1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,520 Speaker 1: Well, it's all happening around the territory at the moment 2 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 1: and as we know on Friday, well we were in 3 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:09,879 Speaker 1: the situation where the declaration of candidates for the upcoming 4 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 1: council elections happened. And joining me in the studio to 5 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:16,240 Speaker 1: talk further about that is the Northern Territory Selectoral Commissioner 6 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 1: Ian Logan Ethan. Good morning to you. 7 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:19,240 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie. 8 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:22,240 Speaker 1: Busy Friday for you, no doubt, and busy into the weekend. 9 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:24,959 Speaker 2: I look, it was a busy Friday, as you said, 10 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 2: we did the declaration for all the top end candidates 11 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 2: in Darwin and for the four councils in Central Australia. 12 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 2: They were done in Alice Springs. So in total we've 13 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:38,199 Speaker 2: had three hundred and three candidates for one hundred and 14 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 2: fifty nine vacancies. 15 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:41,320 Speaker 1: How does that compare to other years? 16 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 2: So in twenty seventeen we had three hundred and twenty 17 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 2: candidates and there was one hundred and fifty seven vacancies, 18 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:52,519 Speaker 2: So it's certainly like on par I think some of 19 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 2: the big differences, particularly in Darwin and in Palmerston, we 20 00:00:56,320 --> 00:01:00,760 Speaker 2: had much bigger fields, particularly for the mayoral position in 21 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 2: both those wards. 22 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, honestly, one year there it was like a horse race. 23 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 1: There were so many people who'd put their hands up 24 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 1: for the mayoral job. 25 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 2: Yeah. Look, you know it was pretty close to a 26 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:13,120 Speaker 2: Melbourne cup field in twenty seventeen. But this year there's 27 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 2: six candidates for the mayor in Darwin and three candidates 28 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 2: in Parmestan. 29 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 1: Okay, and how about that many put their hand up 30 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 1: in the likes of Litchfield and Catherine for the mayoral position. 31 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 2: Look, I don't have the data for Catain, but I 32 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 2: can say for Litchfield there were seven candidates for the 33 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 2: mayoral position, and in. 34 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 1: The likes of Darwin there is quite a few wards 35 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 1: as well, isn't there Did we have quite a few 36 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: candidates and put their hands up for those wards? 37 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 2: Look we did. They were noticeably a bit lower than 38 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 2: twenty seventeen, particularly Sane Lyon's ward. That was quite a 39 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 2: large number of candidates in twenty seventeen. This year in 40 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 2: Lions there's eight candidates for three positions. In Chan there's 41 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 2: five candidates for three positions, Richardson six candidates for three positions, 42 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 2: and in Waters six candidates for three positions. You're noted 43 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:08,920 Speaker 2: in the media that you know, a number of candidates 44 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:12,919 Speaker 2: aren't standing again. Sorry, a number of councilors aren't standing again, 45 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 2: so that may have had an impact. 46 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:16,640 Speaker 1: Okay, I was going to say, what do you reckon 47 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 1: has caused the impact in terms of some of those 48 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:21,079 Speaker 1: numbers being a bit lower? Do you have any idea? 49 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 2: Look, I don't particularly know. Obviously, nominations, it's up to 50 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 2: the individuals. We certainly advertised nominations and people certainly got 51 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 2: in quick. But really, you know, that's just a matter 52 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:37,359 Speaker 2: for people who decide, you know, whether they want to 53 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 2: put up their hand to run for council. 54 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, hey, what's the process now? We know that the 55 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:44,640 Speaker 1: election's obviously happening on August twenty eight, but what is 56 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 1: that process now? 57 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 2: So the process now is that we've printed the ballot 58 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:53,079 Speaker 2: papers and on the weekend we had a staff putting 59 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 2: the ballot papers, organizing all the postal votes. So we've 60 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 2: had clos to six thousand postal votes already and they've 61 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:00,640 Speaker 2: been dropped off with Australia Post because we want them 62 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:05,519 Speaker 2: to get to electors as quickly as possible. Really, this week, 63 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 2: there's a lot of logistics that's happening, particularly out in 64 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 2: the remote communities. But the big thing for the people 65 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:17,679 Speaker 2: of Darwin, Palmerston and Lichfield is that early voting starts 66 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 2: on the sixteenth of August. 67 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 1: So there'll be those early voting centers from the sixteenth 68 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:22,960 Speaker 1: of August. 