Luke Gosling MP says more Territory senators a matter of ‘need, size and fairness’

Solomon MP Luke Gosling says limiting the Territory to two senators is not fair to the jurisdiction, renewing calls for electoral reform.

Solomon MP Luke Gosling says the number of Northern Territory senators should increase as a matter of “need, size and fairness”.

It comes as federal opposition members have called for the Albanese government to rule out expanding the size of parliament in this term.

The Australian Labor Party at its national conference in August committed to addressing the “historic proportional under-representation” of the NT and the ACT in the senate.

Each territory has two senators compared with 12 in each state, regardless of population, meaning the NT is under-represented compared with Tasmania but overrepresented compared with the five other states.

Luke Gosling says more NT senators is a matter of ‘need, size and fairness’.

Mr Gosling argued the needs and geographical size of the NT necessitated a bigger presence in the upper house.

“Right now, we only have two senators battling against 74 southerners,” Mr Gosling said.

“Tasmania has twice our population but six times as many senators.

“When it comes to size we are 20 times larger than Tasmania, which stretches our two senators, while 12 senators comfortably service the Apple Isle.

“Politics is about numbers. More federal representation will mean we have more of a say when it comes to budget allocation and policy decisions – which ultimately means more for the Territory.”

Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said the government would consider recommendations from a report into electoral reform currently being put together by the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters.

“Greater representation of the Northern Territory in our federal parliament is incredibly important in advancing the best interests of Territorians and highlighting their concerns and aspirations,” she said.

One of the NT’s two senators, Malarndirri McCarthy, said the government would consider all recommendations from a report into electoral reform. Picture: Nicki Connolly.

“From restoring Territory rights to fighting to keep the seat of Lingiari, the Australian Labor Party remains proudly committed to the fair representation of Territorians in our federal parliament.

“I understand the committee has been considering the issue of one vote, one value, particularly the representation of the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.

“The government will consider all recommendations and looks forward to the final report later this year.”

Both the NT and the ACT’s senate historically had one senator from each major party until independent David Pocock toppled the Liberal Party’s ACT candidate at last year’s election.

The senate was originally designed as a place where the six states would be represented equally and it was not until 1975 the territories were represented in the upper house.