November 18, 2025 • 5 mins
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, as we know, several Northern Territory councils are heading
back to the polls with twelve candidates, as I understand,
nominated to fill six vacancies that have been left unfilled
after August's local government elections. Now, as you'll recall, well,
I hope you recall. We all obviously went to the
polls in August, but in some of the local government
and ward positions they either weren't filled or Litchfield they've
(00:22):
got a situation where Rachel Wright was elected as the mayor,
which means that there's now a vacancy for one of
those councilor positions. Now joining us on the line is
the Northern Territory Electoral Commissioner, Kirsten Kelly. Good morning to you, Kirston.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Good morning Katie, Thanks so much for your.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Time this morning. Now, can you talk me through where
the local government's supplementary elections are actually happening.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Yeah, So there were six local government council wards that
required supplementary elections, so there are three wards which are
having contested elections. So it means that elections are required
because there was more candidates nominating for the number of
vacancies and there are three local government council wards where
voting is not required because they are uncontested elections where
(01:09):
there was the same number of vacancies as there were candidates.
So the wards that are requiring voters within those wards
to vote is the Litchfield Council North Ward and then
the West Arnham Regional Councils. There's two wards there, Kackadoo
Ward and Gumbalunya Ward.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Yeah right, okay, so how so when exactly are they happening?
It's not this weekend but next weekend? Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (01:31):
So early voting has started for those elections. So early
voting services are available at the Anti Electoral Commission office
in the city. Remote voting services have started for the
West Arnham Regional Council Kackadoo and gumbaluniawards. There has been
some cancellations to the schedules due to the current weather
(01:52):
events and we're looking to see if we can go
back and voting for the Litchfield north Ward. Whilst early
voting is open and post votings open, there'll be voting
available next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at Whitewood Hall and
then again on Saturday. On election day, the twenty ninth
of November at Whitewood Hall as well.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Commissioner, you just touched on this, you know, this weather
that we're set to experience. How big an impact is
this potentially going to have for you guys, you know,
delivering these supplementary elections.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Yeah, and it doesn't it's really important. And we're very
fortunate in Allder Territory that for our general elections, they're
fixed by law, fixed dates, and so they happen before
the wet season. So when we have to run elections
outside and in the wet season, it can present logistical challenges.
So we do look and we will look around to
make sure that we can provide voting services to remote
(02:44):
communities and working with the councils impacted to make sure
we can get our teams out there safely, but also
when they're out there, that voters and community can reasonably
access those services. So it turns into like a logistical
emergency response, if you like. So we're monitoring secure NT,
We're looking at what's happening with the movement of the
tracking and even though these communities might be outside of
(03:06):
the impact zones, we do know in the northern territory
that big rains, particularly up in the arm and land escarpment,
can move quite quickly through the territory, So that does
certainly restrict access and it also restricts our ability to
get into some of these remote communities. So it's important
that we plan for these events and make adjustments where
we can.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Yeah. Absolutely, got to be agile because, like you touched on,
we know that these things can happen, although probably a
bit earlier in the season than what we're used to
over the last few years at least.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Yeah, absolutely, and we were hoping that we've got in
early enough for these supplementary elections. But yeah, can't control
the weather, so we'll do what we can.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Oh, we definitely cannot. Hey, are these like, are these
supplementary elections? Are they an unusual thing to have happened
or have we had it happen from time to time
over the years.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Yeah, so we do see supplementary elections. So for the
local government elections that were held in August, we had
thirty four contested elections, fifteen uncontested, and then we had
five partly failed. And then there was the one unique
which you referenced the northward where you had a candidate
who was going for dual positions and where they secured,
they're elected for the mayor and that meant that we
(04:13):
had another partly failed election. So they do happen. This
is so we had six. It's certainly larger than we've
seen in previous years in the partially failed but they
do occur.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Commission, I have many people put their hand up this
time round for those for the different areas.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Yeah, so we've got five candidates contesting the one vacancy
for Lichfield northward and then for the gun Boluna and
Kakado wards we've got two candidates contesting the single vacancy.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
All right, so just give us a reminder to anybody
out there listening this morning who's thinking, Okay, where do
I need to go to vote? If they fall in
any of those wards, what do they need to know?
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Absolutely so, the Anti Electoral Commission website is the place
for the most up to date information. Certainly encourage people,
particularly in the remote communities to look at the website
or call out offers just to see where things are changing.
We are in contact with councils and stakeholders on the
ground to get changes communicated. Really quickly and through social media.
But if you're in Lichfield northward, there's no changes currently proposed,
(05:13):
but will continue to monitor. But you'll have voting now
in the city in our office in Darwin on Mitchell Street,
and then next week in Whitewood Hall. There will be Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday. On Wednesday and Thursday from eight till
five pm at Whitewood Hall on Friday from eight till
six pm, and then election day voting will be at
the same location on the twenty ninth of November, which
(05:36):
is election Day, from eight till six Postal voting is
still open, so if you're unable to attend in person,
please reach out early so we can make sure we
can get that postal vote to you well.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Northern Territory Electoral Commissioner Kirsten Kelly really appreciate your time.
Thanks so much for chatting with us, no trouble, Have greatday.
