Editing Country Liberal Party (section)

==History==
===Origins===
A [[party system]] did not develop in the Northern Territory until the 1960s, due to its small population and lack of regular elections. The [[Australian Labor Party (Northern Territory Branch)|Australian Labor Party]] (ALP) contested elections as early as 1905, but rarely faced an organised opposition; anti-Labor candidates usually stood as [[Independent politician|independents]]. The regionalist [[North Australia Party]] (NAP), established by [[Alfred Lionel Rose|Lionel Rose]] for the [[1965 Northern Territory Legislative Council election|1965 Legislative Council election]], has been cited as a predecessor of the CLP.{{sfn|Heatley|1998|p=1}}

A Darwin branch of the [[Australian Country Party|Country Party]] was established on 20 July 1966, following by an Alice Springs branch on 29 July. The creation of the branches was spurred by the upcoming [[1966 Australian federal election|1966 federal election]] and the announcement by the Northern Territory's federal MP [[Jock Nelson]] that he would be retiring from politics. The Country Party achieved its first electoral success with the election of [[Sam Calder]] as Nelson's replacement.{{sfn|Heatley|1998|p=5}} It subsequently won four out of eleven seats at the [[1968 Northern Territory Legislative Council election|1968 Legislative Council election]]. A third branch of the party was established in [[Katherine, Northern Territory|Katherine]] in February 1971. The branches affiliated with the Federal Council of the Australian Country Party in July 1971, establishing a formal entity with a central council, executive and annual conference.{{sfn|Heatley|1998|p=6}} The party was formally named the "Australian Country Party – Northern Territory".<ref>{{cite book|title=Ninety Not Out: The Nationals 1920-2010|first=Paul|last=Davey|page=184|publisher=UNSW Press|isbn=9781742231662|year=2010}}</ref>

The Country Party primarily drew its support from Alice Springs, small towns, and the pastoral industry, including "a fair proportion of the non-urban Aboriginal vote".{{sfn|Heatley|1998|p=6}} The party did not have a strong presence in Darwin. A branch of the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party]], the Country Party's [[Coalition (Australia)|coalition partner]] at a federal level, had been established in Darwin in 1966, representing commercial interests and urban professionals. The Liberals fielded candidates at the 1968 Legislative Council elections, but by 1970 the local branch had ceased to function.{{sfn|Heatley|1998|p=7}} In 1973, the Country Party began actively working to include Liberal supporters within its organisation, spurred by the [[Whitlam government]]'s announcement of a fully elective [[Northern Territory Legislative Assembly]]. Following informal negotiations led by [[Goff Letts]], a joint committee was established to determine changes to the Country Party's constitution and policy.{{sfn|Heatley|1998|pp=7-8}} These were officially approved, along with the adoption of the name Country Liberal Party, at the party's annual conference in Alice Springs on 20 July 1974.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110720318|title=NT party renamed|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=22 July 1974}}</ref> Per its 2018 constitution, the party reckons 1974 as its founding date.<ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=https://ntec.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/556084/Constitution_CLP.pdf|title=Constitution of the Country Liberal Party of the Northern Territory|date=6 April 2018|version=13|publisher=Country Liberal Party|page=3|access-date=13 April 2022|archive-date=20 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320054648/https://ntec.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/556084/Constitution_CLP.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===1974–2001: Foundation and early dominance===
The [[Whitlam government]] passed legislation in 1974 to establish a fully elected [[unicameral]] [[Northern Territory Legislative Assembly]], replacing the previous partly elected Legislative Council, which had been in existence since 1947. The CLP won 17 out of 19 seats at [[1974 Northern Territory general election|the inaugural elections]] in October 1974, with independents holding the other two seats.{{sfn|Heatley|1998|p=10}} Goff Letts became the inaugural majority leader, a title changed to [[Chief Minister of the Northern Territory|chief minister]] after the granting of self-government in 1978. The CLP governed the Northern Territory from 1974 until the [[2001 Northern Territory general election|2001 election]]. During this time, it never faced more than nine opposition members. Indeed, the CLP's dominance was so absolute that its internal politics were seen as a bigger threat than any opposition party.<ref>[[Antony Green|Green, Antony]]. [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/nt/2005/guide/summary.htm 2005 election summary] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906125850/http://www.abc.net.au/elections/nt/2005/guide/summary.htm |date=6 September 2013 }}. [[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]], 2005-04-15.</ref> This was especially pronounced in the mid-1980s, when a series of party-room coups resulted in the Territory having three Chief Ministers during the 1983–87 term and also saw the creation of the [[Northern Territory Nationals]] as a short-lived splinter group under the leadership of former CLP chief minister [[Ian Tuxworth]]. According to ABC election analyst [[Antony Green]], the CLP weathered these severe ructions because Territory Labor was "unelectable" at the time.<ref>[[Antony Green|Green, Antony]]. [https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/nt/2024/guide/preview 2024 election preview]. [[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]], 2 August 2024.</ref>

