Hardy cited perceived irregularities in the spill process and doubt over whether Westra van Holthe would be able to maintain the confidence of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly.

[6] Adam Giles became Chief Minister of the Northern Territory in March 2013, replacing long-term Country Liberal leader Terry Mills in a party-room coup while Mills was attending a trade mission in Japan, becoming the first Indigenous head of government in modern Australian history.

[7] Initially he was popular with the electorate, however a series of scandals and problems shook his authority, including the defection of MPs Alison Anderson and Larisa Lee, and the resignation under a cloud of Northern Territory police commissioner John McRoberts.

[8] At his press conference, Westra van Holthe promised to govern in a more consultative manner than Giles.

Opposition Leader Delia Lawrie and federal Labor MP Warren Snowdon both called for new elections.

[13] Giles announced a new cabinet on 10 February; Transport Minister Matt Conlan, a supporter of the spill, resigned and moved to the backbench "to spend time with his family", and former Treasurer Dave Tollner, who had been forced to resign in August 2014, was reinstated into the ministry as Treasurer.

[14][15] A year after the spill, the CLP was thrown from office in the worst defeat ever suffered by a sitting government in Territory history.