The Hon K Purick MLA Speaker Northern Territory Legislative Assembly Parliament House Darwin NT 0800

Madam Speaker

In accordance with Section 313 of the Electoral Act, I am pleased to provide a report on the conduct of the 2012 Northern Territory Legislative Assembly General Elections.

The Electoral Act requires this report to be tabled in the Legislative Assembly within three sittings days after its receipt. Additional copies have been provided for this purpose.

Bill Shepheard Electoral Commissioner

24 April 2014

ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER’S FOREWORD

The 2012 Legislative Assembly General Elections (LAGE) were the third general elections to be conducted under the NT Electoral Act 2004 (NTEA).

The 2012 LAGE was also conducted under the substantially revised NTEA which had a significant impact on operational processes and planning arrangements. Set term elections were provided for in 2009, along with a one-day extension to the election timeframe. Further amendments with operational implications received assent in December 2011 and were in place for the August 2012 elections. A number of these changes were prescribed for both the local government and parliamentary electoral framework and, to some extent, brought the legislation into a more contemporary operating context and also aligned its features with those of other jurisdictions.

The NTEC workload before the 2012 LAGE was particularly challenging. It was the second major electoral event conducted by the NTEC within the space of a few months. Local government general elections for five municipalities and ten shire councils were conducted on 24 March 2012, the first time their elections had all been held on the same day. During the previous year, the NTEC also provided resources for the 2011 redistribution of LA electoral boundaries, councils’ reviews of their structure, at the same time as contributing to LA and LG discussions on legislative matters and, also, to a delegates’ election for a constitutional convention, which eventually did not proceed. It also conducted a major enrolment stimulation project (Quality Roll 2012) over twelve months in the lead up to the LAGE.

Outcomes from the LAGE were generally pleasing. The election itself produced a tight result with recounts being initiated by the NTEC in respect to two seats. Earlier results were confirmed and there were no disputed returns.

Raw voter turnout (no. of voters/no. of enrolled electors) increased at the 2012 elections, the likely outcome not only of the separately funded Quality Roll 2012 project to improve roll integrity, but also from raised public awareness through a reinvigorated and penetrating election advertising campaign.

In closing, my gratitude is extended to all those that helped the agency successfully conduct the elections. Productive relationships and partnerships are essential in the delivery of a logistical exercise as large and complicated as a general election. Stakeholders and suppliers across government and private sectors were critical to meeting election timeframes and service delivery standards. The large casual workforce that needs to be marshalled to perform the front-line duties is also integral to success and I therefore thank them one and all for their contribution.

Finally, in particular, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Commission’s permanent workforce. Their numbers are small but their commitment and contribution were great in delivering these elections. Further, as this was my last general election as Electoral Commissioner, I would also like to thank not only the current permanent staff members but also their predecessors. They have all gone well and truly beyond the call of duty in the performance of their roles during the course of my tenure and the life of the Commission. I both congratulate them on their efforts and wish them the best in the future.

……………………………………. Bill Shepheard Electoral Commissioner 24 April 2014

CONTENTS

1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS...... 1 1.1 Perspectives on the Elections ...... 1 1.2 Key Result Area – Enrolment and Roll Services ...... 3 1.3 Key Result Area – Election Management ...... 3 1.4 Key Result Area – Public Awareness ...... 5 1.5 Key Result Area – Corporate Support ...... 6 1.6 Looking to the Future ...... 7 2 PERSPECTIVES ON THE ELECTIONS ...... 11 2.1 Operational Environment Leading up to the 2012 LA Elections ...... 11 2.2 NTEC Role ...... 13 2.3 The Legislature after the 2008 Elections ...... 14 2.4 NT Electoral Act and Regulations - Changes 2009 and 2011 ...... 14 2.5 Registered Political Parties ...... 15 2.6 Canvassing at Static and Mobile Polling Places ...... 17 2.7 The Legislative Assembly Election Timetable ...... 18 3 KEY RESULT AREA – ENROLMENT AND ROLL SERVICES ...... 25 3.1 Background ...... 25 3.2 Redistribution of Legislative Assembly Boundaries ...... 25 3.3 Encoding Redistribution Changes ...... 26 3.4 Redistribution Advice to Electors ...... 26 3.5 Enrolment Program and Quality Roll 2012 Project ...... 26 3.6 Enrolment Transactions During and After the Election Period ...... 29 4 KEY RESULT AREA – ELECTIONS MANAGEMENT ...... 35 4.1 Background ...... 35 4.2 Candidate and Party Liaison ...... 35 4.3 Candidate Packs...... 35 4.4 Nominations and Draw for Ballot Paper Positions ...... 36 4.5 Nomination Outcomes ...... 36 4.6 Ballot Paper Printing ...... 39 4.7 Voting Services - (Postal, Early, Mobile, Static, Absent, Unenrolled) ...... 39 4.8 Electors with Special Needs ...... 57 4.9 Elector Turnout and Participation ...... 58 4.10 Informal Voting...... 60 4.11 Two Candidate Preferred (TCP) Count ...... 63 4.12 Distribution of Preferences ...... 63 4.13 Declaration of the Polls and Return of Writ ...... 64 4.14 Election Outcomes...... 64 4.15 Disclosure ...... 65 4.16 Campaign Material Issues Arising During the Election Campaign ...... 66 4.17 Processing of Apparent Non-voters...... 67 5 KEY RESULT AREA – PUBLIC AWARENESS ...... 69 5.1 Background ...... 69 5.2 Information Strategy ...... 69 5.3 Advertising ...... 70 5.4 Information and Publicity ...... 72 5.5 Media Communication ...... 73 5.6 Call Centre ...... 74 5.7 Website ...... 75 5.8 Public Events ...... 76 6 KEY RESULT AREA – CORPORATE SUPPORT ...... 79 6.1 Background ...... 79 6.2 Human Resource Recruitment, Support and Management ...... 79 6.3 Regional Centre Deployment ...... 80 6.4 Information Technology and Communication Support ...... 81 6.5 IT Systems ...... 81 6.6 Election Budget...... 82 6.7 Overall Expenditure ...... 82

7 APPENDICES ...... 87

PART 2 NT AND DIVISION SNAPSHOTS ...... 133

PART 1 Election Report and Appendices

1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

1.1 Perspectives on the Elections

The 2012 Legislative Assembly (LA) elections were the first fixed term elections following a 2009 enabling amendment to the NT Electoral Act (NTEA). The same amendment allowed an extension in the election timeframe of one day, with nomination day four days after the issue of the writ and postal votes to be issued as soon as possible after the close of nominations. The 20 day timeframe is still the shortest in Australia, making it difficult to service electors dispersed over such a large area. An extension to the election timetable is being sought to mitigate against potential risks to processes and procedures.

Further legislative amendments were passed in December 2011, principal amongst which were relaxation of formality provisions, strengthening of authorisation requirements on campaign material, the extension of postal and early voting services to disabled electors or electors fearing for their safety and changes to party registration matters. Further changes to the latter are recommended to increase the application fee for party registration from $500 to $1000 and the prescribing of relevant criteria for the party constitution submitted with an application.

A number of issues arose during the conduct of mobile polling and suggestions are made to address these in consultation with stakeholders.

In 2011, the Northern Territory Electoral Commission (NTEC) contributed to discussions on an election for delegates to a constitutional convention on Statehood for the NT. The suggestion for the election to be conjoint with the local government (LG) council elections in March 2012 did not proceed but this was not determined until late in 2011. At that point, legislative amendments updating and harmonizing the provisions of the Electoral Act and Local Government (Electoral) Regulations had been passed, as well as a new statute establishing the framework for an election of delegates.

The fixed term LA elections allowed early development and implementation of work and project programs by the NTEC, although they followed closely after the LG elections. This proximity left little time for considered reflection and evaluation of the March council elections, although had some benefits from the retention of staff and a ready-made infrastructure that needed little refinement.

In July 2011, funds were allocated to promote enrolment and improve roll integrity across the NT. The program called Quality Roll 2012 (QR12) ran for 14 months leading up to the election. Program activities included enrolment stalls, direct mail-out to electors in urban localities (with a mail delivery address), the roll-out of complementary TV and radio advertising and field visits to remote areas.

Funding will again be sought to raise election awareness and stimulate enrolment in the year preceding the 2016 LA general elections.

The key election dates were publicised to stakeholders:

Election Milestone Date Issue of Writ Monday 6 August 2012 Close of Rolls 8pm Wednesday 8 August 2012 Close of Nominations 12 noon Friday 10 August 2012 Polling day Saturday 25 August 2012 Last Date for Writ return Friday 28 September 2012

The polls were declared and the Writ returned to the Administrator on Monday 3 September 2012.

1 Election Initiatives

Although the March LG elections acted as a forerunner to the LA elections, a number of initiatives were pursued for the parliamentary elections:  The declaration voting (DV) envelope, signed by an elector claiming an entitlement to vote but whose name was not found on the roll, was redesigned to include an enrolment form. It provided all the information required to determine the acceptance or otherwise of the elector’s voting entitlement, and could also be used to substantiate an enrolment transaction, alleviating the need for the elector to complete a separate enrolment form.  The electoral roll was securely emailed to state/territory electoral administrations for electoral officials to mark off electors attending early voting facilities outside of the NT; the marked roll was returned for matching against non-voter data.  Ballot paper stock was forwarded to regional and interstate early voting centres to allow voting from the Monday after nominations close. Ballot paper templates were forwarded by email, prior to the arrival of printed election material from Darwin, so that an initial small supply of all ballot papers could be printed.  Ballot paper marking instructions, using graphics, were printed on new cardboard voting screen stocks to reinforce messages on how to vote formally, together with a prompt to ask for help if needed.  Mobile training took advantage of the fixed term and a training session was conducted for the first time before the writ was issued, with a follow up session during the election period.  A training package was developed for declaration voting and senior polling officials that linked the practical exercises for vote issuing and accountability by ordinary and declaration vote issuing officers to the OIC’s return and the two candidate preferred count. Documentation was identical with the documents an OIC would deal with on polling day. The training conducted in Darwin was video linked to Alice Springs to ensure consistency in methodology and message.  Electronic data feeds on election night relayed count figures to projection screens at the tally room, the NTEC website and the media.  For the first time, the agency had an on-line presence in the social media. A social media monitoring role was also put in place.

A number of activities that were introduced at the March LG elections earlier in the year were re-activated for the LA elections. These included:  The requirement for all polling officials to wear tab vests so that electors could identify those working in an official capacity.  The drawing up of a remote mobile polling schedule centred on the then shire localities allowing local assistance and support to be more readily provided.  Stan D’ man (aka Stand Man or Stan) cut-out figures were placed at post offices with a changing display of enrolment forms, postal vote applications (PVAs) and voting information.  Continuation of the QR12 enrolment program, particularly for remote areas, to maintain the momentum for improvements to roll quality for the LA elections.  Data was exported from election software to expedite the payment of polling officials.

An integral component of the public awareness program was a three stage ‘Yellow envelope’ direct mail campaign to electors in urban areas:  The first mail-out in October 2011 contained redistribution information and early advice of the 2012 elections.  The second in February 2012 included elector and polling advice for the LG elections.  The third in July 2012 provided details of elector enrolment and election information.

2 1.2 Key Result Area – Enrolment and Roll Services

Changes to boundaries resulting from the 2011 redistribution came into effect on polling day with amendments including:  Minor changes to the boundary between Daly and Stuart.  Boundary adjustments to the three Palmerston divisions and Nelson to allow for anticipated enrolment growth in new residential areas.  Boundary changes to eight of the nine divisions within the Darwin municipality to account for growth in the inner suburbs, Lyons and Muirhead.

Fourteen divisions with 8770 electors were affected. The boundaries of 11 divisions remained unchanged, including Macdonnell, renamed Namatjira.

From the commencement of QR12 activities on 1 July 2011 up to the close of roll for the LA elections on 8 August 2012, 53 477 enrolment transactions were processed.

Over the three days between the issue of the Writ on Monday 6 August and the close of rolls at 8pm on Wednesday 8 August, a total of 2534 enrolment forms were received. This was in addition to enrolment information generated by roll stimulation and integrity activities over the preceding months.

At the close of rolls, 123 805 electors were enrolled to vote, a 3.3% increase on the number enrolled for the 2008 elections. Average enrolment per electorate was 4952.

Two options are offered for consideration to extend the election timetable, one to 26 days the other to 23 days, the latter with a roll close on the same day as writ issue. Both options would allow writ issue on a working day, more latitude for roll close procedures and nomination processing and more time to prepare, assemble, check and despatch voting materials prior to the commencement of polling services.

1.3 Key Result Area – Election Management

Nominations closed at 12 noon on Friday 10 August 2012 with a total of 86 candidates standing, 55 males and 31 females. The nominations were publicly declared at 1pm on the same day. All 25 divisions were contested, with nominations received from all registered political parties. Early vote issuing and postal mail-outs commenced on Monday 13 August.