The Whitlam government also passed legislation to give the Northern Territory and [[Australian Capital Territory]] (ACT) representation in the federal [[Australian Senate|Senate]], with each territory electing two senators. [[Bernie Kilgariff]] was elected as the CLP's first senator at the [[1975 Australian federal election|1975 federal election]], sitting alongside Sam Calder in the parliamentary National Country Party. On 3 February 1979 a special conference of the CLP resolved that "the Federal CLP Parliamentarians be permitted to sit in the Party Rooms of their choice in Canberra". Despite personal misgivings, Kilgariff chose to sit with the parliamentary Liberal Party from 8 March 1979 in order that the CLP have representation in both parties, a practice which has been maintained where possible.<ref>{{cite Au Senate |Sen id=kilgariff-bernard-francis |name=Kilgariff, Bernard Francis (1923–2010) |first=Paul |last=Davey |year=2017 |access-date=2022-11-30}}</ref>

===2001–2012: In opposition===
At the [[2001 Northern Territory general election|2001 election]], the Australian Labor Party won government by one seat, ending 27 years of CLP government.<ref name="parliament.curriculum.edu.au"/> The loss marked a major turning point in Northern Territory politics, a result which was exacerbated when, at the [[2005 Northern Territory general election|2005 election]], the ALP won the second-largest majority government in the history of the Territory, reducing the once-dominant party to just four members in the Legislative Assembly. This result was only outdone by the 1974 election, in which the CLP faced only two independents as opposition.  The CLP even lost two seats in [[Palmerston, Northern Territory|Palmerston]], an area where the ALP had never come close to winning any seats before.

In the [[2001 Australian federal election|2001 federal election]], the CLP won the newly formed seat of [[Division of Solomon|Solomon]], based on Darwin/Palmerston, in the House of Representatives.<ref name="Carlisle2005">{{cite book|editor=Rodney P. Carlisle|title=Encyclopedia of Politics: The Left and the Right|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofpo0000carl|url-access=registration|year=2005|publisher=SAGE Publications|isbn=978-1-4522-6531-5|page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofpo0000carl/page/535 535]}}</ref>
In the [[2004 Australian federal election|2004 federal election]], the CLP held one seat in the House of Representatives, and one seat in the Senate.<ref name="Lansford2014">{{cite book|editor=Tom Lansford|title=Political Handbook of the World 2014|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iC_VBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA80|year=2014|publisher=SAGE Publications|isbn=978-1-4833-8626-3|page=80}}</ref> The CLP lost its federal lower house seat in the [[2007 Australian federal election|2007 federal election]],<ref name="Lansford2014"/> but regained it when Palmerston deputy mayor [[Natasha Griggs]] won back Solomon for the CLP. She sat with the Liberals in the House.

The [[2008 Northern Territory general election|2008 election]] saw the CLP recover from the severe loss it suffered three years earlier, increasing its representation from four to 11 members. Following the 2011 decision of ALP-turned-independent member [[Alison Anderson]] to join the CLP, this increased CLP's representation to 12 in the Assembly, leaving the incumbent Henderson Government to govern in minority with the support of Independent MP [[Gerry Wood]].

Historically, the CLP has been particularly dominant in the Territory's two major cities, [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]]/Palmerston and [[Alice Springs]]. However, in recent years the ALP has pulled even with the CLP in the Darwin area; indeed, its 2001 victory was fueled by an unexpected swing in Darwin.

