A review into the federal future of the Northern Territory's Country Liberal Party has been suspended ahead of the upcoming election.
The Australian Electoral Commission launched the review in February after the CLP's only sitting senator Sam McMahon quit the party, sparking concerns it may not have enough members to retain its federal party status.
The senator is one of several high-profile CLP members who have quit the party this year, including a former deputy chief minister, vice-president and senior staffer – several of whom are now running as independents or with other parties.
The AEC review was a legal requirement due to a law ensuring a party must either have a sitting federal politician or be able to prove it has 1,500 paid-up members to remain registered federally.
However, a spokesperson for the AEC confirmed the CLP candidates would be able to run under their party banner now the election had been called.
"The register of parties has now frozen and CLP remains registered for the federal election," the spokesperson said.
"After the writs are returned for a federal election we pick up any process that was paused."
It is understood the review will no longer have to continue, if the CLP wins a seat at the upcoming election.
CLP 'overwhelmed with membership requests'
Local political historian Alex Nelson said while the CLP candidates might be successful at the upcoming election, he questioned the party's long-term future, with members leaving.
"When you look back at the history of the CLP, a major turning point was just prior to the turn of the century," he said.
"The loss of the statehood referendum in late 1998 was the trigger for a decline.
"It's going to be interesting to see how it goes [in the election], but it does seem to be having a lot of difficulty maintaining its relevance in the Northern Territory."
CLP president Fiona Darcy last week dismissed concerns over the party's future.
"I am happy to say the CLP is invigorated … we are overwhelmed with membership requests, both former and new ones," she said.
Candidate living outside electorate a 'non-issue'
Mr Nelson said revelations CLP candidate for Solomon Tina MacFarlane lived outside the electorate were unlikely to hurt her chances at the polls.
The party on Monday confirmed Ms MacFarlane lives in Virginia, just outside the edge of the Solomon electorate, which includes most of Darwin and Palmerston.
There is no requirement for a candidate to live in the electorate they are contesting and Mr Nelson said it was common in the Northern Territory.
"When you look back in history, it's been a fairly common situation where local members are living in electorates that are not the ones that they represent, and it really isn't an issue for anybody," he said.
A CLP spokesperson said Ms MacFarlane would be a strong voice despite living in a separate electorate.
"Tina MacFarlane has lived in the Territory for more than 35 years and will be a strong voice fighting for a stronger future for people living in Darwin and Palmerston," the spokesperson said.
Mr Nelson said one reason NT voters may be less concerned with where candidates live is due to frequent changes to the NT's electoral boundaries at a local level.
"Even if you do move in, or happen to be living in, an electorate that you represent, if there's a boundary change at some stage and electoral redistribution, you could find yourself living in a different electorate," he said.