The nomination deposit for LA elections has remained unchanged since 1980 and a comparatively modest increase in the deposit, from $200 to $500, is recommended.

Voting Services

Postal Voting A total of 5314 postal vote packs were issued, 4185 were returned (78.7%); 3777 were admitted for further scrutiny (90.3%) and 408 rejected. Suggestions to refine this program include:  A one-day extension in the timeframe from nominations close to polling day to allow more time for the assembly and despatch of all voting materials, especially postal.  The removal of the elector and witness signatures from the postal vote application form to allow an online postal vote application to be lodged electronically through the website.  Alignment of the postal voting despatch deadlines with current close of business hours of 5pm on the relevant days prior to polling day.  Changing the receipt deadline to 12 noon on the Friday after polling day to allow earlier commencement of the final count.

3  Prescribing that the return address for all completed postal vote applications distributed by parties/candidates be that of the Commission to minimise delays in their processing and the subsequent despatch of postal packs.

Early Voting There was a significant increase in early voting with 13 268 early votes issued, 13.9% of the total votes, and a 43.9% increase compared with the 2008 elections. Fourteen early voting centres were opened for ten days: two at the NTEC offices in Darwin and Alice Springs, five at other locations in Darwin and regional centres and seven at offices of State/Territory electoral authorities. A further two centres were opened during the three days leading up to polling day at the Alice Springs and Darwin Airports (selective hours) and one centre the day before polling day in Jabiru.

At the moment, eligibility criteria for early voting at LA elections are more relaxed than those applying at LG elections. Harmonisation of the criteria for early voting at both LA and LG elections is being sought, in the light of increasing public demand for access to this service.

Mobile Polling This program has a crucial role in enfranchising electors who are living in remote areas or located mainly in care institutions in urban localities. Mobile polling teams provided voting facilities to electors at 217 communities in remote areas and at 24 urban locations, including hospitals, prisons, aged care facilities and six town camps in Alice Springs. A total of 23 mobile teams were utilised, travelling by vehicles and aircraft. Eighty-two mobile team members were employed out of Darwin and Alice Springs and 97 local assistants in the communities polled. Mobile teams issued a total of 8346 ordinary votes, not including the ordinary votes issued at static polling places appointed for the first time in 15 large remote communities. A total of 531 electors were assisted to vote, 385 of these by polling staff.

Static Polling Static polling places (67) were open from 8am to 6pm on polling day, including two new polling places at Rosebery and Wagaman and 15 in large remote communities that were previously mobile polled. Ordinary ballot papers, 58 608, were issued at these polling places, 61.6% of the total ballot papers counted.

Absent Voting Electors voting on polling day outside their own division were issued with absent ballot papers and 10 995 were issued, 11.5% of the total ballot papers counted. As significant boundary changes had occurred, communicating directly with all electors with a mail delivery address, advising of their division and nearest polling places, assisted in lowering the level of absent voting.

Declaration Voting At the election 1732 declaration ballot papers were issued to people whose name could not then be found on the electoral roll. Of these, 1507 were rejected and 224 declaration envelopes were admitted to scrutiny, three of which did not contain a ballot paper. Further clarification is being sought as to the criteria to be used for determining the admissibility of a declaration envelope from an unenrolled elector whose name may have been previously on the electoral roll.

The scrutiny and count processing

Following the close of polling at 6pm on Saturday 25 August, counts took place of ballot papers at static polling places. Counts were also undertaken for early, postal and mobile polling ballot papers. Preliminary count figures, including two candidate preferred data, were immediately phoned through to the tally room at the Darwin Convention Centre and simultaneously posted on the website and provided to the media.

During the week following polling day, all ballot papers were subject to further checks; declaration envelopes, including absent and additional postal vote envelopes, were scrutinized to determine if the ballot papers they contained were eligible to be admitted to further scrutiny.

4 Following the final admittance of postal votes on Friday 31 August, a full distribution of preferences was undertaken in 21 of the 25 divisions that had more than two candidates, in order to determine the final two candidates in the count. Results were posted on the website.

Two recounts were conducted, on the direction of the Electoral Commissioner, for Arafura and Stuart with no change to the results.

The elections concluded with the official declaration of the polls and return of the Writ to the Administrator.

Election outcomes

Candidates for the ALP were elected in eight seats, for the Country Liberals in 16 seats and one Independent candidate was successful.

Informality The 3072 informal ballot papers at the election (3.2% of the total ballot papers counted) were examined after the elections. Informality decreased by 0.8% compared to the 2008 LA elections. A total of 380 ballot papers were made formal as a result of the 2011 legislative change which made a tick or a cross a first preference mark, provided other marking criteria were met.

Turnout and participation The total number of ballot papers counted at the elections was 95 215, equating to a turnout of 76.9%, a 1.2% increase on the 2008 elections. Further participation is indicated from 5485 electors (4.4% of enrolled electors) who themselves, or through others, made contact with the NTEC, as they were aware of their legal obligation, but could not vote.

Disclosure Disclosure criteria have remained unchanged since their introduction in the 2004 Electoral Act. The NTEC is suggesting increases in the donation and loan reporting thresholds to $300 for donations to candidates, $3000 for donations to registered parties and associated entities and a $3000 threshold for loans to both candidates and parties. It is also suggesting that registered parties provide donor returns covering the election period in a timely manner such as by preparing a separate return covering the election period or by extending the disclosure period in a general election year to 30 September.

Non-voters Following the election, the names of 12 438 apparent non-voters were identified for follow-up and were issued with an infringement notice, mailed on 24 October 2012. A reminder notice was sent on 21 November 2012 to 8341 electors who failed to respond to the first notice. Warning letters were sent to 39 electors whose excuses were not accepted. One elector was taken to court, pleaded guilty and was fined. An increase to the expiation fee is being suggested, to align with that for local government.

Allegations Two matters were referred to the NT Police for investigation. They concerned one NTEC employed community assistant and one AIS interpreter allegedly attempting to influence votes in Nyirripi (Stuart) and Wadeye (Daly) respectively. The first matter was found to be unsubstantiated and a court hearing for the second allegation was scheduled for mid-2014.

1.4 Key Result Area – Public Awareness

The fixed election date created a prolonged operational lead-in time to meet stakeholder expectations and enquiries and the public awareness campaign for the 2012 LA elections was structured to cater for this. The model rolled out for the March 2012 LG elections was revisited, with appropriate modifications. The communication strategy covered public notices in the press, enrolment and information stalls at major shopping centres and selected markets, election information stalls at the NT show circuit, direct mail to electors, television

5 and radio advertising, media releases and election bulletins to stakeholders, dedicated election pages on the website and the operation of a call centre, the latter over an eight week period.

The campaign included the presentation of the four ‘Vote Family’ characters, first used at the LG elections earlier in the year, and a ‘Vote, vote, vote, vote…..’ election jingle. All press advertising and public notices, including the television and radio scripts were, in the main, developed in-house.

The Lotus Notes website acted as the main source of general election information until a redeveloped website, using a 2010 SharePoint platform, was moved into production on 14 June, allowing users to access enrolment and voting services information on the new site before the official election period.

The website displayed enrolment and voting services information, including new division profiles, maps and enrolment statistics. The candidate handbook and nomination form were available for downloading and whilst the latter needed to be returned as hard copy, emailed or faxed, the online versions acted as a further resource for electors and candidates in remote locations. Postal vote application forms and a link to the AEC website for enrolment purposes were given prominence on the homepage. Copies of all public notices, media releases and electronic advertising were posted on the website.

Public events were staged for the declaration of nominations and draw for position of candidate names on the ballot papers, and the declaration of the poll. They were held at the Darwin office with a video link to MyVote Central in Alice Springs; candidates, media and members of the public were in attendance at both locations. The tally room was staged at the Darwin Convention Centre using, for the first time, electronic delivery of count figures with feeds in real time to the website and the media. The event worked well and consideration is being given to establishing only a virtual tally room only at the next elections.

1.5 Key Result Area – Corporate Support

All divisions went to poll in 2012 and staffing formulae were adjusted where necessary to allow for higher staff/elector ratios. A total of 530 election positions were created. Pay rates were approved by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment. Program support came from key NTG agencies, experienced electoral administrators and casual administrative and polling staff.

The offices in Darwin and Alice Springs were the principal centres for election conduct and both operated as count centres after polling day, Alice Springs for the first time. A further three regional centres were established in Katherine, Nhulunbuy and Tennant Creek up until, and including, polling day night. Rechecks of ballot papers and further progressive and final counts for divisions centred on these regions were carried out in Darwin or Alice Springs, as appropriate.

The ITC infrastructure from the LG elections was used, and a specialist software provider was contracted to develop, implement and support results software at the tally room. A contemporary integrated platform for all election software is being evaluated for future elections, with enhanced capacity to meet reporting and cross- agency data requirements.

Budget Expenditure for the election was $2.698m, with 53.3% allocated to employee expenses and 46.7% to operating expenses. The cost of the election per enrolled elector was $21.79.

An advance of $1.0m was provided, $0.4m during the 2011-12 financial year to cover early expenditure and $0.6m for 2012-13 with the remainder of election expenditure provided by a Treasurer’s Advance.

6 Table 1: Election Comparisons 2005, 2008 and 2012 2005 2008* 2012 Election Feature/Descriptor No. % No. % No. %

111 954 119 814 123 805 Enrolment (23 contested divisions 110 289) Nominations Male - 44 55 Female - 22 31 Total 80 66 86 Ballot papers counted Postal 3 042 3.4 2 648 3.2 3 777 4.0 Early 5 775 6.4 9 217 11.0 13 268 13.9 Ordinary Ballot Papers: Mobile Polling 13 364 14.9 8 408 10.1 8 346 8.8 Static Polling Places 55 247 61.6 52 349 62.7 58 608 61.6 Absent 11 634 13.0 10 709 12.8 10 995 11.5 Declaration 584 0.7 105 0.1 221 0.2 Total Ballot Papers Counted 89 646 83 436 95 215 Turnout 89 646 80.1 83 436 75.7 95 215 76.9 Informality % 3358 3.8 3408 4.1 3072 3.2 Positions** 402 430 530 (65) (63) 23 (82 used, 83 No. mobile teams (staff) 25 23 trained) Polling/casual positions 326 350 444 (97 CAs) (inc. community assistants) Seconded staff 11 17 4 Polling locations Early intra-state 8 8 10 Early inter-state 7 7 7 Mobile 278 217 241 (inc. 18 polled by mobile 67 Static (inc. remote) 50 47 teams, 15 of

these in remote areas) * In 2008, the divisions of Arnhem and Macdonnell were uncontested ** One person can occupy >1 position

1.6 Looking to the Future

This report will be tabled shortly after the NTEC celebrates ten years since its establishment as an independent electoral commission, under a new Electoral Act, on 15 March 2004. During that time much has been achieved in improving election operations, education programs and corporate governance.

The next LA elections are scheduled for 27 August 2016. Much needs to be done in the lead up to the elections, especially with regard to the quality of the NT roll, reviewing mobile polling operations, moving towards a contemporary platform for integrated election software and the availability of on-line materials for electors in remote areas. Changes in the electoral environment beyond the NT jurisdiction will be closely monitored for any impact on operations.

7 A number of recommendations are summarised below for consideration. The appropriate section reference is provided, where further discussion of the issue can be found.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Party registration (Section 2.5)  An increase in the application fee for party registration from $500 to $1000 and the prescribing of relevant criteria for the party constitution submitted with the application.

Canvassing at static and mobile polling places (Section 2.6)  In consultation with stakeholders, the NTEC develop agreed protocols, practices and control mechanisms in relation to improving campaign behaviour in regard to remote mobile polling, commencing with a stakeholder forum on the subject.

Election timetable (Section 2.7)  Options are considered for extending the election timetable to allow writ issue on a working day, more latitude for roll close procedures and nomination processing and more time to prepare, assemble and despatch voting materials prior to the commencement of polling services. o Option 1 - Extension of the timeframe to 26 days. o Option 2 - Extension of the timeframe to 23 days with the electoral roll closing the same day as the issue of the writ. o The provision of at least five working days’ notice for a by-election or extraordinary general election to allow implementation of an enrolment campaign.

Enrolment and roll services (Section 3.1)  The NTEC is provided with funding to raise election awareness and stimulate enrolment in the year preceding the 2016 LA general elections.

Nominations (Section 4.4)  An increase in the nomination deposit for LA elections from $200 to $500.

Postal voting (Section 4.7.1)  An extension of the timeframe, by one day, from the close of nominations to polling day (see Section 2.7 - Options 1 and 2) to allow additional time for the despatch of materials.  The removal of the elector and witness signatures from the postal vote application so that an online application can be lodged electronically through the NTEC website.  The bringing forward of the postal voting despatch deadlines to 5pm on the relevant days prior to polling day and the receipt deadline to 12 noon on the Friday after polling day to allow earlier commencement of the final count.  Prescribing the return address for all completed postal vote applications distributed by parties/candidates to be that of the NT Electoral Commission.

