Electoral Division of Nightcliff

Electoral Division Of Nightcliff

Nightcliff is an electoral division of the Legislative Assembly in Australia's Northern Territory. It was first created in 1974, and takes its name from the suburb of the same name. Nightcliff is one of the smallest electorates in the Territory, covering only 3.37 km² and taking in the suburb of Nightcliff, most of Rapid Creek and a small area of Coconut Grove. There were 4,797 people enrolled in the electorate as of August 2012.

Nightcliff has tended to be somewhat marginal, with incumbent members generally holding the seat for several years. It was one of only two electorates not held by the Country Liberal Party in the first parliament, but was won upon the retirement of independent Dawn Lawrie by the Country Liberal Party's Stephen Hatton, who later went on to become Chief Minister of the Territory. Hatton retired in 2001, and while Nightcliff was not a particularly safe CLP seat, it was widely expected that Hatton's son would succeed him. However, he was unexpectedly defeated by Australian Labor Party candidate Jane Aagaard. Aagaard served a controversial stint as Health Minister and was ultimately axed from the ministry altogether, which led some commentators to suggest that she may lose her seat at the 2005 election. Despite this, she had very little difficulty holding the seat, and after preferences had polled almost double the votes of her nearest rival.

Aagaard retired in 2012, and despite a swing against Labor at that year's election, the seat was held for the party by winning candidate Natasha Fyles.