===2012–2016: Return to government and internal conflict===
{{main|2012 Northern Territory general election}}
The CLP under the leadership of [[Terry Mills (Australian politician)|Terry Mills]] returned to power in the [[2012 Northern Territory general election|2012 election]] with 16 of 25 seats,<ref>{{cite web|last=Green|first=Antony|title=Final Figures for 2012 Northern Territory Election|url=http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2012/09/northern-territory-election-updates.html|publisher=ABC|access-date=2 September 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110823032733/http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2012/09/northern-territory-election-updates.html|archive-date=23 August 2011}}</ref> defeating the incumbent Labor government led by [[Paul Henderson (politician)|Paul Henderson]]. In the lead up to the Territory election, CLP Senator [[Nigel Scullion]] sharply criticised the [[Gillard government|Federal Labor government]] for its suspension of the live cattle trade to Indonesia - an economic mainstay of the territory.<ref>{{cite web |author=Kristy O'Brien |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-12/politicians-link-suicides-to-cattle-export-ban/4256526 |title=Politicians link suicides to cattle export ban |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=2012-09-12 |access-date=2016-09-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031013826/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-12/politicians-link-suicides-to-cattle-export-ban/4256526 |archive-date=31 October 2016}}</ref>

The election victory ended 11 years of ALP rule in the Northern Territory. The victory was also notable for the support it achieved from [[indigenous Australians|indigenous people]] in pastoral and remote electorates. Large swings were achieved in remote Territory electorates (where the indigenous population comprised around two-thirds of voters) and a total of five Aboriginal CLP candidates won election to the Assembly.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/indigenous-vote-decided-outcome-in-the-territory/story-e6frgd0x-1226479040753 |title=Indigenous vote decided outcome in the Territory &#124; the Australian |access-date=2012-01-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922011057/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/indigenous-vote-decided-outcome-in-the-territory/story-e6frgd0x-1226479040753 |archive-date=22 September 2012}}</ref> Among the indigenous candidates elected were high-profile Aboriginal activist [[Bess Price]] and former ALP member [[Alison Anderson]]. Anderson was appointed Minister for Indigenous Advancement. In a nationally reported speech in November 2012, Anderson condemned welfare dependency and a culture of entitlement in her first ministerial statement on the status of Aboriginal communities in the Territory and said the CLP would focus on improving education and on helping create real jobs for indigenous people.<ref name="theaustralian.com.au">{{cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/my-people-must-grow-up-alison-anderson/story-fn9hm1pm-1226508746330|title=Subscribe to The Australian - Newspaper home delivery, website, iPad, iPhone & Android apps|website=The Australian|access-date=30 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202020706/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/my-people-must-grow-up-alison-anderson/story-fn9hm1pm-1226508746330|archive-date=2 December 2012}}</ref>

====Leadership spills====
{{main|2013 Country Liberal Party leadership spill|2015 Country Liberal Party leadership spill}}
[[Adam Giles]] replaced Mills as [[Chief Minister of the Northern Territory]] and party leader at the [[Country Liberal Party leadership spill, 2013|2013 CLP leadership ballot]] on 13 March while Mills was on a trade mission in Japan.<ref name="abc-millsdumped">{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-13/terry-mills-dumped-as-nt-leader/4570820|title=Mills dumped as Giles takes top Territory job|work=ABC News|date=13 March 2013|access-date=13 March 2013|location=Australia|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314212732/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-13/terry-mills-dumped-as-nt-leader/4570820|archive-date=14 March 2013}}</ref> Giles was sworn in as Chief Minister on 14 March, becoming the first indigenous head of government of an Australian state or territory.<ref name=abcam>{{cite news|last=Everingham|first=Sara|title=Indigenous politician Adam Giles to replace Terry Mills as NT Chief Minister|url=http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2013/s3715222.htm|access-date=14 March 2013|newspaper=[[AM (Australian radio series)|AM]] (ABC Radio)|location=Australia|date=14 March 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520234750/http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2013/s3715222.htm|archive-date=20 May 2013}}</ref><ref name="Giles denies plot">{{cite news|title=Giles denies plot to overthrow Mills|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-14/giles-denies-plot-to-overthrow-mills/4573472|access-date=14 March 2013|newspaper=ABC News|location=Australia|date=14 March 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314181228/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-14/giles-denies-plot-to-overthrow-mills/4573472|archive-date=14 March 2013}}</ref>

