1
00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,920
Speaker 1: May or may not be aware that there is indeed

2
00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:06,400
Speaker 1: another by election this weekend, but it is for council

3
00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:08,760
Speaker 1: and it's for the waters Ward. And joining me in

4
00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:10,680
Speaker 1: the studio to tell us a little bit more is

5
00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:14,600
Speaker 1: the Deputy Electoral Commissioner Kirston Kelly. Good morning to you, Kirston.

6
00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:16,360
Speaker 2: Good morning Katie, and good morning listeners.

7
00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:18,680
Speaker 1: Thank you so much for your time this morning. Now

8
00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:23,840
Speaker 1: with this by election for the waters Ward, what suburbs

9
00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:25,520
Speaker 1: have de voute Katie?

10
00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:28,120
Speaker 2: So there are a number of suburbs is about twelve thousand,

11
00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:31,280
Speaker 2: nine hundred electors that are on the role at the

12
00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:33,720
Speaker 2: close of rolls who are eligible to participate in the

13
00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:36,600
Speaker 2: waters Ward by election, and those electors are from the

14
00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:43,199
Speaker 2: suburbs of Wogerman, will Lagi, Moyle, Anula, Malac, Karama, Marara

15
00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:48,640
Speaker 2: and North Lakes Eton, Winnelly, Kunawara, Karama if I've missed

16
00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:51,000
Speaker 2: Karama and parts of Barrama as well are included in

17
00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:51,519
Speaker 2: the suburbs.

18
00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:56,160
Speaker 1: So it's really quite a large electorate or ward, isn't it.

19
00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:57,920
Speaker 2: It is quite a large one. So certainly that a

20
00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:01,920
Speaker 2: lot of the northern suburbs in this election, and has there.

21
00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:05,399
Speaker 1: Been have people had the opportunity to vote early already

22
00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:08,000
Speaker 1: that they have actually, so we're moving into our second

23
00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:09,280
Speaker 1: week of early voting.

24
00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:12,600
Speaker 2: So today we've had about twenty two percent of the

25
00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:16,240
Speaker 2: electors come and participate and take up early voting opportunities,

26
00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:19,440
Speaker 2: either postal voting or coming in and attending an early

27
00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:22,280
Speaker 2: voting center. And those are located in our office, the

28
00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:25,760
Speaker 2: Anti Electoral Commission office in TCG Center and also the

29
00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:28,360
Speaker 2: Casuarina Library of the Community Center. There is another early

30
00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:32,679
Speaker 2: voting center that's had over nearly two thousand electors have

31
00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:35,280
Speaker 2: gone to Casuarina and cast an early vote there.

32
00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:38,640
Speaker 1: That is good to hear, and I guess it's always

33
00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:40,520
Speaker 1: like it is always good when people get in and

34
00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:43,800
Speaker 1: vote early. You know, only vote once. Don't listen to

35
00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:46,640
Speaker 1: Kesi Epiric, the Member for God's Advice who sets vote

36
00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:50,480
Speaker 1: frequently because you're only allowed to vote once. But make

37
00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:51,920
Speaker 1: sure that you do get in there early and then

38
00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:53,680
Speaker 1: it sort of makes things a bit easier as well

39
00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:55,840
Speaker 1: if come Saturday, you've got plenty of other things that

40
00:01:55,880 --> 00:02:00,560
Speaker 1: you need to get done. Now with the with the

41
00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:04,480
Speaker 1: the number of people on the on the electron on

42
00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:08,120
Speaker 1: the electoral role in that ward just find my words

43
00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:12,040
Speaker 1: for this morning. Twenty two percent already out and voted.

44
00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:14,560
Speaker 1: Are you hoping to get a good voter turnout? What

45
00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:17,720
Speaker 1: is the voter turnout usually like with council by elections.

46
00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:19,959
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a really good question, and we certainly would

47
00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:23,360
Speaker 2: encourage all voters that haven't haven an entitlement, that haven't

48
00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:26,240
Speaker 2: yet voted, to please come and vote through early voting

49
00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:29,480
Speaker 2: or on election day. But in comparison, Katie, we can

50
00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:32,400
Speaker 2: see in the February twenty twenty Lines Ward by election

51
00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:35,800
Speaker 2: we had about a fifty two percent voter turnout, and

52
00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:38,320
Speaker 2: when we look at the local government elections from August

53
00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:40,959
Speaker 2: twenty twenty one, there was about a sixty four percent

54
00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:43,680
Speaker 2: turnout for the Warters Ward. So at twenty two percent currently,

55
00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:47,320
Speaker 2: we're not quite there. We absolutely would like people to

56
00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:49,160
Speaker 2: come out. We certainly don't want to see those numbers

57
00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:52,120
Speaker 2: going backwards. We certainly would like people to participate. And

58
00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:54,720
Speaker 2: with two weeks of early voting and three voting day

59
00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:58,600
Speaker 2: election day voting centers available and postal votes closing today,

60
00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:00,760
Speaker 2: so there is still an opportunity for your listeners who

61
00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:03,200
Speaker 2: are in those wards that don't or can't make a

62
00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:06,480
Speaker 2: voting center to please contact the Electoral Commission or get

63
00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:08,760
Speaker 2: online and apply for a postal vote. They do close

64
00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:12,640
Speaker 2: today and then we've got extended voting hours through early

65
00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:16,880
Speaker 2: voting at Casarina Library and also the Antech Electoral Office.

