Everything you need-to-know about the Fannie Bay by-election in the NT

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of ex-Chief Minister Michael Gunner.

Voters in the Northern Territory electorate of Fannie Bay are heading to the polls following the resignation of sitting MLA Michael Gunner.

Gunner resigned 2 months after stepping down as NT Chief Minister.

As of 2020, there are 5,473 electors in the seat.

Significant developments:

• 28 July: Michael Gunner resigns; by-election date of August 20 set

• 30 July: Brent Potter announced as Labor's candidate

• 2 August: All candidates & ballot paper order confirmed

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History

Fannie Bay has been held by both major parties since 1974. It was first held by the CLP's Grant Tambling until 1977, when Labor's Pam O'Neil picked it up.

Marshall Perron gained the seat back for the CLP in 1983, then Clare Martin won it in 1995. Michael Gunner has held it since 2008.

This means 3 of the seat's 5 MPs have been Chief Ministers.

It's worth mentioning that Clare Martin's win at a by-election in 1995 saw a 9.2% swing - the same percentage that Labor currently holds the seat on.

At the 2020 NT election, Gunner retained the seat with a 2.9% swing away from him at a two-party-preferred level, and 8.2% on a first preference basis. However, it's also worth mentioning that The Greens ran a candidate - unlike at the 2016 election.

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Meet the candidates

6 candidates are running, including 3 independents.

Ballot order	​Candidate	Party
1	​Brent Potter	Labor
2	George Mamouzellos	Independent
3	Raj Samson Rajwin	Independent
4	Jonathan Parry	The Greens
5	Leah Potter	Independent
6	Ben Hosking	Country Liberal Party

Brent Potter is a defence force veteran who's lived in Darwin since 2009, and worked for Chief Minister Natasha Fyles as a policy advisor.

Jonathan Parry is The Greens' national secretary.

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