Early voting (Section 4.7.2)  Harmonise the grounds for receiving an early vote under both the Electoral Act and the Local Government (Electoral) Regulations so that the eligibility criterion is as specified in the NTEA, with no nexus to the criteria for receiving a postal vote.

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RECOMMENDATIONS (continued)

Unenrolled voters (Section 4.7.6)  The incorporation into the Act of a cut-off date or other criteria for determining the admissibility or otherwise of a declaration envelope from an unenrolled elector whose name may have been previously listed on the electoral roll.

Disclosure (Section 4.15)  An increase in the thresholds for disclosure of donations and loans as follows: o Political parties and associated entities: $3000 for donations and loans. o Candidates: Donations $300, loans $3000. o Donors to candidates/political parties: $300 to candidates and $3000 to parties.  Registered political parties are required to provide donor returns covering the election period in a timely manner. Options include having registered political parties prepare a separate return covering the election period or extending the time period in an election year to 30 September in a general election year (rather than 30 June the following year).

Processing of apparent non-voters (Section 4.17)  An increase in the expiation fee for a failure to vote at LA elections from $25 to $50.

Public events (Section 5.8)  Discontinue the provision of a tally room and replace with publically displayed count figures using a virtual tally room, with simultaneous feeds to the media.

Part 1 of the report

The remaining Sections 2 to 6 and the Appendices (Section 7) present in more detail the various program activities that underpinned the conduct of the 2012 LA elections and data resulting from those activities.

Part 2 of the report

Provides statistical information in relation to the election outcomes in each of the 25 LA divisions.

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2 PERSPECTIVES ON THE ELECTIONS

2.1 Operational Environment Leading up to the 2012 LA Elections

Previous election report recommendations

In reports on the 2005 and 2008 LA Elections1, the NTEC made a number of recommendations for consideration by the Parliament and outlined program objectives for the next electoral cycle that could enhance the conduct of future parliamentary elections. Some of these are no longer relevant, as a legislative response has been received and/or current operations or technology has made them redundant. Appendix A summarises the current situation with regard to those earlier recommendations.

Following the 2012 elections and developments in other jurisdictions, this report also makes a number of recommendations for consideration by the legislature. These are highlighted in Sections 2 to 6 and brought together in the Executive Summary (Section 1.6). Suggestions for future program developments are referred to in the text.

Fixed term elections

Changes to the NT Electoral Act (NTEA) in 2009 established fixed four-year terms for the Legislative Assembly, with elections to be held on the fourth Saturday in August every four years, commencing in August 2012. The set-term amendment brought the Territory into line with most jurisdictions in Australia, exceptions being the Commonwealth, Queensland and Tasmania. The 2012 NTLA elections were the first under the amended fixed election date provisions.

Amendments to local government legislation passed in 2008, effective in 2012 for the first time, also maintained its fixed terms for elected council officials, with elections to be held every four years on a day in March, determined by the Minister.

Councils with vacancies occurring within the 12 months before general elections can appoint to a vacancy if there is a council policy in place to this effect. This tends to lessen the by-election load on the NTEC during that time and allows concentration on election program planning for the general elections held every Leap Year.

The Electoral Commissioner was appointed as returning officer for the March 2012 LG elections by all 15 councils going to poll. Of 64 possible elections, 40 were contested (62.5%) and the conclusion of these elections was finalised at the declaration of polls on 2 April 2014.

During the five-month period between the LG and LA elections, the NTEC managed six shire supplementary elections as a consequence of failed or partially failed elections resulting from the LG elections. Of these supplementary elections, three were contested and went to election; three were uncontested.

Approval was sought from, and granted by, the Minister for Local Government for the postponement of two by-elections for councillors in the Victoria Daly and Tiwi Islands Shires due to an overlap with the August LA general elections. The by-elections subsequently took place on 28 September 2012.

The conduct of the two NT-wide general elections in 2102 placed considerable extra workload on the NTEC; however, it also provided an opportunity to assemble support staff earlier, capitalise on economies of scale and reduce duplication of effort in program development. A number of key and other staff were employed for both the LG and LA elections, with a resultant reduction in new learning for the LA elections.

1 2005 Legislative Assembly General Election Report, Legislative Assembly General Election Report 9 August 2008, Northern Territory Electoral Commission

11 Constitutional Convention on Statehood for the NT

The fixed term timeframes theoretically allowed the NTEC to proceed with some certainty in its planning for two major events in the same year. In 2010, however, a Northern Territory Constitutional Convention Committee was established to assist with the implementation of a Statehood program leading up to, and including, a constitutional convention. In July 2011 it was announced, with little warning, that there would be an election of delegates for the convention in March 2012, to take place at the same time as the LG elections, with the proposed convention of elected delegates itself to convene in April 2012. The NTEC commenced preparations for conjoint LG and the delegate elections, albeit with considerable reservations: the elections would not take place on the same boundaries, different voting entitlements were to be applied and a range of operational complexities and challenges needed to be addressed, including substantial changes to the operation of the polling places and staffing and training regimes. The switching from one model to another and back again was extremely disruptive to planning and achieving efficiencies. It was only on Thursday 30 November 2011, just over two months before the formal commencement of activities relating to the council elections, that the Legislative Assembly resolved to defer the holding of the delegates’ election until after the NTLA elections scheduled for 25 August 2012. The NTEC then moved ahead with planning for the pending LG and LA elections, with greater emphasis on the former at that stage.

During 2011, the NTEC was also involved in discussions on possible amendments to the NTEA. At the same time a legislative framework for the election of delegates to the proposed constitutional convention was mapped out2. The NTEA discussions accommodated, where appropriate, similar provisions for the Local Government (Electoral) Regulations to achieve a similarity of process and procedure in the regulatory framework for all NT government elections. The NT Referendums Act 1988 currently remains unchanged.

Redistribution of LA electoral boundaries

As required under the legislation, a redistribution of LA boundaries was completed in mid-2011 prior to the 2012 elections with the NTEC heavily supporting the process. Boundary changes were made to 14 divisions with 8770 electors affected. The boundaries of 11 divisions remained unchanged, including Macdonnell (renamed Namatjira). No new divisions were created. Section 3.2 contains further details.

In October 2011 and in July 2012, urban electors with mail delivery services were informed of the changes and pending 2012 elections.

During 2010-2011, the agency was consulted by councils reviewing their representation arrangements. The reviews were not concluded before urban electors were first advised of their divisions for the 2012 elections and the NTEC has recommended in the 2012 NT Council Elections Report that future representation arrangements are concluded within a specific timetable and deadline. This would allow sufficient time for electors to be advised, at the same time, of any changes to LA and council boundaries.

Logistical setting

Before the 2012 elections, the NTEC relocated to new Darwin premises in Mitchell Street and was able to rent additional space, within the same building, for the assembly of materials prior to the elections, early voting and for counts. The close proximity of the extra working space greatly facilitated the movement of staff and materials across the different functions. MyVote Central, the NTEC office in Alice Springs, opened in 2009 to provide ongoing shopfront access for the public and to assist with enrolment promotion in the southern region, was used as a hub and management centre for election activities for five divisions, including recheck, progressive and final counts for the first time. The recount in Stuart, however, was carried out in Darwin (see Section 4.12).

The NTEC has a small permanent workforce and relies heavily on external providers for services and supplies, in both the government and private sectors, to secure the full gamut of operational expertise and stocks it requires

2 Constitutional Convention (Election) Act 2011

12 for major events. Other jurisdictions provided support for interstate voting and in three instances, seconded experienced personnel for designated election projects.

Federally, the NTEC’s joint roll partner, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), and Australia Post were major contributors to election efforts, the AEC for roll processing and Australia Post for its contribution to the timely despatch, and return, of promotional mail-out and postal vote materials. Telephone equipment was sourced through Telstra.

A number of NT Government (NTG) agencies provided election support:  The then Department of Business and Employment (DBE) had critical input to several areas – o The secondment of three personnel to boost corporate support activities. o The establishment and ongoing support of an ITC infrastructure that encompassed the LG and LA events rather than project manage two separate scenarios with consequent dismantling of sensitive hardware and software configurations between events. DBE also implemented tally room arrangements and ensured resourcing for a back-up website. o Pay and recruitment processing. o Supply of regional office space at Nhulunbuy.  The Department of Treasury provided advice on financial matters and the Solicitor-General and Department of Justice were approached for legislative assistance and advice as required.  The Government Printing Office (GPO) printed mail-out and election materials, rolls and ballot papers.  Councils made premises, staff and other facilities available for the election effort, in some instances at no cost.  Aboriginal Interpreter Service for the recruitment of some local assistants for mobile polling.

The private sector was the prime source for aircraft and vehicle charters, cardboard materials, stationery requirements, a number of the tally room features (e.g. the projection screens) and print/electronic media advertising. The provider for the new website was contracted on a service level agreement during the election period.

2.2 NTEC Role

The Electoral Act, section 309 prescribes the key responsibilities of the NTEC as:  Maintaining the Northern Territory electoral roll in partnership with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).  Conducting parliamentary and, on request, fee-for-service elections.  Promoting awareness of electoral matters and delivering education and information programs.  Providing advice and reports relating to electoral matters to the Legislative Assembly.  Conducting electoral research.  Carrying out other functions outlined in the Act, such as providing support to redistribution committees reviewing Legislative Assembly electoral boundaries, or functions outlined in another Act.

Legislative changes in 2008 provided that the NTEC could be appointed by municipal and shire councils to conduct local government elections and be consulted during representation reviews.

Since May 2012, the Commissioner has been responsible for the conduct of all council elections. An Administrative Arrangements Order (AAO) gives the NTEC general and financial management responsibility for Chapter 8 (Elections and Polls) of the Local Government Act, a responsibility which includes the Local Government Regulations.

13 The NT Electoral Commissioner, the Chief Executive of the agency, is an independent officer and essentially cannot be directed in the discharge of his electoral obligations. Thus the management of government and other elections can be carried out in a manner indicative of the Commission’s goals i.e. with integrity, impartiality, transparency and accountability, commitment to high standards of service delivery and continuous improvement and delivered in accordance with the law.

The legislation provides the framework by which the NTEC operates:  The staff it may appoint.  The voting entitlements of electors and options it can administer so that electors can exercise their franchise.  Procedures and processes for making nominations, marking ballot papers, vote issuing, scrutineering, counts and so on, in order that the elections can be conducted without challenge and in a manner acceptable to stakeholders, especially the community of electors it serves.

2.3 The Legislature after the 2008 Elections

At the 2008 NT general elections for the 11th parliament, the Australian Labor Party (ALP) secured 13 of the 25 Legislative Assembly seats. The then Country Liberal Party (CLP), re-registered as Country Liberals in 2010, won 11 seats and an independent the remaining seat (Nelson). Five seats were won with a majority of less than 6%, four with a majority of 6-10% and 14 seats with a majority of more than 10%. Two ALP held seats (Arnhem and Macdonnell) were not contested. The following table provides details of the status of contested seats.

Table 2: Seat Status Following the 2008 Elections % Range Status Divisions (Affiliation) 0-<6% Marginal (5) Brennan (CLP), Daly (ALP), Fannie Bay (ALP), Fong Lim (CLP), Port Darwin (CLP) 6%-10% Fairly Safe (4) Goyder (CLP), Katherine (CLP), Johnston (ALP), Sanderson (CLP) Arafura (ALP), Araluen (CLP), Barkly (ALP), Blain (CLP), Braitling (CLP), Casuarina >10% Safe (14) (ALP), Drysdale (CLP), Greatorex (CLP), Karama (ALP), Nelson (IND), Nhulunbuy (ALP), Nightcliff (ALP), Stuart (ALP), Wanguri (ALP)

During the course of the 11th parliament, Ms Alison Anderson, the member for Macdonnell, resigned from the Australian Labor Party on 4 August 2009 to sit as an Independent; she joined the Country Liberals on 7 September 2011. Macdonnell was renamed Namatjira effective at the 2012 elections,

At a by-election for the division of Araluen on 9 October 2010, the seat was retained by the Country Liberals.

Prior to the 2012 elections, incumbents in three ALP-held seats indicated their intention not to seek re-election: two former Cabinet ministers (Ms Marion Scrymgour, Arafura, and Dr Chris Burns, Johnston) and former Speaker (Ms Jane Aagaard, Nightcliff), who retired at the elections.

The former Country Liberals member for Drysdale (Mr Ross Bohlin) was not pre-selected for the party at the 2012 elections. He resigned on 12 July 2012 from the Country Liberals and stood as an Independent.

2.4 NT Electoral Act and Regulations - Changes 2009 and 2011

Following the 2008 LA general elections, an Electoral Amendment Bill, the first to amend the 2004 Act, was introduced into the NT Parliament on 26 November 2008. The Bill was passed 11 February 2009, received assent and became effective 12 March 2009. The amendments:  Established fixed four-year parliamentary terms with elections on the fourth Saturday in August every four years; the first general elections under the new legislation were scheduled for 25 August 2012.  Provided for a nomination day four days after the issue of the writ.