66
00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:19,600
Speaker 2: Today it's open till five o'clock. Tomorrow it's open from

67
00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,040
Speaker 2: five until six o'clock, so there's an extra hour on

68
00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:24,080
Speaker 2: your way home from work. Please come and see the

69
00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:26,960
Speaker 2: team and please cast your vote. And on election Day

70
00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:30,040
Speaker 2: we've got three election day voting centers and they are

71
00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:34,800
Speaker 2: the Moyal Primary School, Sanderson Middle School and o'lachland Catholic College,

72
00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:37,400
Speaker 2: so they're certainly well positioned in those suburbs that do

73
00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,240
Speaker 2: need to vote. We'd certainly encourage people to come and

74
00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:41,640
Speaker 2: attend and cast their vote.

75
00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:44,240
Speaker 1: So really trying to make it as easy as possible

76
00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:46,280
Speaker 1: for people to get out there and vote. And I

77
00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:48,720
Speaker 1: know that we're all a bit disappointed with the voter

78
00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:51,400
Speaker 1: turnout at the Fannny Bay by election, but that was

79
00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:54,560
Speaker 1: you know, that's obviously for the Northern Territory Government. We

80
00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:57,160
Speaker 1: are talking here about council. Make sure that you get

81
00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,960
Speaker 1: out there, make your voice heard. You know, we're lucky

82
00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:01,640
Speaker 1: to live in a country where we all have the

83
00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:04,320
Speaker 1: opportunity to get out there and vote, So do make

84
00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:06,800
Speaker 1: sure that you go and do so. I do just

85
00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:08,680
Speaker 1: want to ask, so, are there going to be fines

86
00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:10,600
Speaker 1: for those who don't turn up to vote?

87
00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:13,880
Speaker 2: So in the Northern Territory, at all levels of government,

88
00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:17,880
Speaker 2: voting is compulsory, Katie, So there is a requirement for

89
00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:20,760
Speaker 2: voters to participate. There is also an opportunity if there's

90
00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:23,800
Speaker 2: a reasonable excuse where people can't attend, for those to

91
00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:25,760
Speaker 2: be lodged. But certainly at the end of each election

92
00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:28,039
Speaker 2: we'll look at the data and see and I certainly

93
00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:30,240
Speaker 2: heard the Commissioner speaking with the earlier in the week

94
00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:31,880
Speaker 2: that we will be looking at the data from the

95
00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:35,840
Speaker 2: Fanny Bay by election just to understand the demographics of

96
00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:39,040
Speaker 2: where people aren't participating it and possible reasons for that

97
00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:41,920
Speaker 2: and make decisions about non voters at that point.

98
00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:45,320
Speaker 1: Yeah. Now, just remind us one last time, Kirsten, where

99
00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:48,760
Speaker 1: can people go to vote if they have not already

100
00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:49,560
Speaker 1: done so.

101
00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:51,919
Speaker 2: So first thing is, if you aren't able to attend

102
00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:54,440
Speaker 2: a voting center, please contact the Electoral Commission or go

103
00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:58,599
Speaker 2: online and apply for a postal vote. Second options is

104
00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:02,480
Speaker 2: early voting today and tomorrow five o'clock today Casarina Library

105
00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:06,040
Speaker 2: or the Northern Territory Electoral Commission Office, eighty Mitchell Street.

106
00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:09,160
Speaker 2: Tomorrow that again is open for that additional hour till

107
00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:11,479
Speaker 2: six o'clock from eight till six tomorrow, and then we've

108
00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:13,720
Speaker 2: got our three election day voting centers which will be

109
00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:15,359
Speaker 2: open from eight until six o'clock.

110
00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:18,640
Speaker 1: So get out there make sure you vote. Kirsten Kelly,

111
00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:22,159
Speaker 1: the Deputy Electoral Commissioner, we really appreciate your time this morning,

112
00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,560
Speaker 1: thanks so much for coming in. And just one last

113
00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:28,159
Speaker 1: thing there is there is also another by election coming

114
00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:29,240
Speaker 1: up as well, isn't there.

115
00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:32,320
Speaker 2: There certainly is a busy time for the Electoral Commission

116
00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,640
Speaker 2: and busy time for the electors in those areas subject

117
00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:37,719
Speaker 2: to the by election. So I just wanted to let

118
00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:41,760
Speaker 2: people know that the Wogite Shire also has a by election,

119
00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:45,359
Speaker 2: with election day being the seventeenth of September. So just

120
00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:48,920
Speaker 2: letting people know that nominations for candidacy opened last Friday.

121
00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:52,560
Speaker 2: They do close on Thursday, the first of September, so

122
00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,280
Speaker 2: that's next week at twelve noon. If you've got any

123
00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:58,920
Speaker 2: questions about the nomination process, please contact the Anti Electrical Commission.

124
00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:01,080
Speaker 2: If you're interested in unstanding what it means to be

125
00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:05,000
Speaker 2: a counselor in that particular shire, the Waggite Shire, please

126
00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:09,320
Speaker 2: contact the Woggite Council office and get some information there well.

127
00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:11,159
Speaker 1: And I know we've got plenty of people that listen

128
00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:13,520
Speaker 1: to the show that live in that area. So if

129
00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:17,920
Speaker 1: you are somebody that listens and you are keen you know,

130
00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:20,800
Speaker 1: to be part of the local council there, I think

131
00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:23,400
Speaker 1: this is a fantastic opportunity, So get in contact with

132
00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:26,919
Speaker 1: the Northern Territory Electoral Commission and you can find out more. Kirsten,

133
00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:28,599
Speaker 1: thank you so much for your time this morning.

134
00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:29,160
Speaker 2: Thank you Kate,