Editing Country Liberal Party (section)

===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"/>