Well, as we know, several Northern Territory councils are heading
back to the polls with twelve candidates, as I understand,
nominated to fill six vacancies that have been left unfilled
after August's local government elections. Now, as you'll recall, well,
I hope you recall. We all obviously went to the
polls in August, but in some of the local government
and ward positions they either weren't filled or Litchfield they've
(00:22):
got a situation where Rachel Wright was elected as the mayor,
which means that there's now a vacancy for one of
those councilor positions. Now joining us on the line is
the Northern Territory Electoral Commissioner, Kirsten Kelly. Good morning to you, Kirston.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Good morning Katie, Thanks so much for your.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Time this morning. Now, can you talk me through where
the local government's supplementary elections are actually happening.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Yeah, So there were six local government council wards that
required supplementary elections, so there are three wards which are
having contested elections. So it means that elections are required
because there was more candidates nominating for the number of
vacancies and there are three local government council wards where
voting is not required because they are uncontested elections where
(01:09):
there was the same number of vacancies as there were candidates.
So the wards that are requiring voters within those wards
to vote is the Litchfield Council North Ward and then
the West Arnham Regional Councils. There's two wards there, Kackadoo
Ward and Gumbalunya Ward.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Yeah right, okay, so how so when exactly are they happening?
It's not this weekend but next weekend? Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (01:31):
So early voting has started for those elections. So early
voting services are available at the Anti Electoral Commission office
in the city. Remote voting services have started for the
West Arnham Regional Council Kackadoo and gumbaluniawards. There has been
some cancellations to the schedules due to the current weather
(01:52):
events and we're looking to see if we can go
back and voting for the Litchfield north Ward. Whilst early
voting is open and post votings open, there'll be voting
available next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at Whitewood Hall and
then again on Saturday. On election day, the twenty ninth
of November at Whitewood Hall as well.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Commissioner, you just touched on this, you know, this weather
that we're set to experience. How big an impact is
this potentially going to have for you guys, you know,
delivering these supplementary elections.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Yeah, and it doesn't it's really important. And we're very
fortunate in Allder Territory that for our general elections, they're
fixed by law, fixed dates, and so they happen before
the wet season. So when we have to run elections
outside and in the wet season, it can present logistical challenges.
So we do look and we will look around to
make sure that we can provide voting services to remote
(02:44):
communities and working with the councils impacted to make sure
we can get our teams out there safely, but also
when they're out there, that voters and community can reasonably
access those services. So it turns into like a logistical
emergency response, if you like. So we're monitoring secure NT,
We're looking at what's happening with the movement of the
tracking and even though these communities might be outside of
(03:06):
the impact zones, we do know in the northern territory
that big rains, particularly up in the arm and land escarpment,
can move quite quickly through the territory, So that does
certainly restrict access and it also restricts our ability to
get into some of these remote communities. So it's important
that we plan for these events and make adjustments where
we can.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
Yeah. Absolutely, got to be agile because, like you touched on,
we know that these things can happen, although probably a
bit earlier in the season than what we're used to
over the last few years at least.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Yeah, absolutely, and we were hoping that we've got in
early enough for these supplementary elections. But yeah, can't control
the weather, so we'll do what we can.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Oh, we definitely cannot. Hey, are these like, are these
supplementary elections? Are they an unusual thing to have happened
or have we had it happen from time to time
over the years.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Yeah, so we do see supplementary elections. So for the
local government elections that were held in August, we had
thirty four contested elections, fifteen uncontested, and then we had
five partly failed. And then there was the one unique
which you referenced the northward where you had a candidate
who was going for dual positions and where they secured,
they're elected for the mayor and that meant that we
(04:13):
had another partly failed election. So they do happen. This
is so we had six. It's certainly larger than we've
seen in previous years in the partially failed but they
do occur.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Commission, I have many people put their hand up this
time round for those for the different areas.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Yeah, so we've got five candidates contesting the one vacancy
for Lichfield northward and then for the gun Boluna and
Kakado wards we've got two candidates contesting the single vacancy.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
All right, so just give us a reminder to anybody
out there listening this morning who's thinking, Okay, where do
I need to go to vote? If they fall in
any of those wards, what do they need to know?
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Absolutely so, the Anti Electoral Commission website is the place
for the most up to date information. Certainly encourage people,
particularly in the remote communities to look at the website
or call out offers just to see where things are changing.
We are in contact with councils and stakeholders on the
ground to get changes communicated. Really quickly and through social media.
But if you're in Lichfield northward, there's no changes currently proposed,
(05:13):
but will continue to monitor. But you'll have voting now
in the city in our office in Darwin on Mitchell Street,
and then next week in Whitewood Hall. There will be Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday. On Wednesday and Thursday from eight till
five pm at Whitewood Hall on Friday from eight till
six pm, and then election day voting will be at
the same location on the twenty ninth of November, which
(05:36):
is election Day, from eight till six Postal voting is
still open, so if you're unable to attend in person,
please reach out early so we can make sure we
can get that postal vote to you well.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Northern Territory Electoral Commissioner Kirsten Kelly really appreciate your time.
Thanks so much for chatting with us, no trouble, Have greatday.
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