Fannie Bay – NT 2016

ALP 6.4%

Incumbent MP
Michael Gunner, since 2008.

Geography
Central Darwin. Fannie Bay covers suburbs immediately to the northwest of the Darwin city centre, including Fannie Bay, the Gardens, Parap, East Point and Coconut Grove.

Redistribution
Fannie Bay shifted north, losing Stuart Park and the remainder of Woolner mostly to Fong Lim (with a small part going to Port Darwin). Fannie Bay gained areas to the north, including part of Coconut Grove from Johnston and the area in between Coconut Grove and the rest of the seat from Fong Lim.

History
The electorate of Fannie Bay has existed since the first NT assembly election in 1974. The seat has tended to be safe for one party then change hands when the MP retired. The seat’s last three members have all led their party.

The CLP’s Grant Tambling won Fannie Bay in 1974, and lost the seat in 1977. He later served in the federal Parliament, first representing the Northern Territory in the House of Representatives from 1980 to 1983, and then served as a Senator for the Northern Territory from 1987 until 2001.

Labor’s Pam O’Neill won Fannie Bay off Tambling in 1977 and held the seat for two terms, losing in 1983. She later served as federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner from 1984 to 1988.

The CLP’s Marshall Perron won Fannie Bay in 1983. Perron had represented the neighbouring seat of Stuart Park since 1974, and had served as deputy chief minister since 1978. A redistribution had abolished Stuart Park, so Perron ran for Fannie Bay.

Perron held Fannie Bay until his retirement in 1995. He served as chief minister from 1988 until 1995.

Labor’s Clare Martin won Fannie Bay at the 1995 by-election. She became Labor leader in 1999 and led the party to victory in 2001, becoming the first Labor chief minister of the Northern Territory. Martin resigned as Chief Minister in late 2007 and retired from the assembly in 2008.

Labor’s Michael Gunner succeeded Martin in 2008. He was elected leader of the ALP in 2015.

Candidates

• Michael Gunner (Labor)
• Greg Strettles (1 Territory)
• Karen Brown (Country Liberal)

Assessment
Labor should have no trouble retaining Fannie Bay as the incumbent MP leads the party into what looks likely to be a successful election.

2012 result

2012 two-party-preferred result

Booth breakdown
There is only one booth in Fannie Bay (Parap), with the booth of Stuart Park transferred into the neighbouring seat of Fong Lim.

Labor won 58.7% of the two-party-preferred vote at Parap, while the CLP won 52% of the pre-poll vote, and Labor won 53% of the other votes.