1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,279 Speaker 1: We just heard from Convat Scarlets and now heading across 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:06,840 Speaker 1: to speak to Peter Styles, who leads Convat Scarlets at 3 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: the moment for the race to mayor. Now we know 4 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:12,880 Speaker 1: that it's yes, it's currently CON's on twenty point six 5 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:16,280 Speaker 1: percent of the votes and the former Deputy Chief Minister, 6 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: Peter Styles leads on twenty three percent of the votes 7 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 1: and he joins me in the studio this morning. Good 8 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:24,239 Speaker 1: morning to your Styles, eh. 9 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie, and good morning to all your listeners 10 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:26,479 Speaker 2: out there. 11 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: Now it is certainly a pretty close race from your perspective, 12 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 1: how the numbers looking well, Katie. 13 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:36,320 Speaker 2: The votes has still been countered, obviously, and it's a 14 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 2: very close race. But what's already clear is the message 15 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 2: from the community that people want transparency and council decisions. 16 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 2: They want safer streets and better lighting and support for 17 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 2: the police, a cleaner and greener city, and a fairer 18 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 2: deal for parking for trades and city workers, and of 19 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 2: course a mayor that genuinely listens. That's what people have 20 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 2: told me right across Darwin. And no matter what the 21 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 2: final result is, I'm very grateful for the support and 22 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 2: the chances to continue to stand up for those values. 23 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:07,040 Speaker 1: Now, I know it's been a pretty low voter turnout 24 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 1: from what the Northern Territory Electoral Commission have said to me, 25 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:13,039 Speaker 1: How did you feel in terms of that voter turnout? 26 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:15,319 Speaker 1: Could just sort of feel that on the you know, 27 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,919 Speaker 1: on the ground. You've been involved in plenty of elections before. 28 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 2: Well, Katie. One of the things that have occurred is 29 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 2: the Darwin City Council took the number of booths down 30 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:26,279 Speaker 2: before and people were standing in lines. At one stage 31 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:30,320 Speaker 2: at Darwin City there was a line about three hundred 32 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:32,840 Speaker 2: and fifty meters long and people were outstanding in the 33 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 2: sun and from what I was told, a lot I've 34 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 2: actually just left. They weren't going to stand the sun 35 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:40,839 Speaker 2: for hours on end waiting for their opportunity to vote, 36 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 2: so they just left. 37 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 1: So you reckon, that's why we've had a low voter turnout. Potentially, 38 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 1: it's because there hasn't been as many voting centers and 39 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: people have been lined up for ages and. 40 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 2: Ages well you know, people who don't have a car 41 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 2: and got to catch buses and things like that. It 42 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 2: may it may contribute to it, but standing in line 43 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 2: in the sun for half an hour or an hour to 44 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 2: wait to vote. It's just not on so that's one 45 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 2: of the reasons. But there's probably a lack of communication 46 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:10,080 Speaker 2: and perhaps a lack of trust in what's going on. 47 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 1: Look, I'm a very studious voter. I always get out 48 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:17,519 Speaker 1: there and vote early. Starsy. I was there early and voted, 49 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 1: but my husband forgot until Saturday afternoon, so I drove 50 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 1: him to the entertainment center. There was a line, but 51 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:24,960 Speaker 1: I will say they moved through it pretty fast. They 52 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 1: got everybody going through really quite quickly. 53 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 2: They did, and you've got to hand it to the 54 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 2: actual Electoral commission staff who were handling that. They had 55 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 2: a lot of people who are a bit cranky about 56 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 2: standing in the sun, but they dealt with it. And 57 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 2: my understanding is that they moved them through pretty quickly, 58 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:41,680 Speaker 2: but there was still a huge line at one stage, 59 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:43,399 Speaker 2: and that takes time to get through. 60 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 1: Now, Starsy, as it currently stands, you're sitting on six thousand, 61 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 1: one hundred and twelve votes combat scarlets on five four 62 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:57,359 Speaker 1: hundred and ninety four. Do you have any idea how 63 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:01,359 Speaker 1: those preferences are going to fly? I mean, you've got 64 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 1: some people who have received quite a high number of 65 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 1: votes the likes of Sam Western Sylvia clenaries, for example, 66 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: Julie Fraser, Nicole Brown. I mean, do you know whether 67 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 1: their preferences are flowing towards you or how they're flowing 68 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 1: at this point? 