Federal election 2016 — News and views from the campaign

LIVE BLOG: If the electorate of Durack, in far northern Western Australia, was a country it would rank as the 19th biggest in size. So how do you campaign - and avoid the crocs - over such a massive area?

DURACK, in far northern WA, is one of the largest electorates in the world - indeed the largest in those countries that have compulsory voting.

It’s about the same size as Alaska and if it were a country in itself, would be the 19th largest on the planet. It is a staggering 1,629,858 sq km in size but has just 91,000 voters. Carol Martin, who is running for Labor in the seat, told the Wall Street Journal it can be tough on the campaign trail. “If you’re crossing rivers there are crocodiles. If someone isn’t with me I have to wade it myself to have a look and check the depth. The country is tough,” she said. Former MP Barry Haase recounted his time on the campaign trail. “The smallest voting booth for me was Barrow Island,” says Haase. “I won 100 per cent of the vote there — a good result. Unfortunately it was only two people.”