14  Provided for postal votes to be issued as soon as possible after the close of nominations, allowing an extension of one day in the time for postal vote mail-out.  Increased the election timetable by one day.

The new timetable elements for nomination day, postal voting and a one-day extension in the timeframe were applied for the first time at the Araluen by-election on 9 October 2010. The elections on 25 August 2012, reported on here, were the first application of the fixed term provision.

An Electoral and Other Legislation Amendment Act, introduced in mid-2011, was assented to and, with respect to the Electoral Act, became effective 21 December 2011. It amended the Electoral Act, the Local Government Act and the Local Government (Electoral) Regulations, harmonized the electoral legislation and made a number of technical changes previously recommended by the Electoral Commissioner and in accordance with practice and legislation in other jurisdictions.

Table 3: Summary of Electoral Act (EA) Legislative Changes Effective 21 December 2011 EA Amendment Legislative Reference Clarification that electoral roll information is not for sale, and the right to inspect the roll does not include the right to copy s12(5) or record the roll, to prevent inappropriate and commercial use of enrolment records. A limitation on party nominations per Legislative Assembly division - only one person may be nominated as a candidate of s31(2) a registered political party to contest a Legislative Assembly division. Clarification of the process for the return of the candidate nomination deposit. s39

The extension of postal and early voting services to disabled voters or voters who fear for their safety. s60 (2c )& (2d) Clarification of the purposes for which the Electoral Commissioner can fix the locations of mobile polling at locations to s78 (2) (3) & (4) service a specific class or classes of voters. Capacity for the Electoral Commissioner to approve the use of automated or electronic systems to facilitate election s85a processing, voting in strict circumstances and the use of electronic and certified lists in polling places. Modification to formality provisions to allow for a ballot paper that bears a  or a  to be accepted as formal if all other s94 (3)(3a) and candidate squares have been marked with consequentially increasing numbers (one square may be left blank – deemed 3(b) the voter’s last preference).

Clarification of rules associated with the assessment and processing of votes by unenrolled voters. ss104, 105 Limitation when applying for party registration to require that an application must be received by the NTEC prior to six months before the date of a scheduled general election s156(2) Requirement for a registered political party to provide, within 16 weeks after the end of the financial year, as part of their annual return to the Electoral Commissioner, a current constitution and statement for the purpose of monitoring a party’s s171a continued eligibility for registration. A strengthening of provisions relating to electoral matter in candidates’ campaign material, requiring all electoral campaign material containing electoral matter to be properly authorised, to be clear and unambiguous and not contain misleading or ss268, 268a, 269 deceptive information. These requirements extend to capture electronic and other forms of transmissions and modern and 270 technology commonly used for publishing and distributing electoral material. Requirement that push polling activities cannot be conducted without first stating the name and address of the person s271 authorising the activity. Shaded amendments also applied to local government legislation

The NTEC ensured that the changes were reflected in forms, handbooks, manuals, fact sheets, advertising materials and on the website prior to the elections.

2.5 Registered Political Parties

The 2011 amendments to the Electoral Act introduced several requirements of note for registered or potential political parties:  A limit on nominations to only one candidate per party for each Legislative Assembly division.

15  An obligation to provide, as part of their annual disclosure return to the Electoral Commissioner, a copy of their current constitution and statement for the purpose of monitoring a party’s continued eligibility for registration.  The need for any application to register a political party to be received by the NTEC prior to six months before the date of a scheduled general election. As a result, any application received after 24 February 2012 would not have been decided before the August 2012 LA elections.

An approved form was introduced for the purpose of monitoring party eligibility in time for the 2011-12 reporting year obligations and was provided at the pre-election briefings held individually by the Electoral Commissioner with each party registered officer in late July 2012. The new requirements were outlined, together with a reminder of the deadline for returns for registered parties, their associated entities, candidates, donors, broadcasters and publishers. Election procedures, communication between the NTEC, candidates and parties, and candidate obligations were also discussed.

Following the registration of the First Nations Political Party on 25 May 2011 and the Australian Sex Party NT on 19 November 2011, five parties were registered for the elections, compared with three at the 2008 elections.

Table 4: Registered Political Parties at the 2012 NT Elections Political Party Date of Registration Australian Labor Party NT (ALP) 18 April 2005 Australian Sex Party NT 19 November 2011 Country Liberals 27 January 2010* First Nations Political Party 25 May 2011 The Greens 23 March 2005 * First registered 30 March 2005 as the Northern Territory Country Liberal Party before re-registering as the Country Liberals in 2010.

Party Registration

The application fee for party registration was set at $500 in 2004. The processing of applications can be time consuming administratively and applications must be advertised.

Applications must be accompanied by a constitution, although the Electoral Act does not prescribe any mandatory content that needs to be included in that constitution.

A new party may be registered provided it can supply a list of 200 members for verification, although membership does not necessarily have to be on the basis of the payment of a subscription.

Once registered, parties have certain rights and responsibilities. They receive ongoing access to copies of the electoral roll and need to complete disclosure returns annually. Candidates endorsed by political parties can lodge a ‘NIL’ candidate election disclosure return after an election if donations and expenditure have not been made directly to, or by, them. Annual party returns are currently lodged well after the conduct of an election (see Section 4.15).

Bearing in mind the rights and responsibilities associated with party registration and the administrative costs involved, there would seem to be some merit in making party registration more demanding to prevent the lodgement of applications that may be mischievous or made with ulterior motives. It is suggested that the application fee be raised to $1000 and some appropriate content (e.g. an objective to elect members to the legislature) be included in a constitution.

Recommendation  An increase in the application fee for party registration from $500 to $1000 and the prescribing of relevant criteria for the party constitution submitted with their application.

16 2.6 Canvassing at Static and Mobile Polling Places

A common complaint received from the public is that gaining entry to a polling location often requires running a gauntlet of campaign workers handing out How-to-Vote (HTV) and other materials outside the polling place and that electors should be able to enter a polling place unimpeded by any obstructions. Such obstacles can be physical structures e.g. A-frames with campaign posters, tables with campaign literature, balloons and other give-aways and/or campaign workers spruiking on behalf of their candidate.

Often campaigners will be wearing apparel that identifies the candidate they are supporting so it is clear to everyone where their allegiance lies. Their spruiking can sometimes be boisterous and, at times, may even appear intimidating to the elector or bystander, resulting in an unpleasant voting experience. The NT has relatively small electorates for LA elections (around 5000) and that often generates a high level of competitiveness amongst campaign workers. It also results in an increased likelihood that an elector and a campaign worker may be known to each other and the elector may choose to ignore HTV materials or take all material on offer so as to keep his/her voting intention secret.

Concerns are also frequently expressed about the cost and environmental impact of producing HTV material that often ends up as waste. (Bins are no longer provided for recycling, on health and safety grounds, but electors can return their material to campaign workers outside.) Candidates with limited resources also find it difficult to compete with the better resources of some other candidates, especially in the case of mobile polling.

Notwithstanding the aforementioned issues, it could also be strongly argued that the overriding consideration should be that candidates should have the right to campaign within the law and have ready access to the voters at the most important time within the campaign, especially given the restrictions of electronic blackouts on advertising close to the event. It is also undeniable that some electors wish to follow candidate preferences and the use of HTV cards can sometimes be particularly useful when others are rendering help to voters who require assistance with completing the ballot paper.

Most of the problems and complaints regarding canvassing in the NT are generated from alleged incidents occurring at remote polling locations. Remote mobile polling is conducted in testing conditions which provide added scope for discontent, transgression and complaint. Factors such as voting areas with poor amenities, language barriers, high levels of assisted voting, limited communication and control being exercised over remote campaign workers/polling staff and longstanding ill feeling between certain campaign workers – all contribute to exacerbating the situation in the field. As outcomes in bush seats become less predictable, it is expected that problems and complaints will only increase and intensify in the future.

Restrictions on canvassing outside polling places for all Australian jurisdictions are shown below.

Canvassing Restrictions Jurisdiction (Metres from polling place entrance) Victoria 3 Commonwealth, NSW, Queensland, SA, WA 6 Northern Territory 10 ACT, Tasmania * 100 * Robson Rotation applies for the printing of candidate names on ballot papers

Some electoral jurisdictions enable candidates to register HTV cards that are subsequently displayed, as a composite poster, or printed booklet, at the polling location or inside the voting compartment, to assist electors. This would benefit the mobile polling program that, due, to its relative isolation, is presented with its own particular issues.

17 Any legislative change to restrict canvassing access at static and mobile polling places needs also to be mindful of any deleterious effect an inconsistent approach might have between Commonwealth, Territory and local government elections. Moreover, in this jurisdiction, varying implications for urban and remote polling also need to be considered.

Common options put forward for consideration to address canvassing problems include the following:  Increase the restricted area to more than 10 metres; banning canvassing from the grounds of voting premises (e.g. a school or hall) would be difficult as, where no defined boundaries exist, there would be a lack of uniformity in outcome.  Provide for the registration of HTV material, with the NTEC responsible for displaying it at polling places.  Limit the number of campaign workers, per candidate or pressure group, canvassing at any one time outside polling places.  Establish polling locations that are entirely apolitical, with campaign workers and campaign material barred from the vicinity. To counter the lack of candidate campaign material, the NTEC would provide registered HTV material in suitable formats.

Note: Any changes to the defined area or limitations on campaign workers would not exclude the presence of scrutineers from polling places. The scrutiny of elections by candidate representatives ensures that the voting process is an open and transparent process.

The NTEC is of the opinion that further legislative amendment to restrict candidate campaign access will be difficult to police in the NT context and may create more of a problem than currently exists. It sees that the main problem rests with the conduct of campaign workers during remote mobile polling and feels that attitudinal changes should be sought, in the lead up to the 2016 general election fixed poll. This might best be achieved by stakeholder consultation, commencing with a forum between all affected stakeholders, which may include party representatives, members of parliament, past independent candidates, the AEC, local government representatives (any legislative changes to LA elections may naturally flow to LG polls), etc. The objective of the exercise would be to establish agreed protocols on values, practices and behaviours and identification of mechanisms to ensure compliance in regard to campaigning in relation to remote polling throughout the NT.

Recommendation  In consultation with stakeholders, the NTEC develop agreed protocols, practices and control mechanisms in relation to improving campaign behaviour in regard to remote mobile polling, commencing with a stakeholder forum on the subject.

2.7 The Legislative Assembly Election Timetable

Since the establishment of self-government, NTLA elections have been conducted within short timeframes, despite the challenges presented by its diverse population and terrain. The current timeframe of 20 days, extended by one day in 2009, remains the shortest within Australia. The following table shows the timetables for the three most recent Territory-wide elections.

18 Table 5: Timetables for the Three Most Recent Territory-wide Elections Recent NT Legislative Assembly Commonwealth NT Local Government NTGE 25 August 2012 – 20 days 7 September 2013 - 34 days 24 March 2012 – 44 days Timeframes Week 1 Monday Writ issue Monday Writ issue Friday Notice inviting Wednesday 8pm Roll close nominations & Friday noon Nominations close advising of roll close Week 2 Monday ASAP Early/postal voting Monday 8pm Roll close Wednesday Mobile polling Tuesday 12 noon Bulk Noms close HoR Thursday 12 noon Noms close Senate and HoR Friday 12 noon Dec. of Noms Week 3 Tuesday 6pm O’seas PV close Tuesday Early voting Tuesday 5pm Roll close Thursday 6pm Aus. PV close commences Friday Early voting close SATURDAY POLLING DAY Week 4 Monday Mobile voting Thursday 12 noon Nominations close commences Friday 12 noon Dec. of nominations Week 5 Thursday 6pm PV despatch close Monday Postal voting begins Friday Early voting close Wednesday Early voting begins SATURDAY POLLING DAY Week 6 Monday Mobile polling begins Week 7 Tuesday 6pm O’seas PV close Thursday 6pm Aus. PV close Friday Early voting close SATURDAY POLLING DAY HoR House of Representatives, PV Postal Voting

The following table contains election timeframes for jurisdictions throughout Australia.

Table 6: Election Timeframes for Australian Jurisdictions Number of days Fixed Jurisdiction Close of Roll Close of Nominations Term Polling Day (CoR) (CoN) Commonwealth No 7 working days after writ issue 10–27 days after writ issue 23-31 days after CoN No writ. Nominations open 36 days before 36 days after nominations ACT Yes polling day 24 days before election open Close of rolls 29 days before election Roll closes on day of writ issue, within 4 3 days after nominations open, 16 days after close of NSW Yes days of dissolving the Parliament, not less and 16 days before polling day nominations than 22 days before polling day

QLD No 5-7 days after writ issue 8-18 days after writ issue 26-56 days after writ issue NT Yes 2 days after writ issue 4 days after writ issue 19 days after writ issue Writ issued 28 days before polling day SA Yes 3 days after CoR 28 days after writ issue CoR 6 days after writ issue 15-30 after close of TAS No Rolls close on day of writ issue 7-21 days after writ issue nominations (not later than 51 days after writ issue) VIC Yes 7 days after writ issue 10 days after writ issue 25 days after writ issue Writ issued 1st Wednesday in February, WA Yes 2nd Friday after writ issue 2nd Saturday in March roll close 8 days after

Currently the NT Electoral Act sets:  Polling day as the 4th Saturday in August every four years.  Monday 19 days before polling day as the day for the issue of the writ.  Nomination day four days after the issue of the writ.