69 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 2: Well, Katie, it's hard to tell because a lot of 70 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:24,399 Speaker 2: people don't follow the how to vote cards. But those 71 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 2: people have all put me last on their cards, so 72 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 2: preferences will probably flow through the con from those people. 73 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:35,240 Speaker 1: Yeah right, okay, so some of those ones have put 74 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 1: you last. What about the others? 75 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 2: Some of them have put me number two and some 76 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 2: are number four. But those people will go out fairly quickly, 77 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 2: I think, given the numbers, So those preferences will flow 78 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 2: to me. But those people you just mentioned, most of 79 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 2: those people have got me number twelve or thirteen. 80 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 1: Okay, so the preferences could have a big impact. So 81 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:57,480 Speaker 1: how are you feeling at the moment? Are you feeling 82 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:00,119 Speaker 1: confident or just way too early to tell? 83 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 2: To tell, Katie, Yes, those preferences are going all over 84 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 2: the place from my understanding, so we just have to wait. 85 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 2: And the Electoral Commission says about Friday we may have 86 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 2: an answer or some indication at least. 87 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 1: So by this Friday, we should have some indication. All right, Well, 88 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 1: we will keep a really close eye on things. I 89 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:18,320 Speaker 1: know that a lot of our listeners wanting to see 90 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 1: exactly how things are going to go. Can I ask 91 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 1: you now? We did speak to Combat Scarlets about this. 92 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 1: I've also spoken to Athena Pasco Bell about this. It 93 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:31,159 Speaker 1: seems to have been a really nasty campaign, you know, 94 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: like across the board from different people. How have you 95 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:38,039 Speaker 1: found it? I know you've been involved in many elections 96 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:42,320 Speaker 1: over the years. From your perspective, has it been a nasty, 97 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 1: dirty sort of race. 98 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:47,279 Speaker 2: Well, Katie, there's things still come out, but that has 99 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 2: been very dirt and deceitful in some instances. It's sad 100 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:54,599 Speaker 2: that it's like that, and I think that something needs 101 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 2: to be done to tighten the game up a little. 102 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:58,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, Like, what do you think could change? Does there 103 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 1: need to be some legislative changes? 104 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 2: Well, I think so. I think the way that the 105 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 2: election was conducted, people not being able to hand out 106 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 2: how to vote cards, some interesting changes in the way 107 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 2: that people did their preferences, which caused some people to 108 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 2: change their how to vote cards or had to change 109 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:19,279 Speaker 2: the how to vote cards, which put them at a disadvantage. 110 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 2: So there's a lot of things that occurred that put 111 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:24,360 Speaker 2: certain candidates at disadvantages and I think that needs to 112 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 2: be looked at, and if legislation needs to change, then 113 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 2: we need to look at that as well. 114 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 1: I mean, what about some of the online victory all 115 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 1: as well. 116 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 2: Well, Katie, I didn't get involved in that, and quite 117 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:36,159 Speaker 2: I didn't see a lot of I was busy campaigning 118 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 2: and talking to people and finding out what they wanted, 119 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 2: So I was lucky. I just stayed right out of that. 120 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:44,840 Speaker 2: But the transparency and decision making is one thing that 121 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 2: we need to make sure is legislated, and say for 122 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 2: streets tackling crime, these are the issues that I was 123 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,280 Speaker 2: concerned about. I stayed right away from that nasty stuff 124 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 2: and didn't get involved. 125 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 1: Well, Peter Styles, We're going to have to wait and 126 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,280 Speaker 1: see what happens over the coming days. No doubt I'll 127 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:02,840 Speaker 1: be talking to you throughout. 128 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:05,359 Speaker 2: The week, well I hope. So Katie, I'm happy to 129 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:07,160 Speaker 2: come in and have a chat about anything you want 130 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 2: to talk about. 131 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:09,599 Speaker 1: Good on, y Starzi. Good to catch up with you. 132 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for your time this morning. 133 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:11,919 Speaker 2: Thanks Coatie.