Remote voters have shared their hopes and aspirations for the upcoming election

Roads, jobs and more opportunity. Read what remote voters want this federal election.

From the dry deserts of the Red Centre to the tropical savanna of the Top End, remote voters in Lingiari say they want government to listen to them.

In the community of Pirlangimpi in the Tiwi Islands, voters had their say.

Murphy Tipakalippa said he voted every election in the hope his preferred candidate would respond to his community’s needs.

Mr Tipakalippa is an eager voter. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“If we vote this person in, they’ll look back to this community,” he said.

“They’ll look at what we need: clinics, roads and better schools.

“Roads are a big problem, we need to travel between communities.”

Irene also spoke of the need for improved roads across the Tiwi Islands.

Irene cast her vote to improve her community. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“We need more jobs, improved roads and houses,” she said.

Anthony Munkara is a Tiwi Bombers football star.

He is in idol for other young men in his community.

Munkara spoke of the needs of young people in Pirlangimpi.

Munkara spoke with party campaigners to inform his vote. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“We need to grow our school for the new generation coming in,” Munkara said.

“Hopefully the red team (Labor) and orange team (CLP) listen to us.”

In Pirlangimpi, like many other remote communities, one of the biggest barriers to young people is lack of opportunity.

There are 250 registered voters in Pirlangimpi. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Michelle Murakami and Anna Tipiloura work at the local skills and training centre.

“Lots of kids finish school and there’s nothing for them to do,” Ms Murakami said.

“There’s no job opportunities.”

There was a line of voters. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The pair hoped Labor’s new Remote Jobs and Economic Development (RJED) program would bring more work to the community.

“The trials were pretty successful,” Ms Tipiloura said.

“It’s made a few changes already.”

Tony Brown lives in Gippsland, but has done FIFO work out of Melville Port for the past seven years.

Tony Brown at the AEC mobile polling station in Pirlangimpi. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“I’d just like to see more opportunities for people in remote communities,” he said.

“I think they want to succeed, but are being held back by the amount of availability to work.”

Incumbent Labor MP Marion Scrymgour, the daughter of a Tiwi woman, said she would continue to advocate for her constituents.

Labor volunteers handed out how to vote cards. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“Because I am a member of the government, I have been able to advocate for what Territorians in remote communities need including food security and improved roads,” Ms Scrymgour said.

“We will keep working to build the future for the NT remote communities”

Her opposite number, Lisa Siebert of the Country Liberal Party, said she would review and reform existing services and Land Councils to deliver improvements to remote communities.

“An audit of all government programs and expenditure in Indigenous affairs will be undertaken to identify failed and unnecessary funding that can be reprioritised towards frontline solutions to help Aboriginal Territorians,” she said.

Originally published as Remote voters have shared their hopes and aspirations for the upcoming election