Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro’s new Cabinet will not be sworn in until next Tuesday, September 10, following the final count and declaration of all votes, with the NT Electoral Commission flagging recounts this week in three electorates where the margin of victory is less than 100.

The NTEC will officially declare the results next week, with Fannie Bay and Nightcliff expected to go to the frontrunners in those electorates – with the CLP’s Laurie Zio leading the Greens’ Suki Dorras-Walker by just 37 votes in a two-party preferred count in Fannie Bay on Friday afternoon – and Natasha Fyles gaining a larger margin in Nightcliff.

But Casuarina and Barkly have tightened after a full week of counting, with the CLP’s Steve Edgington leading in Barkly by 90 votes as of Friday in the two-horse race with the ALP, and the CLP’s Khoda Patel leading Labor’s incumbent Lauren Moss by just 72 votes, two-party preferred, in Casuarina.

Mr Edgington is widely expected to be given a number of key portfolios in the new CLP Cabinet.

The NTEC said on Friday evening there were still 100 declaration votes expected to be added to the count in Barkly this week, as well as a “small number” of postal votes.

In Casuarina, where four candidates nominated, the NTEC is expecting 34 potential declaration votes may be added to the total, as well as 73 postal votes returned.

Fannie Bay is still expected to see 51 potential declaration votes added to the count and less than 50 postal ballots.

“At this time, there are a number of divisions where a candidate has not received more than 50 per cent of the first preference votes,” Electoral Commissioner Kirsten Kelly said.

“A distribution of preference will be completed following the deadline for receipt of postal [votes].

“The NTEC will undertake a recount of any divisions where the margin is less than 100. This may include the divisions of Fannie Bay, Barkly and Casuarina.”

Most political observers are not expecting to see any change to the frontrunners in those seats by the end of the week. It is expected the CLP will have 17 seats, Labor five and independents three.

However, Ms Finocchiaro issued a statement on Saturday afternoon announcing her intention to delay the swearing-in of her full Cabinet until next week, after the numbers are certified.

Ms Finocchiaro and her deputy Gerard Maley were sworn in last Wednesday and currently carry responsibility for 20 portfolios each as an interim measure to continue the business of government.

Ms Finocchiaro also said in her Saturday statement that her government will this week “start to reshape the national focus on the Territory”, with her attendance at National Cabinet in Canberra and Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley attending the Northern Australia Ministerial Forum in Broome.

“The Territory is now moving forward with hope and optimism about the future,” Ms Finocchiaro said. “I am proud of what we achieved in week one of our new government and this week, we will continue to drive change and show the Federal Government that the Territory deserves its fair share.”

As of Friday afternoon, NTEC figures show 67 per cent of voters turned out to vote at the 2024 general election, with 102,639 ballot papers having been counted, compared to 105,833 counted in 2020, when 74.9 per cent participated.

The election results will be officially declared on Monday September 9, following the Friday noon deadline for all postal vote applications to be returned.

The full Cabinet will be sworn in on September 10 and the first parliamentary sittings are expected in mid-October.