NT Electoral Commission to scrutinise low voter turnout at Fannie Bay by-election

Territorians who failed to vote in the weekend’s by-election could be facing a fine. SEE HOW MUCH.

NT ELECTORAL Commissioner Ian Loganathan will review low voter turnout at the weekend’s Fannie Bay by-election as part of an election report he is expected to table in Parliament next year.

Voter turnout in the count so far is lower than in last year’s Daly by-election with 300 more electors rolling-up to cast votes in the Top End bush electorate than in Fannie Bay.

In Daly last year voter turnout was 66.3 per cent, higher than the 62.7 per cent turnout in Fannie Bay.

“At this stage we’re going to get a turnout lower than we got in the Daly by-election last year,” Mr Loganathan said.

“The challenge in the Territory is to get remote Aborigines to participate in elections, not voters in inner city electorates.”

More than 1000 fewer people voted in Fannie Bay at the weekend than at the 2020 general election.

The NT Electoral Commission (NTEC) will send out non-voter notices to people enrolled who did not vote.

A $25 penalty can apply to people without a good reason to vote.

Only one candidate in the by-election, The Greens’ Jonathan Parry, lives in the electorate.

Mr Parry’s preferences swung the result for the Labor Party, which has 52.3 per cent of the two candidate preferred vote compared with the 47.7 per cent for the CLP’s Ben Hosking.

Mr Hosking polled the most votes in all five voting centres but Greens preferences flowed predominantly to the Labor Party.

“I’ve got nothing but nice things to say about both (Labor and CLP) candidates but I wasn’t moving to the electorate to get into parliament,” Mr Parry said.

“The oversaturation of campaign posters diminished the importance of the choice. It became a sideshow about who can put up the most signs rather than who can look after the electorate.”

Mr Parry said The Greens candidate at the 2024 election would be determined by the party but that he would continue to “do right” by electors.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro on Monday talked-up the result, which saw a 16 per cent swing in the CLP’s primary vote and more than 7 per cent increase in the TCP vote compared with 2020.

“That swing to the CLP is so significant it means the CLP could be looking at something around 14 or 15 seats come 2024 if that swing was to be replicated,” Ms Finocchiaro said.

“It means Labor are in damage control. They might have won on the day but they definitely have a massive battle ahead of them.”

Ms Finocchiaro said she supported preferential voting despite receiving feedback from supporters Mr Hosking was “robbed” because he lost the ballot despite receiving most votes.

“That is the system of government that we have and it allows people to have greater choice across the ballot paper.”

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles attributed low voter turnout to the fine weekend weather distracting voters.

LABOR DECLARES BYELECTION WIN

LABOR has declared victory in the Fannie Bay by-election.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles on Saturday night welcomed Brent Potter into the Territory Labor fold, declaring a win in the close count of the inner-Darwin seat.

Mr Potter claimed the win on preferences, with 52.2 per cent in his favour, outshining the CLP’s Ben Hosking who snared 47.8 per cent.

But Mr Hosking led on the primary vote.

A jubilant chief minister and a swag of Labor supporters relished the win, celebrating the slightly larger margin that retained the seat for the party.

Ms Fyles said it was an “incredible result” for Mr Potter and when asked about the narrow vote count, said the newcomer had surpassed former chief minister Michael Gunner’s 78 votes with the 148.

“There will be lots of analysis of this election result,” she said.

“I know, stepping forward, Brent will be straight back out there, re-engaging with the community and delivering on his commitments.”

Addressing the lower than expected voter turnout on Saturday, Mr Potter said it indicated to him a level of satisfaction across the electorate.

“I think, at the end of the day, people will come out to vote if they see fit to,” he said.

“I think, if anything, it is an indication they are actually happy.”

Before his selection, Mr Potter worked as a policy advisor for Ms Fyles. Mr Potter is also a former soldier and aged-care professional.

The NT Legislative Assembly is made up of 15 members of Territory Labor (including Mr Potter), seven members of the Country Liberals and three independents.

SATURDAY 8.05PM: A splash of ballots from the Parap booth has just been counted, pushing the total count number to more than 3300.

The CLP’s Ben Hosking is still the frontrunner with 1394 votes, with Labor’s Brent Potter in second with 1089 votes.

The 1481 votes from Parap are skewed towards Mr Hosking, following a similar trend tot he majority of booths where the CLP has dominated the early count.

It is the biggest booth based on votes.

A result is still not locked in for tonight, factoring in the postal ballots the NTEC says is about 235, but there is currently more than 62 per cent of total enrolled votes counted.

SATURDAY 7.50PM: Ben Hosking has cracked the 850-mark in the early count, extending his lead over Labor’s Brent Potter.

The CLP’s Mr Hosking has 853 votes to Labor’s Brent Potter on 602, while the Greens’ Jonathan Parry has 333 in the primary count.

Independent Leah Potter has snared 52, while Raj Sam Rajwin has 40 and George Mamouzellos has 17.

There is about 235 postal votes that will not be counted tonight, and with only 5439 voters enrolled, it is unlikely a winner will be declared tonight.