[[Willem Westra van Holthe]] challenged Giles at the [[Country Liberal Party leadership spill, 2015|2015 CLP leadership ballot]] on 2 February and was elected leader by the party room in a late night vote conducted by phone.<ref name="Adam Giles dumped as NT chief minister 3 Feb 15">{{cite news|last1=Dunlevie|first1=James|title=Adam Giles dumped as NT chief minister in late-night coup, Willem Westra van Holthe elected leader|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-03/adam-giles-replaced-as-northern-territory-chief-minister/6064564|access-date=3 February 2015|work=ABC News|location=Australia|date=3 February 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205042916/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-03/adam-giles-replaced-as-northern-territory-chief-minister/6064564|archive-date=5 February 2015}}</ref> However, Giles refused to resign as Chief Minister following the vote. On 3 February, ''[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]'' reported that officials were preparing an [[Statutory Instrument#Other countries|instrument]] for Giles' removal by the [[Administrator of the Northern Territory|Administrator]]. The swearing-in of Westra van Holthe, which had been scheduled for 11:00 local time (01:30 UTC), was delayed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-03/nt-chief-minister-giles-refuses-to-quit-after-leadership-coup/6065200|title=Northern Territory Chief Minister Adam Giles refuses to quit after being dumped in a late-night coup|work=ABC News|location=Australia|date=3 February 2015|access-date=14 February 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216011159/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-03/nt-chief-minister-giles-refuses-to-quit-after-leadership-coup/6065200|archive-date=16 February 2015}}</ref> After a meeting of the parliamentary wing of the CLP, Giles announced that he would remain as party leader and Chief Minister, and that Westra van Holthe would be his deputy.<ref name=sbsnews>{{cite news|title=Adam Giles remains NT chief minister|url=http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/02/03/adam-giles-remains-nt-chief-minister|access-date=3 February 2015|work=SBS News}}</ref>

====Defections and minority government====
{{see also|Members of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, 2012–2016}}
After four defections during the parliamentary term, the CLP was reduced to [[minority government]] by July 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-20/kezia-purick-quits-country-liberals-nt-government-loses-majority/6632916 |title=Kezia Purick quits Northern Territory Country Liberals party, Government loses one-seat majority |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=2015-07-20 |access-date=2016-09-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160902123227/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-20/kezia-purick-quits-country-liberals-nt-government-loses-majority/6632916 |archive-date=2 September 2016}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-20/adam-giles-wants-early-election-after-kezia-purick-leaves-clp/6634496 |title=Adam Giles would 'love to go to an early election' after Kezia Purick resigns Country Liberals party |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=2015-07-20 |access-date=2016-09-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160901175601/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-20/adam-giles-wants-early-election-after-kezia-purick-leaves-clp/6634496 |archive-date=1 September 2016}}</ref> Giles raised the possibility of an early election on 20 July stating that he would "love" to call a snap poll, but that it was "pretty much impossible to do". [[Crossbencher]]s dismissed the notion of voting against a [[confidence motion]] to bring down the government.<ref name="autogenerated2"/>

===2016–2024: In opposition===
{{further|2016 Northern Territory general election|2020 Northern Territory general election|2024 Northern Territory general election}}

Territory government legislation passed in February 2016 changed the voting method of [[single-member electorates]] from [[full-preferential voting]] to [[optional preferential voting]] ahead of the [[2016 Northern Territory general election|2016 territory election]] held on 27 August.<ref>{{cite web |author=Antony Green |url=http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2016/02/northern-territory-adopts-optional-preferential-voting-and-bans-campaigning-near-polling-places.html |title=Northern Territory Adopts Optional Preferential Voting and Bans Campaigning Near Polling Places |publisher=Blogs.abc.net.au |date=2016-02-11 |access-date=2016-09-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110823032733/http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2016/02/northern-territory-adopts-optional-preferential-voting-and-bans-campaigning-near-polling-places.html |archive-date=23 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Antony Green |url=http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2013/05/time-table-for-future-elections.html |title=Timetable for Future Elections |publisher=Blogs.abc.net.au |date=2013-05-27 |access-date=2016-09-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110823032733/http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2013/05/time-table-for-future-elections.html |archive-date=23 August 2011}}</ref>

