Deputy PM indicates support for NT to keep two lower house MPs, says Territory ‘deserves’ both

DEPUTY Prime Minister Michael McCormack has given his strongest indication yet that he supports ensuring the NT gets to keep its two MPs in federal parliament

Deputy backs MP push

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‘Territory deserves more than one seat’: McCormack

MADURA MCCORMACK

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DEPUTY Prime Minister Michael McCormack has given his strongest indication yet that he supports ensuring the NT gets to keep its two MPs in federal parliament.

In an opinion piece penned exclusively for the NT News¸ Mr McCormack said the NT “deserves more than one” MP to ensure “democracy is well served – best served”.

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His words come in the same week crucial laws proposed to help save the Territory’s two federal government seats were debated in the senate, with the bill officially receiving the support of a significant section of the crossbench.

Mr McCormack, during a recent trip to the NT to support the CLP’s election campaign, said he “fully understood” the need for the NT to have two MPs but would not indicate whether or not he supported the proposed laws.

Now, Mr McCormack has said the “ramifications are enormous” if the NT loses one of its federal MPs.

“Spending time in the Northern Territory recently alongside Lia Finocchiaro’s Country Liberals’ team, I heard growing bipartisan concern over the possible loss of a Northern Territory seat in the Federal House of Representatives,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, CLP leader Lia Finocchiaro and candidate for Fannie Bay Tracey Hayes. Picture: Che Chorley

“While acknowledging a concerning recent easing of population in the NT, there are real concerns over how to effectively represent all Territorians spread across a single seat. I know these concerns are shared across the political spectrum.

“Australians pride ourselves in our robust system of democracy.

“For my own part, I agree such a large area as the Northern Territory, with residents spread everywhere, needs and deserves more than one Reps’ MP to ensure democracy is well served – best served.”

The private members Bill introduced by Labor was debated in the senate for the first time on Monday, with NT’s Malarndirri McCarthy arguing reducing the NT’s federal voice would heighten “the effective disenfranchisement among Aboriginal Territorians”.

The Bill currently has the support of all five National Senators, all 10 Greens Senators and their one MP and three Independent crossbench senators. The laws won’t get over the line in the lower house without the support of the Coalition or some government MPs crossing the floor.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MICHAEL MCCORMACK’S OPINION LETTER

Supporting local communities is the Australian way. Our communities need to stay connected, with each other and with our governments.

Spending time in the Northern Territory recently alongside Lia Finocchiaro’s Country Liberals’ team, I heard growing bipartisan concern over the possible loss of a Northern Territory seat in the Federal House of Representatives.

Correctly undertaking a redistribution assessment as required by law, the Australian Electoral Commission recently proposed NT representation be halved – from two to just one seat.

The ramifications are enormous.

Already, the Northern Territory seat of Lingiari represents Australians spread across 1,348,000 square kilometres. A single NT seat would represent 247,280 people living across 1,421,000 square kilometres.

If the Australian Capital Territory – had kept its two seats, it would have an average 220,100 people per electorate – compared to the NT population of 247,280.

So Northern Territorians have every right to ask how the ACT now has three seats – an average 147,000 people each – while the NT representation is being cut to a single seat.

I’m privileged to represent the regional NSW seat of Riverina: a little shy of 50,000 square kilometres; a good four-hour drive, 373km end-to-end, Peak Hill to Yerong Creek. It’s among the largest of the 47 seats across NSW – 47 seats across a land mass a touch more than half that of the NT.

Also in NSW, the electorate of Grayndler covers 32 square kilometres. Unlike the NT, it’s best never to take an aircraft to move around that Sydney electorate.

At the recent Territory election, Senator Sam McMahon travelled 1,460km from Darwin to a remote pre-polling station – for a booth that saw 3 votes registered on the day. 3 votes. That’s dedication. That’s democracy. That’s the NT!

While acknowledging a concerning recent easing of population in the NT, there are real concerns over how to effectively represent all Territorians spread across a single seat. I know these concerns are shared across the political spectrum.

What must be done is to grow the NT population to ensure the AEC does not have to grapple with whether or not the Territory should have one seat or two – or perhaps even more! Our Government has targeted policies to grow the economy, grow jobs and therefore grow regional populations such as the NT.

The NT has immense potential to contribute to Australia’s economic growth – indeed, to our economic recovery post-COVID.

Industries from tourism to cattle, horticulture, fishing, bauxite, copper, gold and uranium head a long list of contributions to our national economic wealth – including our export effort – and they deserve a clear national focus and understanding.

Australians pride ourselves in our robust system of democracy.

A single NT seat would in fact cover not just the NT – but also the far-flung Indian Ocean Territories of Christmas Island and the Cocos Islands.

Some action is already under way. The Minister for Finance has asked the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters (JSCEM) to inquire and report on a Private Senator’s Bill. The committee received more than 50 submissions.

For my own part, I agree such a large area as the Northern Territory, with residents spread everywhere, needs and deserves more than one Reps’ MP to ensure democracy is well served – best served.

Michael McCormack is the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and Leader of The Nationals.