Bill to save NT’s lower house seats sparks impassioned debate in Senate as Greens confirm support

CRUCIAL laws proposed to help save the Territory’s two federal government seats have received significant support

CRUCIAL laws proposed to help save the Territory’s two federal government seats have received the support of a significant section of the crossbench, as senators made impassioned pleas to prevent the “massive injustice”.

A private members Bill, introduced by Labor to ensure the NT doesn’t lose one of its two lower house MPs due to planned electoral redistributions based on population quotas, was debated for the first time yesterday.

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Amid warnings by the NT Electoral Commission that Aboriginal voters had deserted democracy, several senators including the NT’s Malarndirri McCarthy argued that reducing the NT’s federal voice would heighten “the effective disenfranchisement among Aboriginal Territorians”.

Queensland Greens Senator Larissa Waters, whose party of 10 senators and one MP have declared support for the Bill, said removing an NT seat would “send the wrong message” to First Nations peoples in a crucial time for the nations relationship.

Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, Hon Warren Snowdon MP, Luke Gosling OAM MP, and Senator Don Farrel Shadow Special Minister of State discuss LaborÕs efforts to ensure the Northern Territory retains two House of Representatives seats in the Federal Parliament. Picture: Che Chorley

“This could set back progress on other crucial issues of how we respect and acknowledge our First Nations people and their rights,” she said.

Ms McCarthy, who said the Bill was also supported by crossbenchers Senators Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania), Rex Patrick (South Australia) and Stirling Griff (South Australia), called on the Prime Minister to follow the lead of the National senators and let the laws pass.

“The Northern Territory is growing. The parliament of Australia says, ‘Let’s develop the north.’ And, when we talk about developing the north and its economy and infrastructure, we must also talk about developing the north in terms of the voices of the people of the north,” she said.

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“Removing a voice diminishes all of our voices.

“The case for the two seats in the Northern Territory is about fairness for remote and regional Australians.”

LNP Senator James McGrath, who heads the joint committee looking into the Bill, said the report would be ready by early October though he hopes it will be sooner.

He said the impacts of the Bill needed to be considered “soberly and with due consideration”.