Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now about twelve days since the local government elections across
the Northern Territory, we're still unsure who is set to
become the territory's next mayors and well counselors. The race
for Darwin Lord mayor really becoming pretty nasty. There's claims
of dodgy how to vote cards, posts on social media
about who's responsible, and at least one person contacting the
(00:23):
Electoral Commissioner to say they're happy to participate in any
kind of investigation. Now joining us on the line to
tell us more about the situation is the Northern Territory's
Electoral Commissioner, Kirston Kelly. Good morning to your commissioner. Good
morning now, Commissioner. First off, in relation to these complaints
(00:45):
that have been made in relation to the claims of
the dodgy how to vote cards, can I just confirm
that that has indeed now been referred to the Northern
Territory Police as well.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
So, yes, the Non Territory electri Commission did receive a
number of complaints regarding how to vote material or campaign
material and those complaints have been now been referred to
the NT Police to investigate.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Is that sort of usual process or why did you
decide to take that pass?
Speaker 2 (01:13):
So it is usual process. So we received complaints and
we made some inquiries with regards to that complaints will
receive them in writing. So an investigation is necessary for
us to understand the facts and determine whether an offense
has been committed. And the Northern Territory Electoral Commission, under
the Local Government Act and the Local Government Electoral Regulations
(01:34):
doesn't have investigation powers, so it's really important that an
investigation be undertaken, and the Electric Commission doesn't have those powers,
so we've referred that matter to the Ant Police.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
It must be a fairly unusual circumstance for the Northern
Territory Electoral Commission to get to the point where you've
got to refer something like this to the Northern to
the police. It just seems like this campaign got a
bit out of hand.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
So I think we've certainly spoken before about campaign offenses
and the requirements under the Local Government legislation and elections
generally for campaign material to be authorized and correctly authorized.
And it is an offense if a person produces and
distributes campaign material and it's unauthorized or they do that recklessly.
(02:17):
So those provisions exist because it's important then when people
are can testing an election and they're putting information out
in the public domain, that that is authorized. So those
provisions exist, and if there are allegations of contravention, then
it's important that we look into that and refer it
for investigation.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
So obviously that police referral has been made. Now we
received some information yesterday that Peter Styles has obviously formally
lodged a protest regarding allegations made against him, which he
says are unfounded. Given the gravity of these accusations, how
is the Electoral Commission? How are you planning to ensure
that all parties involved are given that fair chance to respond?
(02:59):
And you know, I guess that that any investigation done
by the Electoral Commission is is also carried out transparently.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
So again, so the Electoral Commission doesn't have investigation powers,
and that's why it's important than that to be referred
to the police who do have investigation powers and are
able to speak to people and get information to you know,
to put together the facts of the matters and seek
the necessary evidence to determine whether an offense is being committed.
And that's the important part. What we're trying to do
(03:29):
is understand whether an offense has or hasn't been committed.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
And so if there isn't an offense, there's really not
a lot more that the Electoral Commission can do.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
So not outside of that, So an offense can't be established,
then will there's no further action that was likely to
be taken. But again it's very early stages and I
can't really comment any further about the investigation which is
now in the hands of the Anti Police and certainly
we'll wait to receive that information to determine what the
nexts are. Is this the.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
First time that you've had to refer something to the
Northern Territory Police like this or have you done it?
Have you had to do it before?
Speaker 2 (04:06):
So where there are other you know, again looking at
things under offenses and potential offenses, that matters can be referred,
so it's not uncommon that they are referred to to
be further investigated. Again, where the Anti Electric Commission just
doesn't have the powers or authority to get information to
inform itself as to whether there's any actions that need
to be taken on matters.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Now, there's no doubt that social media has had such
a big role in spreading some of these allegations and
tensions as well during the election. And you and I,
again we've spoken about this before, but how is the
Electoral Commission going to work to sort of address some
of that misinformation and inappropriate conduct by candidates? Is there
something we can look to for the next election?
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Look, so we've certainly again there's campaign offenses and campaign
material promoting or opposing positions of candidates must be authorized,
and that's really important. And we've spoken previously about in
the Northern Territory there's no truth in political advertising. But
it's really important that people do authorize their campaign material
so that the electors or the public can see, you know,
who's making statements about what, and then they can put
(05:10):
a lens on their own, you know, fact checking or
whether or not what There might be some motivators for
making statements or otherwise. But we'd hope that in all
elections that there's a level of civility that all candidates
that are bied by. So it's important that people do
and it's important that people do authorize their materials so
that people know where it's come from. And that's important.