19 Writ issue

The first Monday in August is a statutory public holiday in the NT and the provisions of the Acts Interpretation Act mean that no key election function can be prescribed for that day. In some years however, e.g. 2012, 2020, 2024, the public holiday falls within the election timeframe with the writ issued on that Monday. This will not occur in 2016 as there will be five Saturdays in August that year. However, an extension to the timeframe could allow the issue of the writ on a working day.

Close of roll

The roll currently closes 8pm two days after writ issue. While some criticism could be elicited from electors that they have insufficient time to enrol for the election, the advent of fixed-term elections means that the date is known well in advance. Indeed, a roll close on the same day as, or shortly after, the issue of the writ places an onus on the Electoral Commissioner to determine a fair and reasonable period in which to advertise enrolment and to ensure resources are available to run that campaign. If any change was effected to the roll close timeframe, the NTEC would need to ensure that it was publicised well in advance of the issue of the writ, in conjunction with enrolment stimulation and associated public awareness activities.

20 The 2012 election timetable

TIMETABLE Electoral Act DATE REQUIREMENTS

The writ: authorises the Northern Territory Electoral Commission to conduct an election in accordance with the Electoral Act 2004 and sets ISSUE OF THE WRIT Monday 6 August 2012 the date for the close of nominations, polling day, the return of the writ and triggers all other key milestones and operational deadlines [Section 27] The electoral roll is closed during the period starting at 8pm, 2 days after the issue of the writ CLOSE OF ELECTORAL 8pm Wednesday 8 August for an election and ending at the close of polling for ROLL 2012 an election [Section 8] Nominations must close at 12 noon, 4 days after 12 noon Friday 10 August CLOSE OF NOMINATIONS the issue of the writ [Sections 28(a), 34] 2012 A draw for positions of candidate names on the Draw for Ballot Paper ballot paper is conducted as soon as practicable Friday 10 August 2012 Positions after the close of nominations [Section 41] Early voting [Section 69] Postal ballot materials can be dispatched as soon As soon as practicable after as possible after the draw for ballot paper positions Early/Pre-Poll and Postal the draw for ballot paper and may be completed at any time during the Voting Commence positions postal voting period, ending at 6 pm on polling day [Sections 62, 66] Mobile polling may be provided in remote areas and special institutions and can start 9 days after Commencement of Mobile Wednesday 15 August 2012 the issue of the writ and must end no later than Polling 6pm on polling day [Section 3] Close of Postal Vote Issuing 4 days before polling day [Section 62(3)(a)] 6pm Tuesday 21 August 2012 Overseas Addresses Close of Postal Vote Issuing 6pm Thursday 23 August 2 days before polling day [Section 62(3)(b)] Within Australia 2012 Hours determined by the NTEC Close of Early/Pre-Poll voting Friday 24 August 2012 [Section 69(1)(b)] Polling day must be 4th Saturday in August every 4 8am to 6pm years, 19 days after the issue of the writ POLLING DAY Saturday 25 August 2012 [Sections 23(1), 28(b)] Postal votes must be received by 6pm on the Deadline for the Receipt of Friday following polling day in order to be included 6pm Friday 31 August 2012 Postal Votes in the count [Section 112] Results of the election are to be publicly declared Declaration of the Election as soon as practicable after they have been Monday 3 September 2012 Result determined [Section 131] The writ traditionally sets out the latest date for its return, usually about 4-5 weeks after polling day RETURN OF THE WRIT Friday 28 September 2012 [Section 133] An application to challenge the validity of an election must be made to the Supreme Court no Disputed Returns Friday 19 October 2012 later than 21 days after the date fixed for the return of the writ [Section 236]Sect

21 Close of nominations

For the 2012 LA elections the writ was issued on Monday 6 August, a public holiday. The roll closed at 8pm Wednesday 8 August and nominations closed at 12 noon Friday 10 August. This timeframe was barely sufficient (and subject to high risk) for the AEC in Canberra to process roll transactions received up to 8pm on the Wednesday, then finalise the election roll and roll products for electronic transfer to the NT the following morning to allow nomination processing to commence.

The Electoral Act s34 stipulates that nominations must be received by 12 noon, on the fourth day after the issue of the writ and can only be lodged with the NTEC after the close of the electoral roll (i.e. after 8pm, two days after writ issue), as the roll is used to check the enrolment of prospective candidates and, where necessary, their nominators. Effectively, the timeframe for processing and finalising the election roll, lodging and accepting nominations is one and a half days, the shortest timeframe for any jurisdiction.

Taking into account the size and remoteness of the NT, the one and a half day timeframe for lodging nominations could also be considered as an impediment to fair access to the electoral system, despite the dates of the elections now being known in advance. Nominations can be lodged in person, by mail, fax or email but the nomination fee must be deposited in cash or by bank cheque. In other jurisdictions, the shortest timeframe for the lodgement of nominations is three days, and a two and a half day timeframe for the NT would seem to be a more reasonable period than the current one and a half days.

Postal and early voting periods

Bringing forward the timeframe for nominations close would allow additional time for printing ballot materials during the working week, checking and collating the election materials in a measured manner, ready for dissemination under rigorous monitoring to the various voting outlets. Additionally, postal vote materials could be assembled and despatched a day earlier (a critical advantage just before the weekend), allowing prompter delivery, most notably in the non-urban areas.

Service delivery turnaround by Australia Post is becoming more delayed and standards are known to be under review by that organisation. This has become a concern for electoral administrations around the country because of the impact on the timely processing and delivery of postal vote and other election advisory materials. Though the NTEC is working closely with Australia Post to monitor any future changes to their delivery model and the bearing such changes might have on the effectiveness of its postal voting services, an easing of the timeframes would facilitate meeting critical deadlines.

Timetable options for consideration

The NTEC has regularly campaigned for extensions to the election timeframe (refer 2005 and 2008 Legislative Assembly General Election Reports. The views and sentiments expressed by the NTEC in those earlier reports have not changed. The NTEC is still of the view that an extension to the election timeframe has merit on several grounds and would better assist in more measured electoral operations for roll close, post nomination processes and ballot material preparation and delivery. It offers two options for consideration.

Option 1 - an additional 6 days to the election period:  Issue the writ Tuesday, 25 days before polling day.  Close the rolls on the Friday three days after writ issue.  Close nominations Thursday nine days after writ issue.

Option 2 - 3 extra days (Friday to Sunday) to the election period:  Issue the writ and close the roll on the same day, not less than 22 days before polling day.  Close nominations on Thursday sixteen days before polling day.

22 Both options provide a prompt outcome for representation purposes. In addition, under both options, if the 4th Saturday in August is retained as polling day, close of roll will take place on the Friday, 22 days before polling day. The close of nominations will be 12 noon, Thursday, 16 days before polling day. The early and mobile polling programs would take place in the current timeframes.

Table 7 compares the 2012 election timetable under the current legislation with the above two options for extending the timeframe.

Closing the roll on the same day as the issue of the writ does not pose problems for a normal general election where the date of the poll is known in advance and public awareness on enrolment would be raised well beforehand. For a by-election or extraordinary general election that may be generated with little notice, the capacity to improve the quality of the election roll could be met by a timeframe allowing additional working days for publicising the election and roll close deadline.

Closing the roll on a Friday and nominations on a Thursday, six days later, would mitigate significantly against some potential failures and risks. It would allow:  Reduced pressure on the AEC National Office (Canberra) for overnight processing for the roll close – effectively less than a 12-hour turn around 8pm to 8am as last minute enrolment transactions must first be input.  An additional business day for printing ballot materials.  The potential for an earlier start to the mail-out of postal voting materials to remote areas.  An additional day for appropriate materials management procedures to be implemented for the safe and secure preparation and despatch of live ballot materials for early and postal voting programs.  An extra day (currently a very tight 15 days) from the close of nominations up to polling day to accomplish the proofing and printing of ballot papers, the batching and despatch of live ballot materials to regional, interstate and local voting centres and deliver voting services across the Territory.

Recommendation

Options are considered for extending the election timetable to allow writ issue on a working day,

more latitude for roll close procedures and nomination processing and more time to prepare, assemble and despatch postal voting materials prior to the commencement of static and mobile polling services.

 Option 1 - Extension of the timeframe to 26 days.

 Option 2 - Extension of the timeframe to 23 days with the electoral roll closing the same day as the issue of the writ.  The provision of at least five working days’ notice for a by-election or extraordinary general election to allow implementation of an enrolment campaign. 

Timing issues for the next LA elections currently scheduled for 27 August 2016

As the last federal elections were held in September 2013, it is possible that in 2016 there could be three general elections in the NT - for local councils, the Legislative Assembly and the Commonwealth parliament. In addition, the next national census is scheduled to take place in August 2016 and elections are scheduled for the ACT in the October. This means the federal election may be called in close proximity to the LA elections.

Should overlapping elections be considered, a number of factors need to be taken into account:  The Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 s394 provides that the approval of the Governor-General is required for an election for a State or part of a State to be held on the same day as a Commonwealth General Election. The NT Electoral Act (s26A) provides that another date for a general election can be determined if a Commonwealth election is called for the same date (an unlikely situation), however the alternative date must be on a Saturday within two months before or after the nominal date.

23  The Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act section 15 prescribes that writs for elections are issued by the Administrator and section 17(2) provides that the time from the first meeting of the Legislative Assembly after a general election to the next succeeding general election shall not be more than four years.

Table 7: 2016 General Elections – Comparison of Timetable Options * 1st Monday in August is a public holiday, Picnic Day, and will not always impact on the timetable e.g.as in 2016 4th Saturday in August is polling day and will not always be the last Saturday in August

Option 1 CURRENT TIMETABLE Option 2 Day No. 26 days 20 days 23 days

1 Tuesday - Writ issue Monday Writ issue Friday - Writ issue & 8pm Roll close 2 3 Wednesday 8pm -Roll close 4 Friday 8pm - Roll close Friday noon - Nominations close, 5 ASAP draw for positions on ballot paper 6 Thursday noon - Nominations 7 close, ASAP draw for positions on ballot paper Monday - PV and early voting 8 begin 9 Thursday noon - Nominations 10 close, ASAP draw for positions on Wednesday - Mobile polling begins ballot paper 11 Monday- PV and early voting begin 12 13 Wednesday - Mobile polling begins Monday - PV and early voting 14 begin 15 Tuesday 6pm – 16 Wednesday - Mobile polling begins Close of overseas PV despatch 17 Thursday 6pm 18 Close of PV despatch for Australia Tuesday 6pm 19 Friday - close of early voting 6pm Close of overseas PV despatch 20 SATURDAY - POLLING DAY Thursday 6pm 21 Close of PV despatch for Australia Tuesday 6pm 22 Friday - close of early voting 6pm Close of overseas PV despatch 23 SATURDAY - POLLING DAY

Thursday 6pm 24 Close of PV despatch for Australia 25 Friday - close of early voting 6pm 26 SATURDAY - POLLING DAY

24 3 KEY RESULT AREA – ENROLMENT AND ROLL SERVICES

3.1 Background

The NT electoral roll is managed by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) under a Joint Roll Agreement between the Governor General and the Administrator of the Northern Territory.

The AEC is responsible for:  Processing enrolments and deletions and managing the geographic and electoral boundary information held on the roll.  Maintaining the quality of the roll by undertaking enrolment stimulation activities and reviewing the accuracy of elector and address information.  If necessary, removing electors from the roll where there is evidence that they are no longer resident at their enrolled address.

Direct Enrolment

Amendments to the Commonwealth Electoral Act (CEA) in July 2012 allow the AEC to directly enrol and update the details of an elector without their direct intervention, i.e. if the elector is satisfied with the AEC’s advice relating to proposed amendments to their details, the elector does not have to take any action. This ‘opt-out’ as opposed to ‘opt-in’ response allows the AEC to potentially improve the accuracy of the roll without intervention by the elector.

The Federal Direct Enrolment Update (FDEU) program did not impact on enrolment for the 2012 LA elections as no FDEU activities were rolled out in the NT in that year. However, with no legislative impediment to its introduction in the NT (the relevant roll provisions under the CEA apply under the NTEA) some effect is expected on roll data in the future.

