1,411 | 38.7 | +1.0 |
| | Independent | Betty McCleary | 360 | 9.9 | +9.9 |
| | Independent | Theo Katapodis | 84 | 2.3 | +2.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,647 | 97.0 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 114 | 3.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,761 | 87.3 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Country Liberal | Stephen Hatton | 1,991 | 54.6 | -4.4 |
| | Labor | Paul Henderson | 1,656 | 45.4 | +4.4 |
| | Country Liberal hold | Country Liberal hold | Swing | -4.4 | |

### Port Darwin

1997 Northern Territory general election: Port Darwin :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Country Liberal | Shane Stone | 2,083 | 64.5 | +4.3 |
| | Labor | Geoffrey Carter | 827 | 25.6 | -7.0 |
| | Independent | Lex Martin | 321 | 9.9 | +9.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,231 | 95.5 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 153 | 4.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,384 | 84.3 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Country Liberal | Shane Stone | 2,164 | 67.0 | +5.0 |
| | Labor | Geoffrey Carter | 1,067 | 33.0 | -5.0 |
| | Country Liberal hold | Country Liberal hold | Swing | +5.0 | |

### Sanderson

1997 Northern Territory general election: Sanderson :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Country Liberal | Daryl Manzie | 1,992 | 59.3 | +2.2 |
| | Labor | Michael Atkinson | 1,369 | 40.7 | -2.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,361 | 94.5 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 196 | 5.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,557 | 83.7 | |
| | Country Liberal hold | Country Liberal hold | Swing | +2.2 | |

### Stuart

1997 Northern Territory general election: Stuart :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Peter Toyne | 1,190 | 51.5 | -0.4 |
| | Country Liberal | John Bohning | 1,120 | 48.5 | +0.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 2,310 | 93.8 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 152 | 6.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,462 | 62.4 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -0.4 | |

### Victoria River

1997 Northern Territory general election: Victoria River :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Country Liberal | Tim Baldwin | 1,771 | 66.1 | +15.4 |
| | Labor | Paul La Fontaine | 909 | 33.9 | -8.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 2,680 | 93.3 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 193 | 6.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,873 | 69.0 | |
| | Country Liberal hold | Country Liberal hold | Swing | +12.1 | |

### Wanguri

1997 Northern Territory general election: Wanguri :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | John Bailey | 1,649 | 52.0 | +0.4 |
| | Country Liberal | Peter Styles | 1,521 | 48.0 | -0.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,170 | 95.5 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 150 | 4.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,320 | 85.1 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +0.4 | |