Labor is gathering at the Trailer Boat Club as the count ticks on, while the CLP and its supporters are setting up in Jingili.

SATURDAY 7.30PM: The CLP’s Ben Hosking has extended his narrow lead in the Fannie Bay by-election.

Of the 1693 votes so far counted, Mr Hosking is sitting on 743, as at 7.30pm.

His closest rival, Labor's Brent Potter, has snared 528 while the Greens’ Jonathan Parry has 295 – all on a primary vote basis.

Just 10 votes in the two-candidate preferred count separate Mr Hosking (837) and Mr Potter (827).

Fannie Bay is a pretty small seat with just 5439 enrolled voters, so a result is expected tonight.

The Darwin early voting centre is recording the highest number of ballots counted, with 1213, putting Mr Hosking in front in that count and Mr Potter second.

No results yet for Parap, but Ludmilla has 463 votes counted.

SATURDAY 6.30PM: Welcome to the NT News’ rolling coverage of the Fannie Bay by-election.

Polls closed at 6pm, with the Northern Territory Electoral Commission reporting the first results.

With fewer than 500 votes on the board, the CLP’s Ben Hosking has 179 votes, a slim lead over Labor’s Brent Potter with 144 and the Greens’ Jonathan Parry.

These are primary vote figures.

But it’s still early, and there is just 8.8 per cent of the total 5439 registered votes counted.

ELECTION DAY: ONLY 56.6 per cent of eligible voters have cast their ballot for the Fannie Bay by-election with only hours remaining before booths close.

As of 3pm there had been 3080 votes cast across the electorate out of 5439 enrolled electors, the Northern Territory Electoral Commission reported.

Despite a targeted social media campaign, letter box drops, and multiple emails from the NTEC the foot traffic was far slower than the 2020 Territory election which saw a turnout 80.9 per cent in Fannie Bay.

School teachers Maddy Hunt, 29, and Tim Brown, 29, made sure to make it down to Parap Primary School to exercise their democratic right after Friday’s teacher strike raised more questions than answers.

“We were very annoyed that Labor did not come out to the protest,” Mr Brown said.

“I would be very interested to hear their reasoning behind not coming.

“We’re also disappointed the CLP candidate didn’t show up especially since we saw him having lunch not long after the protest. I think the priorities there aren’t really aligning with us.”

Ms Hunt said it was “very disappointing” to not see Labor appear at the protest and because education and the environment were her main concerns, she felt she had to vote for the Greens.

Their dog Leo, on the other hand, was just happy to be outside enjoying a democracy sausage.

Social worker Tim Rivett, 39, said climate change was his number one priority when he walked into the booths on Saturday, which is why he swung towards Labor.

“I simply don’t trust the conservative side of politics at all on climate change given their past performance,” he said.

While Mr Rivett acknowledged crime was a major issue in the Northern Territory he said the CLPs approach to tackling the problem was fruitless.

“I have never been a fan of the whole tough on crime approach because I think it doesn’t work and just costs a lot of money,” he said.

“If you want to solve crime solve poverty and invest in education, healthcare, and public welfare.”

Fannie Bay voter, Time Rivett, 39. Picture: Monique Van Der Heyden

Gardens Park Golf Links owner Rodger Dee, 67, said he was unsure which way voters would decide in the by-election.

“I have no clue which way it is going to go. I reckon it could go either way,” he said.

“I just want whoever gets in to focus on upgrading infrastructure. Tourism is a big thing for Territory, so we have to make it look attractive.”

Fannie Bay voter, Rodger Dee, 67. Picture: Monique Van Der Heyden

A Parap couple, who did not want to be named, voted at opposite ends of the political spectrum with the 41-year-old man choosing the Greens and the 36-year-old woman choosing the CLP.

“We reconciled our beliefs a long time ago,” the 36-year-old said.

“I went with CLP because we are being broken into weekly and I think democracy functions better when there is a more even balance in the house.

“That being said it is probably going to be a much more even race today I think.”

The 41-year-old voted Greens because “the environment is one of the most pressing concerns everyone should have”, he said.

“Even if they aren’t going to be good at governing, I think we need a stronger party that does protect the environment,” he said.

Candidates share their last effort to bring in the votes

THE booths are open and almost half of eligible voters have rushed down to decide the next leader of Fannie Bay.

A total of 2378 votes had been received by the Northern Territory Electoral Commission, which included the 1233 pre-poll votes and 258 postal votes, at 11.45am Saturday.

Candidates made a final effort to swing voters by heading down to the Parap markets and Parap Primary School as residents flooded into the booths.

Labor candidate Brent Potter was feeling “quietly confident” with his chances of claiming the seat when votes were finalised about 7.30pm Saturday.

“I have done everything I can and now the voters will come out and have their say,” he said.

Mr Potter said if elected he would ensure $3m was dedicated to activating Bundilla park for local families, build a new Parap preschool, and would put $1m into CCTV at Fannie Bay shops.

CLP’s Ben Hosking said he had been assured by voters they “want to see change” and that is what he hoped to provide the residents of Fannie Bay.

Mr Hosking said the cost of living and crime will be at the top of the agenda if chosen to represent the electorate.