The transient nature of the NT population and its increased propensity not to respond to mail means that an ‘opt out’ system also runs some added risks, in the Territory, of enrolling persons for addresses that may not be current at election time. Therefore roll close promotions will still need to take place at the current levels.

The effect of the AEC FDEU program on the quality of the NT roll is, and will continue to be, monitored and assessed over time.

Recommendation  The NTEC is provided with funding to raise election awareness and stimulate enrolment in the year preceding the 2016 LA general elections.

3.2 Redistribution of Legislative Assembly Boundaries

Under the Electoral Act s138, a redistribution of LA divisions is required to commence two years and six months after the last election.

The 2011 Redistribution Committee commenced deliberations on 11 February and published its proposal on 31 May 2011. Following the release of the proposal, the Augmented Redistribution Committee was established to consider objections and determine the boundaries and names of divisions to apply at the 2012 LA general elections. The Augmented Committee’s determination was notified by Gazette on 26 July 2011 and maps of divisions and the Committee’s report were made available immediately after that date.

25 The Augmented Committee received 36 comments, objections and petitions in relation to the boundaries, mainly concerning the boundaries between Fannie Bay/Fong Lim, and Stuart/Barkly/Macdonnell. It also received objections to the name change for Araluen and general comment on the proposed redistribution from the ALP and both the party and Parliamentary Wing of the Country Liberals. Key features of the redistribution determined by the Augmented Committee were:  The retention of existing divisional boundaries in Alice Springs, Katherine and the rural and remote areas, except for minor changes to the boundary between Daly and Stuart.  Adjustment to boundaries of the three Palmerston divisions and Nelson to allow for anticipated enrolment growth in new residential areas in the period up to the 2012 general elections.  Changes to boundaries for eight of the nine divisions within the municipality of Darwin to account for relative growth in the inner suburbs and in the suburbs of Lyons and Muirhead.  Changing the division name of Macdonnell to Namatjira as the Committee considered the former name was no longer appropriate. Boundary changes were made to 14 divisions with 8770 electors affected. The boundaries of 11 divisions remained unchanged, including Macdonnell, renamed Namatjira. The largest division was Barkly, 448 576 sq. km, while the two smallest were Johnston and Karama, both of four sq. km. The NTEC provided administrative and technical assistance to the Augmented Committee in the following areas:  The extraction of roll data and preparation of reports of enrolment trends by division.  The publication of notices, maps, reports and associated media releases.  Liaison with the AEC to apply the new boundaries to the electoral roll, including a check of all NT streets and localities to ensure they were held against the correct LA division.

3.3 Encoding Redistribution Changes

Data encompassing the boundary changes was provided by the AEC in September 2011 and subsequently checked and signed off in November 2011. The application of the new boundaries to the roll was made on 2 July 2012 and the boundaries came into effect at the LA elections on 25 August 2012. Appendix B provides details of elector transfers resulting from the 2011 redistribution of electoral boundaries. The 2011 Redistribution Report can be downloaded from the NTEC website.

The next redistribution is due to commence in early 2015.

3.4 Redistribution Advice to Electors

In early October 2011, personally addressed mail was sent to all electors on the roll who had a postal delivery address (85 800). The letter asked the elector to check their enrolment details (as provided) and advised how to update their details if necessary, either by using the enrolment form supplied with the letter or by going online. A map showing the boundaries that applied to the elector’s LA division was provided on the back of the letter. The mailing resulted in the receipt of an estimated 4200 enrolment forms and 6000 enrolment transactions. This letter was also part of the QR12 program – see 3.5 for further details.

Territory-wide newspaper and television advertising was created to complement the mail-out, prompting electors to ‘check their enrolment’ or to ‘get on a roll’ for the upcoming elections in 2012 (both LG and LA). The advertising was partly based on the roll-out of ‘Vote Family’ characters planned for future election advertising.

3.5 Enrolment Program and Quality Roll 2012 Project

By early 2011 it had become apparent to the NTEC that, to improve the quality of the NT roll and stimulate enrolment for the 2012 LG and LA elections, it would need to undertake its own enrolment and roll cleansing activities. Funding was sought for a new program entitled Quality Roll 2012 (QR12) with program activities commencing in July 2011.

Picture: Roland Vote

26 A range of roll and post-election elector data was used, as well as proven roll review strategies, e.g. contacting electors by phone or door knock, processing returned mail and matching roll data to identify addresses for investigation. Specific initiatives prior to the March 2012 LG elections included:  As mentioned previously, the mail-out of more than 85 800 personalised letters to electors with street mail delivery services in the urban areas of the Territory to advise of the 2012 general election dates, changes to LA boundaries and to check current enrolments (October 2011). This was the first of three enrolment ‘yellow envelope’ mail-outs (using delivery envelopes with bold yellow colours) undertaken during the QR12 project, the second was sent prior to the 21 February council roll close and the third before the LA elections.

Picture: Yellow mail-out envelope - front Picture: Yellow mail-out envelope - back  Based on replies to the first letter (including RTS mail), 4186 enrolment forms were received for processing and the names of 1812 people were objected off the roll.  Addresses were reviewed where there was evidence that electors were no longer in residence, i.e. the address register showed the address as habitable but no-one had been enrolled there for six months. A mail-out was subsequently undertaken to these addresses.  Fieldwork (door knocking) was undertaken in the following locations: o At new residences in Alice Springs and the Palmerston suburb of Bellamack and at addresses where data matching indicated residents were not enrolled. o A full roll review over a two month period at the Alice Springs town camps in November 2011; delays in processing the resulting information was still of concern for the LA elections.  Identified seemingly habitual non-voters from the 2010 federal election (Alice Springs area), the Araluen by-election (October 2010) and Alice Springs Town Council by-election (February 2011) were followed up to confirm electors’ continued enrolment. Election and enrolment awareness campaigns were undertaken in support of the LG elections. These included the circulation of public awareness materials, the notation of rolls by remote council service centre staff and the collection of enrolment forms and other roll information at shopping centres and post offices.

The QR12 program continued in the lead up to the LA elections. For the LG elections the focus was primarily on urban enrolment and, though this was maintained, for the LA elections, there was a greater emphasis on remote enrolment, making use of improved access conditions during the dry season. QR12 activities in the lead up to the LA elections included:  Letters sent to 13 000 electors in Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine and Alice Springs who were identified as having failed to vote at the March LG elections to check on their enrolment details.  Posters and advertising designed for stalls on the July 2012 show circuit, from Alice Springs through to Darwin, to stimulate enrolment and publicise the LA elections. As a result of this activity, 286 enrolment forms were collected and numerous queries answered about the pending elections.  Enrolment stalls in major shopping centres in the month leading up to the LA elections. See the following table for details of the number of enrolment forms collected. In collaboration with the AFLNT, an enrolment and election Picture: Enrolment stall – Freds Pass Show awareness stall was set up at the Melbourne/Port Power game at TIO Stadium on 17 July.

27  Two person teams visited each of the 20 Territory ‘Growth Towns’, a minimum of two days spent at each, to stimulate remote enrolment as well as gain intelligence on matters that might affect polling for the LA elections such as road/airstrip conditions, accommodation availability, events or festivals etc. The majority of the team members were also scheduled to be employed as mobile polling personnel.  A letter and enrolment form was mailed to all electors (84 029) with a deliverable street address or postal address (Darwin region, Katherine and Alice Springs), four weeks before the issue of the Writ.  In collaboration with Australia Post, enrolment forms and advertising material were available in post offices.

The table below provides details of enrolments collected at markets, shopping centres and other events, 14 more than in the lead up to the 2008 LA elections. Completed enrolment forms received increased by 40.5% and enquiries by 165.2%.

Table 8: Enrolment Forms Collected – Selected Events

Enrolment Forms Location Date Completed & Lodged Enquiries Returned by Mail at the Event Markets Todd Mall 5.8.2012 16 1 34 Todd Mall 8.8.2012 10 3 28 Mindil Market 2.8.2012 23 31 40 Mindil Market 5.8.2012 23 12 18 Shopping Centres Alice Springs 3.8.2012 27 12 62 Alice Springs 4.8.2012 35 18 136 Alice Springs 8.8.2012 19 1 26 Casuarina 3.8.2012 21 29 39 Casuarina 4.8.2012 20 24 38 Casuarina 5.8.2012 11 19 22 Casuarina 8.8.2012 14 4 20 Coolalinga 3.8.2012 6 7 5 Coolalinga 4.8.2012 5 5 14 Coolalinga 8.8.2012 9 3 8 Katherine 3.8.2012 17 1 33 Katherine 4.8.2012 13 3 65 Nightcliff 3.8.2012 8 9 12 Nightcliff 4.8.2012 11 7 25 Nightcliff 8.8.2012 12 10 7 Palmerston 12.7.2008 10 12 8 Palmerston 23.7.2008 120 12 41 Tennant Creek 4.8.2012 6 11 32 Other TIO Stadium – AFL game 21.7.2012 13 10 26 Smith St Mall 7.8.2012 6 4 12 Smith St Mall 8.8.2012 10 9 14 Alice Springs Show 6.7.2012 61 27 25 Tennant Creek Show 13.7.2012 2 21 9 Katherine Show 20.7.2012 28 15 14 Darwin Show 26.7.2012 195 106 110 Total 751 426 923

28 From the commencement of QR12 activities on 1 July 2011 up to the close of roll for the LA elections on 8 August 2012, 53 477 enrolment transactions were processed:  17 581 were for change of enrolled address within the NT and 16 553 for additions to the roll. The additions included 4525 new enrolments, 8553 transfers to the NT from interstate and 2780 re-enrolments by persons previously removed from the roll.  13 728 deletions were made to the roll, comprised of 8061 transfers of enrolment out of the NT, 4599 electors removed by objection, 854 deletions due to death and 212 deleted as duplications.  Other transactions were for amendments to electors’ details, e.g. adding a new mail delivery address, or providing information confirming existing details held on the roll (no-change enrolments).

Table 9: Enrolment Transactions 2012

Enrolment Movements Within NT Transfers Changes No Change Dates Additions Deletions Between Within Enrolments Divisions Divisions Submitted

1.2.12 to 21.2.12 LG election 3 314 2 271 1 530 725 554 enrolment period

22.2.12 to 8.8.12 After LG roll close 8 308 5 615 4 989 3 511 3 480 to LA roll close

6.8.12 to 8.8.12 LA enrolment 1 208 163 689 335 288 period 1.1.12 to 8.8.12 Beginning of 2012 12 279 10 037 6 921 4 504 4 158 to LA close or rolls

Deletions to the roll are usually a result of an elector updating their enrolment, death or the result of a successful objection being taken by the AEC. The removal of names by objection is subject to assessment made by the AEC under its prevailing policies, own scheduling and within timing dictated by law. In practice, it is therefore difficult to have names removed easily or quickly.

The decrease in enrolment stimulation activities after an election often results in a reduction in the number of enrolled electors. This can affect the roll for by-elections as well as the redistribution process, where a small drop in electors can impact on an electorate’s quota. The implementation of the AEC’s FDEU program could go some way towards resolving this and an assessment on its effectiveness in the NT and whether additional activities are required to maintain the NT roll will be undertaken.

3.6 Enrolment Transactions During and After the Election Period

Despite the enrolment campaign commencing 2 July, over the three days between the issue of the Writ on 6 August and the close of rolls on 8 August, there were still 2683 enrolment transactions logged for processing:  1024 for change of enrolled address within the Territory.  1208 additions to the roll including 278 first time enrolments, 681 transfers to the NT from elsewhere in Australia, 243 re-enrolments and six re-instatements for people previously removed from the roll.  163 deletions to the roll, the majority for transfer of enrolment out of the Territory.  The balance of transactions was for amendments to elector details.

29 Table 10(a): Enrolment Prior to Roll Close 2008 and 2012 Elections Close of Rolls 2 July* to Close of Rolls Enrolment Transactions 22-24 July 2008 8 August 2012 6-8 August 2012 Additions to NT Roll New Enrolments 273 1 050 278 Re-enrolments 107 691 243 Re-instatements 0 13 6 Transfers from Interstate 619 2 045 681 Movements within NT Transfers Between Divisions 728 2 445 689 Changes within Division 220 1 490 335 No Change 116 1 233 288 Enrolments/Amendments Deletions to NT Roll Objections/Cancellations 0 653 5 Death Deletions 8 124 14 Duplications 0 100 4 Transfers out to Interstate 125 895 140 Total Transactions 2 196 10 739 2 683 * Start of election public awareness program 2012. There was no comparable campaign in 2008 when elections were called after 3 years.