(05:31):
So I appreciate that that people do campaign and things
go on social media and there's when it's authorized. Lease
people know where it's actually coming from and the source
of that information. That's important.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
It is important, But it just, I mean, it just
seems as though it's become quite out of control this
time around. I don't know why. I don't know why
people feel the need to be so nasty about others
or to be having a crack. But yeah, I mean,
it'll be further discussions, I'm sure for us with our
our politicians as well. Commissioner. Can I ask where where
(06:05):
tomorrow in terms of this vote count in terms of
those preferences, I know everybody is hanging on to see
what happens next, and no doubt the candidates are probably
more so than anybody.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Absolutely. So we've been providing daily updates on our website
about how the count period's going. So tomorrow is at
twelve o'clock. Tomorrow is the last time the deadline for
postal votes to be returned, so final vote counting will
commence in the morning and then after that and then
we'll be moving to the distribution of preferences. Are starting
(06:39):
with the single vacancies or the mayoral positions as well,
so that again is a manual process that will take
some time. So we do have a lot of a
lot of candidates, and in some elections, the candidates that
are in the lead, if you like, when with the
number of votes, are still a long way off reaching
the quota which needs to be achieved, and that means
that the distribution of preference process will take time, and
(07:02):
rightly so it will be. It'll be methodical, and certainly
scrutiniers for candidates are invited to attend and all the
candidates have been advised to that make an observant scrutiny
of that process.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
So do you reckon By tomorrow afternoon we'll have a
clearer idea who's sort of you know, who's going to
take those roles.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
So certainly by tomorrow evening the results will all be
published on the website, the final results. And then on
Monday we have the declaration of results from ten at
ten o'clock in the morning, so the results tomorrow night
will be available.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
All right, Well, Northern Territory Electoral Commissioner Kirsten Kelly, really
appreciate your time this morning. Thank you for having a
chat with us.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
No trouble, have a great day.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Thank you.
Now about twelve days since the local government elections across
the Northern Territory, we're still unsure who is set to
become the territory's next mayors and well counselors. The race
for Darwin Lord mayor really becoming pretty nasty. There's claims
of dodgy how to vote cards, posts on social media
about who's responsible, and at least one person contacting the
(00:23):
Electoral Commissioner to say they're happy to participate in any
kind of investigation. Now joining us on the line to
tell us more about the situation is the Northern Territory's
Electoral Commissioner, Kirston Kelly. Good morning to your commissioner. Good
morning now, Commissioner. First off, in relation to these complaints
(00:45):
that have been made in relation to the claims of
the dodgy how to vote cards, can I just confirm
that that has indeed now been referred to the Northern
Territory Police as well.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
So, yes, the Non Territory electri Commission did receive a
number of complaints regarding how to vote material or campaign
material and those complaints have been now been referred to
the NT Police to investigate.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Is that sort of usual process or why did you
decide to take that pass?
Speaker 2 (01:13):
So it is usual process. So we received complaints and
we made some inquiries with regards to that complaints will
receive them in writing. So an investigation is necessary for
us to understand the facts and determine whether an offense
has been committed. And the Northern Territory Electoral Commission, under
the Local Government Act and the Local Government Electoral Regulations
(01:34):
doesn't have investigation powers, so it's really important that an
investigation be undertaken, and the Electric Commission doesn't have those powers,
so we've referred that matter to the Ant Police.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
It must be a fairly unusual circumstance for the Northern
Territory Electoral Commission to get to the point where you've
got to refer something like this to the Northern to
the police. It just seems like this campaign got a
bit out of hand.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
So I think we've certainly spoken before about campaign offenses
and the requirements under the Local Government legislation and elections
generally for campaign material to be authorized and correctly authorized.
And it is an offense if a person produces and
distributes campaign material and it's unauthorized or they do that recklessly.
