Elferink rules out tilt to be NT chief

NORTHERN Territory Attorney-General John Elferink has ruled out another bid to oust Chief Minister Terry Mills from his job after he failed to gather the numbers for a leadership challenge.

Mr Elferink told parliament on Tuesday that he would "absolutely" rule out challenging Mr Mills to become leader of the NT.

"I have listened to the colleagues on my side of the house, and we have resolved to keep Terry Mills as the leader of the parliamentary wing of the Country Liberals," Mr Elferink said.

"I am proud to stand by him, and I will look forward to working with him in the future in any capacity that he deems fit," he added.

Mr Elferink on Tuesday offered to resign after it emerged that on Monday he was counting votes to topple Mr Mills as chief minister.

A meeting had been planned for early Tuesday, but it was called off late on Monday when it became clear Mr Elferink did not have the numbers.

A senior source in the Country Liberal Party (CLP) said Mr Elferink realised he would be unsuccessful when four MPs representing rural electorates threw their support behind Mr Mills.

Mr Mills then had the support of nine MPs, compared with only seven supporting Mr Elferink.

The chief minister on Tuesday said Mr Elferink would not lose his position.

"What I require of John is to focus on the business of the Northern Territory and to offer unqualified support, which he has offered and provided and I have accepted," Mr Mills said.

The leadership speculation in the CLP comes just days after ALP candidate Nicole Manison won a by-election with a big swing to the Labor Party.

Since taking office in August last year in a landslide, the CLP has cut spending and raised electricity prices by 30 per cent.

Mr Mills says his government won't be distracted by the leadership issue.

"We have had an election result that has caused some concern to some members of our party," Mr Mills said.

"I am not going to spend my energy on the things that are in the shadows and ... the subject of rumours and speculation.

"This is time for courage under fire," Mr Mills said.

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