Federally, a [[Opinion polling for the Australian federal election, 2016#Northern Territory|MediaReach seat-level opinion poll]] of 513 voters in the seat of [[Division of Solomon|Solomon]] conducted 22−23 June ahead of the [[2016 Australian federal election|2016 federal election]] held on 2 July surprisingly found Labor candidate [[Luke Gosling]] heavily leading two-term CLP incumbent [[Natasha Griggs]] 61–39 on the [[Two-party-preferred vote|two-party]] vote from a large 12.4 percent [[Swing (Australian politics)|swing]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/an-independent-poll-shows-solomon-mp-natasha-griggs-will-struggle-to-retain-her-seat-at-the-federal-election/news-story/187faae4f0bcbcbe0d2927227cec9b01 |title=An independent poll shows Solomon MP Natasha Griggs will struggle to retain her seat at the federal election |publisher=NT News |date=2016-06-27 |access-date=2016-09-09}}</ref> The CLP lost Solomon to Labor at the election, with Gosling defeating Griggs 56–44 on the two-party vote from a 7.4 percent swing.<ref>{{cite web |author=Australian Electoral Commission |url=http://vtr.aec.gov.au/HouseDivisionPage-20499-307.htm |title=Solomon, NT - Tally Room: Australian Electoral Commission |publisher=Vtr.aec.gov.au |access-date=2016-09-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812133624/http://vtr.aec.gov.au/HouseDivisionPage-20499-307.htm |archive-date=12 August 2016}}</ref>

Polling ahead of the [[2016 Northern Territory general election|2016 Territory election]] indicated a large swing against the CLP, including a near-total collapse in Darwin/Palmerston. By the time the writs were dropped, commentators had almost universally written off the CLP. At 27 August Territory election, the CLP was swept from power in a massive Labor landslide, suffering easily the worst defeat of a sitting government in Territory history and one of the worst defeats a governing party has ever suffered at the state or territory level in Australia.  The party not only lost all of the bush seats it picked up in 2012, but was all but shut out of Darwin/Palmerston, winning only one seat there.  All told, the CLP only won two seats, easily its worst showing in an election.  Giles himself lost his own seat, becoming the second Majority Leader/Chief Minister to lose his own seat.  Even before Giles' defeat was confirmed, second-term MP [[Gary Higgins]]—the only surviving member of the Giles cabinet—was named the party's new leader, with [[Lia Finocchiaro]] as his deputy.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-02/gary-higgins-becomes-country-liberals-new-leader-in-nt/7810772 | title=Gary Higgins becomes Country Liberals' new leader, Lia Finnochiaro his deputy | publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation| date=2 September 2016 | access-date=2 September 2016 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160903130953/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-02/gary-higgins-becomes-country-liberals-new-leader-in-nt/7810772 | archive-date=3 September 2016}}</ref> On 20 January 2020, Higgins announced his resignation as party leader and announced his retirement at the next election. Finocchiaro succeeded him as CLP leader and leader of the opposition on 1 February 2020.<ref name="Finocchiaro">{{cite news |last1=Vivian |first1=Steve |title=Country Liberal Party "100 per cent" behind new leader Lia Finocchiaro |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-20/gary-higgins-resigns-as-clp-leader-ahead-of-2020-nt-election/11882108 |access-date=5 February 2020 |work=ABC News |date=20 January 2020 |language=en-AU}}</ref>

Finocchiaro led the CLP to a modest recovery at the [[2020 Northern Territory general election|2020 Territory election]]. The CLP picked up a six-seat swing, boosting its seat count to eight. However, it failed to make significant inroads in the Darwin/Palmerston area, winning only two seats there, including that of Finocchiaro.

The CLP lost the seat of [[Electoral division of Daly|Daly]] to Labor in a [[2021 Daly by-election|2021 by-election]], the first time an incumbent government had won a seat from the opposition in territory history.<ref name="daly-be">{{cite news |title=Labor declares victory for Dheran Young in Daly by-election |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-11/territory-labor-declares-victory-dheran-young-daly-byelection/100454830 |access-date=26 September 2021 |work=ABC News |date=11 September 2021 |language=en-AU}}</ref>

The CLP won a landslide victory in the [[2024 Northern Territory general election]].

===2024–present: Return to government===