A by-election for the Darwin-based seat of Nightcliff will be held on March 7, following the resignation of Greens MLA Kat McNamara from Northern Territory parliament.
McNamara resigned on Monday for health reasons, having won the typically progressive northern suburbs seat from former Labor chief minister Natasha Fyles at the 2024 NT election.
Beating Ms Fyles by just 36 votes, McNamara’s victory marked the first time the Greens had won a seat in NT parliament.
Kat McNamara quit NT parliament for health reasons earlier this week. (ABC News: Pete Garnish)
March 7 was confirmed as the Nightcliff by-election date on Thursday, with Acting NT Administrator Michael Grant issuing the writ.
The Greens became the first party to announce a candidate, preselecting Suki Dorras-Walker on Wednesday.
Ms Dorras-Walker contested the neighbouring seat of Fannie Bay at the 2024 general election, losing to the Country Liberal Party’s (CLP) Laurie Zio by 37 votes.
Suki Dorras-Walker has been announced as the Greens candidate for the Nightcliff by-election. (ABC News: Pete Garnish )
A former teacher, Ms Dorras-Walker said her campaign would be focused on the environment and long-term solutions for a safer community.
“I’m interested in providing the services that this community desperately needs, and that’s about fully funding domestic violence services, affordable housing, increasing our public housing stock,” she said.
“That’s what will actually provide long-term solutions for this community to make sure everyone is safe.”
Labor preselects Darwin councillor
Nightcliff was one of 10 seats that Labor lost at the 2024 election, when the party was booted from government after two terms.
The party currently has just four seats in the territory’s 25-seat parliament, all of which are remote NT-based. The CLP government holds 17.
Going into the 2024 election, Nightcliff was Labor’s safest seat, with the party having held it for 23 consecutive years.
Labor announced Darwin councillor and engineer Ed Smelt as its candidate on Thursday.
Ed Smelt has been announced as Labor’s candidate. (ABC News: Dane Hirst )
Mr Smelt said he would campaign on local issues.
“We need to be where people are right now, today. What do they see and what do they experience when they drive out of their driveway in the morning?” he said.
“Things like cost of living — it’s our local environment, it’s community safety, it’s what the government’s doing to make their lives better.”
Mr Smelt said he would also push for infrastructure improvements, including to the Nightcliff jetty and pool.
The CLP is expected to announce a candidate in the coming days, while a progressive independent from the Voices of the Top End group is also expected to nominate.