Bill to guarantee two federal NT seats set to pass parliament this week
A BILL which would guarantee the Northern Territory keeps its second lower house seat in federal parliament is likely to pass both houses in Canberra by Thursday.
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A BILL which would guarantee the Northern Territory keeps its second lower house seat in federal parliament is likely to pass both houses in Canberra by Thursday.
Federal Member for Solomon Luke Gosling said the Electoral Amendment (Territory Representation) Bill 2020 is set to pass the House of Senate today and the House of Representatives tomorrow.
He said it followed a months-long battle to save the NT’s second seat after the Australian Electoral Commission recommended it be abolished earlier this year.
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“There’s no reason why, by Thursday when parliament adjourns for a week, we won’t have got that Bill through both seats of parliament,” Mr Gosling said.
“We got the government commitment through a bipartisan effort, which is important because proper representation is above partisan politics.”
Mr Gosling said the Bill will ensure the NT keeps both lower house seats indefinitely, which he said is “absolutely crucial”.
“We need to make sure voices of all Territorians are heard across an area of around 1.4 million square km … with 100 Aboriginal communities spread over all that land and also into the Indian Ocean,” he said.
“In reality we should have three (seats) in my opinion, but that’s the next challenge.”
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Once the Bill passes both houses and becomes law, the Australian Electoral Commission will once again enrol NT residents into the electorates of Solomon in the Top End and Lingiari in the Red Centre.
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