Mr WOOD - 2001-10-23
Could you please give the Assembly a report on the recent local government election in the Litchfield Shire? Could the minister also consider, as a matter of urgency, the possibility of changing the Local Government or Electoral Act regulations, in consultation with local government, to enable postal ballots to be used as an optional - and I stress the word ‘optional’ - system of voting? This system is presently used in other states such as Tasmania and Victoria. This would mean that voters would not have to attend the polling booth again, and again, if a possible subsequent by-election was called due to a current councillor being elected as Shire President.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. It was an unfortunate incident. I was advised that there was a break-in in the Litchfield Shire building and a ballot box was stolen. The ballot box contained 15 ballot papers for the president of the shire and two for a Southport councillor. It was one of those strange events. I was advised of the incident and, of course, we had the unfortunate outcome that both candidates for the position of Shire President received the same number of votes. The Electoral Office advised us of what happened after the counting of the ballots took place, and they also obtained legal advice. The legal advice was that the election had to be repeated. Some people in the Litchfield Shire have to vote four times, in other cases five times, and it is something in which we cannot interfere. We are not going to interfere with the democratic process. The Electoral Office has the whole situation in hand.
With regards to the other question about the ballot votes, certainly I am going to discuss this issue with the community, and with the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory. If I see there is overwhelming support, I will seriously consider it.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. It was an unfortunate incident. I was advised that there was a break-in in the Litchfield Shire building and a ballot box was stolen. The ballot box contained 15 ballot papers for the president of the shire and two for a Southport councillor. It was one of those strange events. I was advised of the incident and, of course, we had the unfortunate outcome that both candidates for the position of Shire President received the same number of votes. The Electoral Office advised us of what happened after the counting of the ballots took place, and they also obtained legal advice. The legal advice was that the election had to be repeated. Some people in the Litchfield Shire have to vote four times, in other cases five times, and it is something in which we cannot interfere. We are not going to interfere with the democratic process. The Electoral Office has the whole situation in hand.
With regards to the other question about the ballot votes, certainly I am going to discuss this issue with the community, and with the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory. If I see there is overwhelming support, I will seriously consider it.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016