Bush poll ‘lockout’: August election ‘too soon’ for remote communities, say residents

INDIGENOUS communities have criticised the Gunner Government’s decision to go ahead with the Territory election on August 22, saying the current conditions as a result of COVID-19 will deny Aboriginal people a voice in the poll.

Garrwa and Yanyuwa men Gadrian Hoosan and Nicholas Fitzpatrick of Borroloola.

INDIGENOUS communities have criticised the Gunner Government’s decision to go ahead with the Territory election on August 22, saying the current conditions as a result of COVID-19 will deny Aboriginal people a voice in the poll.

Garrwa and Yanyuwa spokesman from Borroloola in the electorate of Barkly, Gadrian Hoosan, said lockdowns on remote communities would prevent residents from fully participating in the election.

“If the Chief Minister tries to force an election on August 22, it means Aboriginal people will not be able to campaign for a candidate or assist our communities to enrol to vote across the region or potentially get to the polls to have our voices heard,” he said.

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Fellow Garrwa and Yanyuwa spokesman Nicholas Fitzpatrick said the NT electoral commission had cancelled its remote voter enrolment program amid the pandemic.

“Why is the election still going ahead without any assistance for us in the bush? Already too many people in my community are not enrolled to vote,” he said.

“August is too soon for the election to be safe and fair for people in the bush.”

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A spokesman for Chief Minister Michael Gunner said remote residents had a number of voting options and the NTEC would “undertake a comprehensive education and advertising campaign” leading up to the election.