69 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 2: Is that right, that's correct. They'll be at cash in 70 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 2: a library, Darwen Entertainment Center, call a Linger shopping Center, 71 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 2: Gateway Shopping Center and Palmerston Shopping Center. 72 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 1: I reckon, that's a really good idea in terms of 73 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 1: making it a bit easier for people. There's lots of people, 74 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: as we know, who work on Saturdays, you know, the 75 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:42,400 Speaker 1: day that the election is held. So in terms of 76 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 1: that ease of being able to vote, I think it's 77 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 1: a good thing. 78 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 2: Look, it absolutely is a good thing. Look what we 79 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 2: know is that we need to make voting more convenient 80 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 2: and more people will vote, you know. And I also 81 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 2: I should say a shout out to the councils in 82 00:03:57,360 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 2: terms of the administration of the councils, because they've a 83 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 2: to because they're paying for the selection and they've agreed to, 84 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 2: you know, have a significant number of early voting centers 85 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 2: so that people can participate and do you. 86 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: Reckon, We're ever going to get to the point where 87 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 1: people can vote online. 88 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 2: Look in time, Okatie, let's see how the census goes tomorrow. 89 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 2: I think that that'll probably be a good indicator in 90 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 2: terms of, you know, when we move to online services. 91 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 2: Like I've sort of said to you that there's certainly 92 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 2: an issue in regard to security and cybersecurity that really 93 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 2: needs to be addressed. But I think it'll be small steps. 94 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 2: I think you'll see, like let's say in the NT 95 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 2: government soon they'll be going to a enterprise agreement ballot 96 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 2: and that's all done online. So I think it's these 97 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 2: small steps. You know, that'll be eleven twelve thousand people. 98 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:54,920 Speaker 2: So once people get comfortable with it, I think, and 99 00:04:56,120 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 2: people sort of agree with or people accept that the 100 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 2: security issues are being addressed, then that will happen. You know, 101 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:10,280 Speaker 2: one great thing about Australia, and you know, particularly about 102 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 2: in the territory, is that when we have elections, we 103 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 2: don't have riots afterwards because people trust the Electoral Commission 104 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 2: and they know the process. It's all open and transparent. 105 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 2: Every ballot that's counted is done in front of scrutinys 106 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 2: and that's a very important part of our democracy. 107 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 1: And one of the questions that we always get asked 108 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 1: is are we going to be fined if we don't 109 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 1: turn up to vote. 110 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 2: We run these elections for the councils and they make 111 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 2: the determination whether they want to pursue non voters. So 112 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 2: if they choose to, then we certainly will pursue that 113 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 2: on their behalf. 114 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:45,119 Speaker 1: Now, what are the rules for the signs? Can people 115 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 1: sort of have signs anywhere? Or what's the go I 116 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: guess in the lead in and then when it comes 117 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:51,360 Speaker 1: to those voting centers opening. 118 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 2: Look in relation to where signs can be. There are 119 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 2: policies we have DIPPLE, they have their policies in relation 120 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 2: to where it can be, on roads, power and war authority, 121 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 2: they have their policies as well, and each council has 122 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:08,599 Speaker 2: their own policies. So all that's available on our website 123 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 2: and we have sent that to all candidates and ensuring 124 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 2: that asking them to make sure that they comply with 125 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 2: these policies. In terms of the signage, it has to 126 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:21,559 Speaker 2: be authorized and if it's printed, you need to state 127 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 2: who's printed. The documents. In regard to early voting that 128 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 2: starts on the sixteenth of August, there'll be no campaigning 129 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:32,039 Speaker 2: at early voting centers. What we will have is we 130 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 2: will have a pamphlet folder at each of those early 131 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 2: voting centers with a how to vote material will be available, 132 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 2: so electors have the option to pick up the how 133 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 2: to vote material if they want to. 134 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 1: Ian Logan, Nathan, it's always good to catch up with 135 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:49,600 Speaker 1: you the Electoral commissioner here in the Northern Territory. Thank 136 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 1: you so much for coming in and having a chat 137 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 1: with us today. Thank you Katie, and we will take 138 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:56,599 Speaker 1: you through some of those candidates as well throughout the morning, 139 00:06:56,680 --> 00:06:59,159 Speaker 1: so stick around, there's lots coming your way today.