(02:17):
So those provisions exist because it's important then when people
are can testing an election and they're putting information out
in the public domain, that that is authorized. So those
provisions exist, and if there are allegations of contravention, then
it's important that we look into that and refer it
for investigation.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
So obviously that police referral has been made. Now we
received some information yesterday that Peter Styles has obviously formally
lodged a protest regarding allegations made against him, which he
says are unfounded. Given the gravity of these accusations, how
is the Electoral Commission? How are you planning to ensure
that all parties involved are given that fair chance to respond?
(02:59):
And you know, I guess that that any investigation done
by the Electoral Commission is is also carried out transparently.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
So again, so the Electoral Commission doesn't have investigation powers,
and that's why it's important than that to be referred
to the police who do have investigation powers and are
able to speak to people and get information to you know,
to put together the facts of the matters and seek
the necessary evidence to determine whether an offense is being committed.
And that's the important part. What we're trying to do
(03:29):
is understand whether an offense has or hasn't been committed.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
And so if there isn't an offense, there's really not
a lot more that the Electoral Commission can do.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
So not outside of that, So an offense can't be established,
then will there's no further action that was likely to
be taken. But again it's very early stages and I
can't really comment any further about the investigation which is
now in the hands of the Anti Police and certainly
we'll wait to receive that information to determine what the
nexts are. Is this the.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
First time that you've had to refer something to the
Northern Territory Police like this or have you done it?
Have you had to do it before?
Speaker 2 (04:06):
So where there are other you know, again looking at
things under offenses and potential offenses, that matters can be referred,
so it's not uncommon that they are referred to to
be further investigated. Again, where the Anti Electric Commission just
doesn't have the powers or authority to get information to
inform itself as to whether there's any actions that need
to be taken on matters.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Now, there's no doubt that social media has had such
a big role in spreading some of these allegations and
tensions as well during the election. And you and I,
again we've spoken about this before, but how is the
Electoral Commission going to work to sort of address some
of that misinformation and inappropriate conduct by candidates? Is there
something we can look to for the next election?
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Look, so we've certainly again there's campaign offenses and campaign
material promoting or opposing positions of candidates must be authorized,
and that's really important. And we've spoken previously about in
the Northern Territory there's no truth in political advertising. But
it's really important that people do authorize their campaign material
so that the electors or the public can see, you know,
who's making statements about what, and then they can put
(05:10):
a lens on their own, you know, fact checking or
whether or not what There might be some motivators for
making statements or otherwise. But we'd hope that in all
elections that there's a level of civility that all candidates
that are bied by. So it's important that people do
and it's important that people do authorize their materials so
that people know where it's come from. And that's important.
(05:31):
So I appreciate that that people do campaign and things
go on social media and there's when it's authorized. Lease
people know where it's actually coming from and the source
of that information. That's important.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
It is important, But it just, I mean, it just
seems as though it's become quite out of control this
time around. I don't know why. I don't know why
people feel the need to be so nasty about others
or to be having a crack. But yeah, I mean,
it'll be further discussions, I'm sure for us with our
our politicians as well. Commissioner. Can I ask where where
(06:05):
tomorrow in terms of this vote count in terms of
those preferences, I know everybody is hanging on to see
what happens next, and no doubt the candidates are probably
more so than anybody.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Absolutely. So we've been providing daily updates on our website
about how the count period's going. So tomorrow is at
twelve o'clock. Tomorrow is the last time the deadline for
postal votes to be returned, so final vote counting will
commence in the morning and then after that and then
we'll be moving to the distribution of preferences. Are starting
(06:39):
with the single vacancies or the mayoral positions as well,
so that again is a manual process that will take
some time. So we do have a lot of a
lot of candidates, and in some elections, the candidates that
are in the lead, if you like, when with the
number of votes, are still a long way off reaching
the quota which needs to be achieved, and that means
that the distribution of preference process will take time, and
(07:02):
rightly so it will be. It'll be methodical, and certainly
scrutiniers for candidates are invited to attend and all the
candidates have been advised to that make an observant scrutiny
of that process.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
So do you reckon By tomorrow afternoon we'll have a
clearer idea who's sort of you know, who's going to
take those roles.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
So certainly by tomorrow evening the results will all be
published on the website, the final results. And then on
Monday we have the declaration of results from ten at
ten o'clock in the morning, so the results tomorrow night
will be available.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
All right, Well, Northern Territory Electoral Commissioner Kirsten Kelly, really
appreciate your time this morning. Thank you for having a
chat with us.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
No trouble, have a great day.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Thank you.
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