Barkly – NT 2016

ALP 7.6%

Incumbent MP
Gerry McCarthy, since 2008.

Geography
Outback Northern Territory. Barkly covers a large part of the north-eastern outback, including Tennant Creek and Boroloola.

Redistribution
Minor changes to the northern, southern and western boundaries. Barkly also extended to the edge of the Katherine area at the north-western corner of the electorate.

History
The electorate of Barkly has existed since the first NT assembly election in 1974. The seat has been held by Labor since 1990.

The CLP’s Ian Tuxworth won Barkly at the first election in 1974. Tuxworth rose up through the CLP ranks and became chief minister in 1984. Tuxworth resigned as CLP leader and chief minister in 1986, and soon afterwards left the CLP to form the NT Nationals.

At the 1987 election, Tuxworth defeated independent candidate Maggie Hickey by only 19 votes, triggering a by-election, which he won against Hickey, now running for Labor.

A 1990 redistribution weakened Tuxworth’s position, and he unsuccessfully contested the neighbouring seat of Goyder instead. Barkly was won by Hickey.

Maggie Hickey went on to lead Labor from 1996 until 1999, and retired in 2001.

Hickey was succeeded by Elliot McAdam, who was a minister from 2005 to 2008, and retired at the 2008 election.

Labor’s Gerry McCarthy has held Barkly since 2008. McCarthy served as a minister in the Henderson government from 2009 to 2012, and now serves as Labor deputy leader.

Candidates

• Elliot McAdam (Independent)
• Tony Jack (Country Liberal)
• Jack Green (Independent)
• Gerry McCarthy (Labor)

Assessment
Labor’s Gerry McCarthy is in a strong position, as an incumbent MP in a year when Labor’s vote is expected to grow, but outback areas have swung by surprisingly large numbers in recent times, so one should avoid confidently predicting a Labor win.

2012 result

2012 two-party-preferred result

Booth breakdown
There are four booths in Barkly, with the largest number of votes cast at Tennant Creek. In addition, 30% of votes were cast at remote mobile booths, and 20% at pre-poll.

Labor won the two-party-preferred vote in three out of four booths, ranging from 56.8% in Tennant Creek to 78% in Boroloola, while the CLP narrowly won Elliott with 51%. Labor also won 58% of the mobile vote and 56% of the pre-poll vote.

The First Nations political party came third, with around 20% at Tennant Creek and Ali Curung and 10% in the mobile booths, but only 7% at Elliott and less than 1% in Boroloola.