Labor extends two-decade grip on power in the ACT
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The news: Labor has won its seventh consecutive term in the ACT in tonight’s territory election, but will again form government in a minority after a surge from independents.
The context: Barr’s victory means Labor’s grip on power in the territory is set to extend to 27 years. It has governed in a coalition with the Greens since 2012.
Barr is the ACT’s longest-serving chief minister, and the third since the Liberals last held power – following John Stanhope and Katy Gallagher, who is now the federal finance minister.
Labor suffered a swing of more than 3%, but retained ten seats – needing an additional three seats to achieve a majority.
The Greens picked up at least two seats, while Tom Emerson – the son of former Labor minister Craig – and Fiona Carrick became the first independents to win in the territory since 2001.
Liberal leader Elizabeth Lee conceded defeat by 9:30pm.
Labor enjoyed a relatively gaffe-free campaign, but battled against perceptions it was tired
The opposition suffered a more turbulent time.
Just this week, Lee was filmed giving the middle finger to a local journalist following a testy press conference, an incident she apologised for.
It was the last in a series of negative headlines for the party, after it disendorsed a sitting MLA, Elizabeth Kikkert, citing what it said were concerns over he donation disclosures and her “behaviour towards employees”.
During the campaign, it also emerged that another candidate – Darren Roberts – had endorsed a number of offensive posts on race and gender on Facebook. Shadow attorney general Peter Cain was also forced to apologise after a 2002 book he wrote, in which he argued colonisation had benefited Indigenous Australians, surfaced.
What they said: “I do not know what the future holds for me. Don't ask. I won't tell you,” Lee told her supporters.
The sources: The ABC, The Canberra Times
