The territory's longest-serving leader said yesterday ALP governments around Australia had crumbled in the past two years because they had strayed from core Labor values.

Mr Stanhope also said he was surprised at the collapse of the vote of the ACT Greens, who now face a near wipe-out, looking likely to lose up to three of their four MLAs.

ACT Labor increased its vote on Saturday and, with counting continuing, looks certain to hold its seven Assembly seats and stands a good chance of capturing an eighth, leaving party leader Katy Gallagher in a strong position to form a minority government with Greens support.

The Canberra Liberals also made strong gains, looking very likely to pick up two new seats to take them to an all-time high of eight.

Labor has not won a state or territory election since March 20, 2010, and has lost the past four territory or state polls to Liberal or Liberal-National opposition.

Mr Stanhope, who led his party in opposition and government for 13 years and was often critical of stands taken by his federal colleagues, told The Canberra Times yesterday that Ms Gallagher's success on Saturday in the face of a national swing against the party was because the local branch had ''adhered to principles''.

''I think it's fair to say that I don't believe that Labor governments around Australia have adhered to principles in the same way the ACT government has,'' he said.

''I think it's a very good result for Katy Gallagher, a great achievement having regard to the last couple of years and the four or five Labor governments dropping.

''Katy Gallagher has stemmed the loss of governments for the Labor Party across Australia.''

The former chief minister, who is now administrator of Christmas Island, said the result should act as a signal for Labor to return to its core values.

''This is a signal for the Labor Party, and all Labor branches across Australia, that Labor in the ACT has done it differently. We've been consistent at all times with Labor values.

''People join the Labor Party and they vote for the Labor Party because they believe it has a certain set of values and principles, and the ACT government can stand up and say that's the way we have governed and it's why we are the party that has maintained its support now for four elections in a row.''

Mr Stanhope said he had predicted that three Greens would survive the election and praised the contributions of the three who are in danger of losing their seats.

''I am quite surprised by the way the Greens vote has collapsed. I never imagined that and I've thought for the past two years that it would be seven-seven-three and that the Greens support in Canberra would hold,'' he said. ''So I'm surprised that the Greens vote in Canberra hasn't remained loyal to the Greens.''

The former leader said the Greens collapse was a sign of how ''unfair'' and ''hard'' politics could be.

''It's a sign of the unfairness of these things,'' he said.

''Meredith Hunter did not deserve to lose her seat, Amanda Bresnan did not deserve to lose her seat, because I thought they were two extremely fine, competent members of the Assembly. I'm very surprised that the Canberra electorate didn't recognise that.''