Table 10(b): Enrolment Transactions – 12 months Prior to Roll Close 2008 and 2012 Elections 23 July 2007 to 09 August 2011 to % Total Enrolment Transactions Difference % Change 24 July 2008 08 August 2012 Increase Additions to NT Roll

New Enrolments 4 354 4 135 -219 -5.0% -2.6 Re-enrolments 4 452 2 573 -1 879 -42.2% -22.5 Re-instatements 75 694 619 825.3% 7.4 Transfers from Interstate 7 050 7 752 702 10.0% 7.4 Movements within NT

Transfers Between Divisions 8 659 9 787 1 128 13.0% 13.5 Changes within Division 4 452 6 207 1 755 39.4% 21.0 No Change Enrolments/Amendments 2 986 5 386 2 400 80.4% 28.7 Deletions to NT Roll

Objections/Cancellations 2 327 4 565 2 238 96.2% 26.8 Death Deletions 836 784 -52 -6.2% -0.6 Duplications 142 193 51 35.9% 0.6 Transfers out to Interstate 5 973 7 580 1 607 26.9% 19.2 Total Transactions 41 306 49 656 8 350 20.2% Notes:  New enrolments - all electors who enrolled for the first time.  Re-enrolments - re-enrolling electors who previously had been enrolled.  Re-instatements - the re-instatement of electors to the roll removed previously based on the receipt of new information that they still reside at their earlier enrolled address.  Transfers from Interstate - transfers of enrolment to an NT address from interstate.  Interstate transfers from NT - electors previously enrolled in the NT transferring their enrolment to another jurisdiction.  Transfers between divisions - electors notifying a change of address to another NT LA division.  Changes within division – electors notifying a change of address within same division.  No change enrolments/amendments - changes to enrolment details other than name or enrolled address e.g. amendment to mail delivery address, council re-numbering of street addresses.  Objections/Cancellations - electors removed from the roll, generally on the ground that they are apparently no longer resident at their enrolled address.  Death Deletions – electors removed from the roll due to death.  Duplications - removal of a duplicate entry on the roll due to an official error e.g. a transfer of enrolment not matched to an existing enrolment.

30 At the close of rolls on 8 August 2012, a total of 123 805 electors were enrolled to vote, an increase of 3991 electors (3.3%) on the 2008 LA elections. Enrolment for each division and variation from average enrolment is shown below. A comparison with previous elections is included at Appendix C.

An analysis of the enrolment transactions for the short roll closure period in 2012 reveals that a rise in numbers was not averted, despite the great number of transactions that were effected prior to that period with roll stimulation activities. In this context, it is noted that raw turnout figures (number of voters/number of the roll) were widely up across the board in 2012. This would suggest that the longer timeframe for advertising the set term elections, including roll closure, and the earlier efforts from the QR12 enrolment stimulation program were effective in improving roll quality for the election.

With the advent of a fixed term election timeframe and the QR12 enrolment stimulation program in place, in the 12 months leading up to the close of roll for the election a total of 49 656 enrolment transactions were processed, an increase of 8350 (20.2%) compared to the 12 months preceding the roll close for the 2008 LA elections.

Of the abovementioned increase in enrolment transactions, no change enrolments/amendments rose by 2400 (28.7%), objection/cancellation transactions by 2238 (26.8%) and transfers out to interstate increased by 1607 (19.2%). The number of re-enrolment transactions decreased by 1879 (22.5%) while new enrolment transactions decreased by 219 (2.6%).

Table 11: Divisional Enrolment at Close of Rolls % Variation % Variation Division Enrolment from Average Division Enrolment from Average Enrolment Enrolment Arafura 5 477 10.6 Greatorex 4 606 -7.0 Araluen 4 817 -2.7 Johnston 4 879 -1.5 Arnhem 4 902 -1.0 Karama 4 713 -4.8 Barkly 5 137 3.7 Katherine 5 174 4.5 Blain 4 980 0.6 Namatjira 5 127 3.5 Braitling 4 687 -5.4 Nelson 4 715 -4.8 Brennan 5 061 2.2 Nhulunbuy 4 719 -4.7 Casuarina 5 031 1.6 Nightcliff 4 797 -3.1 Daly 5 329 7.6 Port Darwin 4 730 -4.5 Drysdale 5 178 4.6 Sanderson 5 100 3.0 Fannie Bay 4 879 -1.5 Stuart 4 706 -5.0 Fong Lim 4 883 -1.4 Wanguri 4 855 -2.0 Goyder 5 323 7.5 Total 123 805 Average Area Enrolment: 4 952

The notable percentage variation from the prescribed quota in some divisions may be explained to some degree as follows:  Arafura - enrolment growth expected, however no boundary changes were made at the 2011 redistribution to maintain communities of interest.  Daly - enrolment growth higher than expected due to increased growth in the rural area and Territory Growth Town (Wadeye).  Goyder - enrolment growth noted but no boundary changes made at the 2011 redistribution. Ongoing growth in the rural area contributed to the increase.  Greatorex - the residential development at Mt John’s was delayed and has taken longer than envisaged at the time of the 2011 redistribution.

31 The enrolment activity generated after the close of rolls for the election was also significant. From 9 August (the day after the close of rolls) up until 24 September (the timeframe requested by the AEC for processing election generated enrolment forms), a further 6665 enrolment transactions were processed:  1906 for change of enrolled address within the NT.  3052 additions to the roll, including 1139 new enrolments, 1012 re-enrolments, eight reinstatements and 893 transfers to the NT from interstate.  1019 deletions, the majority of which (870) were transfers out of the Territory.  The remaining transactions were amendments to electors’ details.

During polling, 3612 electors left enrolment advice at polling places notifying changes to their personal and address details. Of these notifications, 1732 were lodged by electors claiming a declaration vote as their name could not be found on the roll. For the LA elections, the declaration vote envelope was redesigned, to serve both as a claim for an entitlement to vote and as an enrolment form after the elector’s entitlement was resolved. This alleviated the need for the elector to complete a separate enrolment form but allowed the AEC to use it as a source document to update an elector’s enrolment. The initiative worked well.

At the elections, the division with the largest number of electors was Arafura, 5477 electors, and the smallest was Greatorex, 4606 electors.

3.7 Roll products

In accordance with the Commonwealth-NT Joint Roll Arrangement, following the 8pm close of rolls the AEC provided, by electronic transfer the next day, roll data and a range of roll products in specified formats. However, the requirement for overnight processing of the roll in AEC Head Office (Canberra) to allow roll checks to commence from 8am the next day on electors nominating and their nominators, is very tight and potentially problematical. The short timeframe was discussed prior to the elections and, though met on this occasion, more leeway to allow appropriate management of risks would be beneficial. See Section 2.7, The Legislative Assembly Timetable.

The certified lists for the election were printed at the NT Government Printing Office (GPO) in Darwin. As provided in the Act, two types of lists were printed:  Territory wide A-Z certified lists for declarations voters, i.e. electors voting early, by post and absent from their division.  Certified lists for each division for electors voting within their division on polling day.

Members and registered political parties received an electronic version of the Territory electoral roll in accordance with the Act. Non-affiliated candidates who were not sitting members were unable to receive roll data.

Problems encountered

Following the printing of the certified lists, the AEC advised that 30 electors enrolled in Jodetluk Camp (Katherine Gorge) had been incorrectly coded to the Division of Stuart instead of Katherine. A supplementary roll was subsequently produced and remedial action was taken to correct the error by those providing services in the field.

3.8 Post-election non-voter processing

The processing of apparent non-voters is described in Section 4.17. However there are a number of actions during that program that have impact for roll update and which involves the NTEC and AEC in coordinating the processing of post-election roll data.

32 The RTS mail received during the non-voter program was provided to the AEC for roll review and objection action where applicable, resulting in the removal of the names of 803 electors from the electoral roll.

3.9 Electronic certified lists and roll mark-off

In February 2011, a successful trial of the use of netbooks, loaded with the election roll in electronic format, was undertaken at the Katherine Town Council By-election for looking up and marking off the names of electors who cast an ordinary vote on polling day. The trial indicated:  Additional training time was needed for hardware and software familiarisation.  Polling place staff found the netbooks easier, quicker, more accurate and less tiring to use than a printed roll.  The accuracy and timeliness of identifying and marking off electors’ names improved, the exception being Indigenous names which was dependent on resolving the spelling of the elector’s surname by other means.  The efficiency and cost of the production of non-voter data improved.  No netbook hardware failure was experienced, though hard copy certified lists were available as a risk management precaution.  Polling place layouts needed to take cabling needs into account.

At the 2012 elections, an Excel spreadsheet containing the details of all electors enrolled at the roll close was provided to interstate contact officers for early voting purposes. Issuing officers marked the Excel spreadsheet and recorded separately, as a backup measure, the names of all voters issued with an early vote. At the completion of early voting, each jurisdiction emailed to the NTEC a copy of the marked Excel spreadsheet in the same format that it was sent and also forwarded scanned copies of the record of voters. The spreadsheet data was later used for the non-voter program.

At the 2013 federal election, elector identification and mark-off of the electoral roll was also trialled for early voting (intra and interstate) and mobile polling in selected locations, both urban and remote. Outcomes of this trial will be investigated to further assess the potential benefits to the NTEC and any hardware and software investment costs.

It is clear, from the use of electronic certified lists already in place by various jurisdictions, that benefits will accrue if applied for both elector look up, mark-off and program reporting purposes as the data can then readily be used, inter alia, to improve ballot paper accountability, monitor vote issuing progress and follow-up apparent non-voters.

3.10 Election Day Enrolment

In some jurisdictions, polling day enrolment is now being effected. The NTEC will monitor these developments and the associated legislative and program implications.

33

34 4 KEY RESULT AREA – ELECTIONS MANAGEMENT

4.1 Background

The August 2012 elections were the first fixed term LA elections for the NT. As already noted, the development and implementation of LA election programs and projects were concentrated into a fairly short timeframe due to the focus in the first five months of the year on the 2012 Local Government general elections, preparations for which were severely disrupted by the late advice of the government’s intention, and later abandonment, of holding these conjointly with the Constitutional Convention poll. Moreover, following the LG elections, a further six supplementary elections had to be held. The proximity of the major elections did, however, provide some opportunities to capitalise on economies of scale, identify/recruit common staff members and develop and implement programs with universal elements for both events.

4.2 Candidate and Party Liaison

Registered political parties were provided with individual briefings prior to the issue of the Writ, covering topics such as changes in legislation, nomination and election procedures, advertising, authorisation and disclosure requirements.

Twenty-two election bulletins were emailed to senior officials of registered political parties, candidates, campaign managers and others on request. They were sent out from the opening of nominations through to the return of the Writ and proved an effective mechanism for providing relevant and timely information and advice on electoral matters. Topics included:  The election timetable.  Key election milestones i.e. the close of the roll and nominations, the commencement of mobile polling, early and postal voting.  The complaint handling process.  Contact details for key contact officers including regional coordinators.  Legislative requirements with respect to advertising, campaigning and canvassing.  Mobile polling and static polling arrangements.  Arrangements for the conduct of the polling night counts.  The post-election timetable including recounts and the declaration of the poll.  Advice and instruction on emerging issues.

See Appendix D for an example of advice on election advertising and campaign material.

A contact was required for each registered political party who would disseminate NTEC information and with whom issues could be discussed. Candidates not affiliated with any party were contacted individually.

Despite the ongoing communication with candidates and parties, transgressions occurred in relation to meeting local requirements for the erection of signage and canvassing for votes at two regional early voting centres and the early setting up on polling eve by candidates and parties at polling places at three schools in the Darwin region. All incidences required the intervention of senior staff to resolve the issue.

4.3 Candidate Packs

Candidate packs were available from the Darwin and Alice Springs offices as well as the temporary regional offices. Registered political parties were given sufficient packs for their candidates and independent candidates received packs upon request. Each pack contained:  A copy of the election timetable.

35  A nomination form and forms for appointing/briefing scrutineers.  A candidate’s handbook.  Enrolment forms and postal vote applications.  Reply paid envelopes.  Guidelines and procedures for NTPS employees contesting elections.  A disclosure handbook, appointment of agent and candidate return forms.

4.4 Nominations and Draw for Ballot Paper Positions

Nominations could be lodged at NTEC offices in Alice Springs, Darwin and regional centres from Thursday 9 August, the day after roll close, until the close of nominations at 12 noon on Friday 10 August 2012.

Each nomination was accompanied by a deposit of $200, as required by section 32 of the 1980 Electoral Act. This amount has remained unchanged for 35 years since the drafting of that Act and is in need of review. The nomination deposit is a common means of deterring frivolous and mischievous nominations.

The 2004 Electoral Act was amended in 2011 to restrict parties from nominating more than one candidate in each electorate. The existence of large numbers of candidates has been shown to give rise to increased informal voting, especially in remote areas where numeracy standards may be limited.

Bulk nominations were lodged in Darwin by:  The Australian Labor Party - 25 candidates.  The Country Liberals - 25 candidates.  The Sex Party - five candidates.

The Greens (10 candidates) and the First Nations Political Party (8) lodged nominations in both Darwin and Alice Springs. Of the 13 non-aligned candidates, nine lodged their nominations in Darwin, two in Alice Springs, one in Katherine and one in Tennant Creek.