Greens Fannie Bay candidate Jonathan Parry. Picture: Monique Van Der Heyden

Greens candidate Jonathan Parry was looking forward to the seeing the result Saturday evening after receiving “positive feedback” from the local community.

Mr Parry said he entered the election on three policies of “justice for the community, climate action, and accountability”.

“We want to push the government further on climate action so we have a sustainable future for Territorians,” he said.

Independent Raj Samson Rajwin said the issues in Fannie Bay “have become so common that everyone knows what needs to be fixed”.

“The economy is in trouble due to lockdowns and mandates,” he said.

“Crime is a problem due to family breakdowns, child abuse, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse.

“That is where we come in, we have to support the businesses and have to cut the drug supply chain.”

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Fannie Bay residents will take to the poles on Saturday so here’s a guide on what you need to know before election day.

When is the upcoming Fannie Bay election?

The Fannie Bay by-election is on Saturday, August 20, 2022. All residents will be able to vote between 8:00am to 6:00pm.

How do I vote in person for the Fannie Bay by-election?

Voting will be available at the following locations:

Ludmilla Primary School, 41 Bagot Road, Ludmilla

Parap Primary School, Urquhart St, Parap

Why are we voting again?

The by-election was called following the resignation of former chief minister Michael Gunner from his role as MLA.

He called time on 14 years in the Legislative Assembly during July parliament sittings, citing wanting to spend more time with his family.

“In May I stepped down as Chief Minister. Tonight, I resign as the Member for Fannie Bay and the reasons are the same. It’s what is best for the people I serve and what is best for my family,” he said.

Is it compulsory to vote in the election?

It is compulsory to vote in Territory and federal elections in Australia if you are an Australian citizen, over the age of 18 and have lived at your NT address for at least a month. Failing to do so can result in a fine.

Who are my options?

The random draw for the Fannie Bay by-election ballot paper order put Labor well above the Country Liberals.

Labor’s Brent Potter took out the coveted top spot, while the CLP’s Ben Hosking landed last place.

The middle of the pack revealed new candidates for the Fannie Bay by-election: George Mamouzellos (Independent), Raj Samson Rajwin (Independent), Jonathan Parry (Greens) and Leah Potter (Independent).

Labor: Brent Potter

Brent Potter is a former Captain in the Australian Defence Force and has also been an aged-care contractor.

Mr Potter has acknowledged the significance of anti-social behaviour in the electorate and said “a number of responses must be taken”.

“There is no one solution to anti-social behaviour because there’s so many causes such as overcrowding in remote communities, which Labor has a plan against, and high levels of alcohol abuse,” he said.

The former Captain is committed to activating some of the parklands throughout Fannie Bay to help remove anti-social behaviour while also providing opportunities for families and businesses.

“Local activation is a real opportunity. We have come out of Covid and there’s a lot of small mum-and-dad businesses that did it tough and now have to overcome supply chain issues and worker shortages.

“These mum-and-dad businesses have great ideas to activate parks and there should be more community events in parks to maximise the environment and we can support them by buying local and backing them.”

CLP: Ben Hosking

Ben Hosking told NT News he has a longstanding connection with the electorate, particularly in Ludmilla and Fannie Bay.

Crime and anti-social behaviour will be key by-election campaign issues with Mr Hosking pushing for the reintroduction of the 2km public drinking laws, the removal of the public service pay freeze and greater incentives for rooftop solar.

Greens: Jonathan Parry

Greens candidate Jonathan Parry said he put his hand up for the Fannie Bay seat to “offer an alternative” to the major parties who have previously “failed to take local community issues seriously”.

The Parap local said climate change and justice issues would be on top of the agenda if he was elected on August 20.

“We see time and time again the two big parties struggle with long term decision making,” he said.

“I’m taking note of issues that actually matter to people on the ground which is a future for their families and a future for their children.”

Independent: Raj Samson Rajwin

Raj Samson Rajwin.

The man in the striking Akubra is back again running for a seat in Fannie Bay.

Independent Raj Samson Rajwin has a number of platforms he is pushing for, including crime control, senior’s health and local bank.

A former intensive care doctor, Mr Samson Rajwin said he has sympathy for drug addicts and sex workers.

He has also posted publicly he will work for a Darwin Action Group in order to target crime across the region.

Independent: George Mamouzellos

Candidate George Mamouzellos at the Nakara polling station for the Casuarina By-election in 2014.

Not much is known about the platform Independent candidate George Mamouzellos is running on for this election.

He voted “no” to a moratorium on the current DHA housing development at Lee Point, but no further explanation was given.

He has previously ran as an Independent in the 2014 Casuarina by-election and even filed a nomination to stand for Lord Mayor but was knocked back after it was revealed he was not on the electoral roll in Darwin.

Independent: Leah Potter

Leah Potter in 2019. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

Founder of the Sunset Soup Kitchen and comedian Leah Potter has a long history within the hospitality industry.

Ms Potter said on Facebook that her main concerns in the Fannie Bay electorate are crime and anti-social behaviour and she hopes to tackle these issues head on if she is elected.

She has also been involved in the hospitality industry for decades