NTEC boundary redistribution ‘botched’ amid poor voter turnouts: MLA

An Alice Springs MLA has called for an independent probe into the NTEC, saying a crucial pre-election process has been ‘botched’ and voter turnouts are ‘deteriorating’.

An Alice Springs politician has called for an independent inquiry into the NT Electoral Commission after she says it “botched” a crucial pre-election process.

The NTEC’s electoral boundary review – a process that occurs before a general election to make sure the Territory’s 25 divisions each have a similar number of voters – has had to restart due to an “administrative oversight”.

It comes after the Solicitor for the NT advised the commission its review, which relied on public submissions, was not “lawful” as it had failed to gazette notices of the process.

It means the final determination of whether electoral boundaries will change is expected to be released in December at the earliest, rather than this month as planned.

However Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley warned the report could be handed down just months out from the August 2024 election, leaving candidates and incumbents little time to prepare.

Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley has called for an independent inquiry into the NT Electoral Commission amid the delay of an important pre-election process and continually low voter turnouts. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“This debacle comes in the wake of ongoing deterioration of Territorians participating in elections over the past five years,” she said.

“In the recent Darwin local government by-election the voter turnout was 48.8 per cent.

“In the last federal election, the electorate of Lingiari had the lowest voter turnout in the country.”

With about 6000 voters in every Territory seat, shifts as small as a few hundred voters could have a big impact at the polls come August next year.

Ms Lambley blamed poor voter turnouts and the NTEC’s redistribution review error on “ongoing funding cuts”.

“Central Australia no longer has a permanent NTEC presence with several positions cut, and the NTEC shopfront closed in (2019),” she said.

The NT Electoral Commission office in Alice Springs closed in January 2019 and has not had any staff based in Central Australia since January 2020. Picture: Annabel Bowles

“There needs to be an inquiry into the deteriorating participation in the democratic process in the NT and the lack of funding provided by the NT government to the NT Electoral Commission to seriously address this shameful problem.”

The NTEC restarted its redistribution process on Monday, with public submissions to close on October 11.

Earlier proposed changes were expected to affect Palmerston the most, due to the city’s significant population growth since the last election.

Submissions on changes to electoral boundaries can be sent to [e-mail] and previous submissions do not need to be re-sent.

The NT government has been contacted for comment.

Thousands to be fined amid poor polling turnout

Thousands of Darwin ratepayers will be slapped with a fine for failing to vote in a recent local government by-election.

Only 48.8 per cent of voters rocked up to cast their pick for a new Darwin city councillor in the Lyons Ward by-election at the weekend.

Those who were required to vote include residents in Larrakeyah, Darwin City, Stuart Park, The Gardens, Bayview, Woolner, Parap and The Narrows.

The by-election comes after Paul Arnold quit the role, citing mental health issues, before it was revealed the 51-year-old was facing domestic violence charges.

While 524 postal ballots and 29 declaration votes – if returned and validated – could bump up the turnout, NT Electoral Commissioner Iain Loganathan said it was a “disappointing” result.

NT Electoral Commissioner Iain Loganathan said a continual “decline” in voter turnouts was a concern. Picture: Floss Adams.

“There continues to be a decline in voter turnout at elections in the Northern Territory and the turnout for the Lyons Ward by-election is further evidence of this trend,” he said.

“It’s important that Territorians exercise their democratic right and obligation to vote and contribute to shaping their community’s future.

“Low voter turnout is an ongoing issue across the Northern Territory, and it is vital that Territorians recognise the importance of voting ahead of the Voice referendum and the August 2024 Territory Election.”

Infringement notices of $25 will be sent out in the coming weeks and anyone who fails to pay could face further action.

With 6046 Lyons Ward residents failing to vote, the fines could result in more than $150,000 of revenue raised.

NT Electoral Commission staff will count postal and declaration votes in the Lyons Ward by-election over the next two weeks before preferences are counted on September 15. Picture: Annabel Bowles

There are just 178 primary votes between frontrunner Suki Dorras-Walker and Sam Weston, meaning the winner will likely be declared after preferences are counted on September 15.

There have been 15 council and NT by-elections this year, including one for the Roper Gulf Regional Council which resulted in a ‘failed’ election after no candidates put up their hand to run.

Less than two-thirds of electors voted in two NT Legislative Assembly by-elections last year as well.

Brent Potter retained former chief minister Michael Gunner’s Fannie Bay seat for Territory Labor on just 148 votes in two party preferred stakes, while Labor’s Dheran Young won Daly on about 370 primary votes.

Those who do not vote in the upcoming federal Voice referendum will also face a $20 fine.

The main polling day will be on October 14 however early polling will open two weeks earlier and remote polling teams will head out to the bush from late September.