The declaration of nominations and draw for positions on the ballot papers were conducted in Darwin and video linked to the Alice Springs office to provide live coverage to the media and other interested parties in Central Australia (the first time for an LA general election). With video conferencing becoming more common, it may be possible to video link to other regional centres in the future.

As noted in Section 2.7, one and a half days is a very tight timeframe for roll close and nomination processing, especially in the Picture: Declaration of nominations case of some by-elections that can be announced at very short notice. To lessen the risk of a challenge to the electoral process because of a failure to consolidate the election roll, prepare roll products and allow nominations to be lodged and checked in the short time permitted, an extension in the election timetable between roll close and the deadline for lodging nominations may be warranted (see Section 2).

4.5 Nomination Outcomes

At the close of nominations, 86 candidates had been nominated for the 25 Legislative Assembly divisions. A full list of candidates with affiliation is provided at Appendix E. Tables 12 and 13 provide summaries relating to nominations received by affiliation, gender and age range.

36 Table 12: Candidates Standing 2012, by Affiliation and Gender Candidates Affiliation Male Female Total Australian Labor Party (NT) 17 8 25 Australian Sex Party NT 1 4 5 Country Liberals 13 12 25 First Nations Political Party 6 2 8 The Greens 6 4 10 Independent 9 1 10 No affiliation 3 0 3 Total 55 31 86

Table 13: Candidates Nominated by Age Range Candidates Age ALP Aust. Sex Country First The Total Ranges Independent No affiliation (NT) Party NT Liberals Nations Greens 18-24 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 4 25-34 4 4 5 1 2 2 0 18 35-44 5 0 4 0 1 2 0 12 45-54 9 0 11 3 4 4 2 33 55-64 3 0 4 3 1 2 0 13 65+ 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 Not Stated 3 - - 1 - - - 4 Total 25 5 25 8 10 10 3 86

The following table compares the number of candidates nominated for elections from 2005 to 2012. In 2008 there were 66 candidates with the divisions of Arnhem and Macdonnell uncontested. The registration of political parties and the printing of candidate affiliations on ballot papers occurred for the first time following the introduction of the 2004 Electoral Act.

Table 14: Candidates Standing 2005 to 2012 Elections Elections Affiliation 2005 2008* 2012 Australian Labor Party (NT) 25 25 25 Australian Sex Party NT - - 5 Country Liberals (Part)y 25 24# 25 First Nations Political Party - - 8 The Greens 11 6 10 Independents/No Affiliation 19 11 13 Total 80 66 86 * In 2008, the divisions of Arnhem and Macdonnell were uncontested # The then CLP nominated 2 candidates for Arafura

All divisions in the 2012 elections were contested. The number of candidates standing in each division is shown in the following table.

37 Table 15: Number of Candidates Standing in each Division at the 2012 Elections 2 Candidates (4 div) 3 Candidates (11 div) 4 Candidates (7 div) 5 Candidates (2 div) 7 Candidates (1 div) Arnhem Araluen Arafura Daly Nightcliff Brennan Blain Barkly Johnston Casuarina Drysdale Braitling Wanguri Fannie Bay Fong Lim Goyder Greatorex Karama Port Darwin Katherine Sanderson Namatjira Nelson Nhulunbuy Stuart

The NTEA s39 provides that the nomination deposit is returned if the candidate is elected or polls greater than one fifth of the 1st preference votes of the successful candidate. Any candidate failing to meet either of these criteria forfeits their deposit.

Following the election, 59 candidates (68.6%) had their deposits refunded and 27 (31.4%) forfeited their deposit. Refunds were made by EFT on 25 September 2012 and an advisory letter sent the same day.

The following table compares the nomination deposit outcomes by affiliation for the 2005, 2008 and 2012 elections.

Table 16: Nomination Deposit Outcomes 2005, 2008 and 2012 Elections 2005 2008 2012

Affiliation

Refunded Forfeited Total Refunded Forfeited Total Refunded Forfeited Total

Australian Labor Party (NT) 25 0 25 24 1 25 24 1 25 Australian Sex Party NT 0 5 5 Country Liberals (Party) 25 0 25 24 0 24 25 0 25 First Nations Political Party 2 6 8 The Greens 3 8 11 5 1 6 3 7 10 Independent 7 11 18 4 7 11 5 5 10 No affiliation - 1 1 0 3 3 60 20 80 57 9 66 59 27 86 Total (75.0%) (25.0%) (86.4%) (13.6%) (68.6%) (31.4%)

The nomination deposit should be set at a rate that provides a suitable deterrent whilst not providing a barrier to legitimate candidature. Bearing in mind the majority of nomination deposits are refunded and the national CPI has risen from around 25 points to about 103 points since 1980, the setting of a nomination deposit at $500 per candidate (only two and half times the current amount) would not be unreasonable.

Recommendation  An increase in the nomination deposit for LA elections from $200 to $500.

38 4.6 Ballot Paper Printing

All ballot papers (ordinary and declaration) were printed at the Government Printing Office (GPO) following the close of nominations. The GPO met the strict timeframes for the printing of the ballot papers, certified lists and election forms.

The GPO also prepared ballot paper templates that were subsequently emailed to regional and interstate jurisdictions to allow ballot papers to be printed in time for the start of early voting and prior to each centre receiving their allocation of printed ballot paper stock from Darwin.

4.7 Voting Services - (Postal, Early, Mobile, Static, Absent, Unenrolled)

The table below summarises ballot papers included in the count – both formal and informal - that were issued to electors using the various voting services offered to NT voters at the last three LA general elections.

Table 17: Ballot Papers Counted by Type 2005, 2008 and 2012 Elections 2005 2008* 2012 Ballot Papers Counted No. % No. % No. % Early 5 775 6.4 9 217 11.0 13 268 13.9 Postal 3 042 3.4 2 648 3.2 3 777 4.0 Sub-total 8 817 9.8 11 865 14.2 17 045 17.9 Ordinary Ballot Papers: Mobile Polling# 13 364 14.9 8 408 10.1 8 346 8.8 Static Polling Places 55 247 61.6 52 349 62.7 58 608 61.6 Absent 11 634 13.0 10 709 12.8 10 995 11.5 Declaration 584 0.7 105 0.1 221 0.2 Sub-total 80 829 90.2 71 571 85.8 78 170 82.1 Total Ballot Papers Counted 89 646 83 436 95 215 * In 2008, the remote divisions of Arnhem and Macdonnell were uncontested # In 2012, static polling places were established in 15 remote townships that were previously mobile polled

See Appendix F for details of vote types by division.

4.7.1 Postal Voting

Postal votes may be issued to an elector who, for one of the following reasons, is unable to attend a polling place during polling hours on polling day:  Will not be in the Territory or within 20km of a polling place.  Will be travelling.  Has a physical or other disability or illness, or is in an advanced stage of pregnancy or other condition.  Will be caring for another person who has a physical or other disability or illness, or is in an advanced stage of pregnancy or other condition.  Has a reasonable fear or apprehension about their wellbeing or safety.  Is a prisoner.  Will be working and either of the following apply: o is not entitled to leave of absence to vote. o attendance at a polling place to vote would be likely to cause financial loss.  Is unable to vote for religious reasons.  Is a person whose address has been suppressed from the roll.

The same criteria were applied to an elector attending an early voting centre.

39 Electors who have an ongoing reason for being unable to attend a polling place on polling day may register as a Registered Postal Voter (RPV) and ballot papers are automatically mailed to them without the need to lodge an application at the time of the election. Under the NTEA, electors are eligible RPVs if they have registered with the AEC as a General Postal Voter (GPV) under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918. Prior to the elections, a review of GPVs was undertaken by the AEC, resulting in an update to the register and subsequently to the electoral roll.

The postal vote application (PVA) is a form approved by the Electoral Commissioner. The design of the PVA was changed prior to the local government elections with the same design features applied for the LA elections. The redesign of the form included tick boxes to assist electors in determining whether they were eligible to receive a postal vote. Where applicants did not tick a box, they were contacted by phone to ascertain the reason they were applying for a postal vote. Where contact could not be made, postal votes were issued.

An in-house database was used for issuing postal votes to RPVs and to electors applying for a postal vote. Once close of rolls data was loaded into the database, the system allowed the printing of the postal vote certificate envelope, labels and reports for the issue and reconciliation of ballot papers and mail lodgement. A ballot paper, directions and a return certificate envelope were inserted into an outer envelope. Completed postal vote certificates and return to sender mail (RTS) were marked back on receipt, sorted by category as rejected (set aside) or accepted for further scrutiny and reports generated on mail volume and receipt date. It was anticipated that the system would be used for postal vote issuing in regional centres, but remote access was difficult. The current database is a stand-alone system and Picture: Postal vote application there is a need to establish an integrated platform for all election software. See Section 6.5.

PVAs were available at post offices, NTEC offices and could be downloaded from the website. A PDF of the application form was sent to the Cattlemen’s Association for dissemination to their membership, with members also encouraged to become registered postal voters. Major mining companies and working mine sites were also contacted and the same information was provided.

Communication with the Department of Defence in the lead up to and during the LA elections resulted in the following actions:  A ‘DefGram’ providing information on key election dates and services was despatched to all defence personnel.  One hundred postal vote applications were provided for distribution to Navy personnel who would be at sea during the election. Distribution and collection of postal voting materials was undertaken by Navy mail drop.  Mobile polling was conducted at Robertson Barracks providing defence personnel going out on exercise the opportunity to vote.

Postal voting has continued to increase at recent elections in all jurisdictions, partly as a consequence of applications being distributed by political parties with their promotional material. As applications distributed in this way are initially returned to political parties and then forwarded to the electoral authority, there is a potential for

40 delays and disenfranchisement. Delays in receipt are especially critical at LA elections due to the short time available for the posting and return of materials. There is an additional risk associated with non-affiliated candidates disseminating PVAs with a greater potential for delayed return of the documents as there is no party-machine backing to collate and on-forward the applications for processing in a timely manner.

At the 2012 LA elections, registered parties and campaign managers delivered postal vote applications in bulk as well as providing RTS envelopes from their mail-outs. Deliveries by parties/candidates were logged on receipt.

One of the reasons for returning PVAs via parties was the potential for adding personal information about the elector and their implied voting allegiance to the databases held by parties. As these databases are now much more comprehensive, PVAs distributed by the parties could come directly to the NTEC in envelopes supplied by the Commission. Parties and candidates would still have the right to access details as to who had requested PVAs, as provided for in Section 64(2) of the NTEA.

2013 Federal Election On 25 February 2013, the Senate passed the Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Improving Electoral Procedure) Bill 2012. Schedule 1 amended the postal voting provisions in the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 by removing the prescription relating to how postal votes are processed and allowing for technological developments over time. These changes enabled the AEC to provide an on-line option for PVAs at the 2013 federal elections, with 2154 received for the NT, more than half (58.3%) of the total hard copy and online applications.

Section 197 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 also provides for a penalty to be applied for the failure to post or deliver a postal vote application by a person to whom it is entrusted.

To allow an elector to lodge an on-line PVA, as for Commonwealth, NSW and ACT elections, the NTEC ‘approved form’ would need amending to remove the necessity for the elector and a witness to sign the application. On return of the completed PV Certificate, signed by elector and witness, the signature of the elector would then be matched against records, as currently takes place. Given that more than half of the NT applications at the last federal elections were lodged on-line, harmonisation of practice with the AEC would be beneficial for electors, as would be the improvement to the timeliness of processing applications.

Mailing of Postal Vote Packs

During the period 10-23 August, 5314 postal ballot paper packs were despatched, an increase of approximately 1300 compared with the 2008 elections, a significant rise even though two divisions were not contested in 2008. Ballot packs were processed and mailed from the Darwin and Alice Springs offices. Details of the number of postal ballot papers issued and processed for each division are provided at Appendix G.

A total of 67% of the packs were lodged for mailing within the first three days of nominations closing. A timetable for lodgement was established with Australia Post and discussions were held on delivery schedules in remote areas that only had a weekly service and where difficulties might occur in meeting the election timeframes.

Despite virtually all postal vote mail being despatched on the day applications were received, electors with delivery addresses outside the Territory or who applied during the week before polling day were unlikely to receive their ballot papers in time to vote. In the case of packs sent to electors temporarily interstate, a significant proportion was either returned late or not at all.

Return of Postal Vote Certificate (PVC) Envelopes

By the deadline for the return of PVCs on 31 August 2012, a total of 3777 completed PVC envelopes had been received. The remaining 1537 postal vote applicants either returned their completed envelopes after the deadline, or failed to vote. Of the 2245 postal packs sent to RPVs, 412 (18.4%) were not returned, though some of these may have voted by other means. Any applicant for a postal vote had their name marked on the roll as

41 having contacted the agency and would therefore not receive a non-voter notice, even if a completed PVC envelope was not received.

During the month following the 31 August deadline, a total of 232 completed certificate envelopes were returned, plus a further 82 envelopes endorsed ‘RTS - Not Known at Address’. Details of returns are shown in the following table and at Appendix G.

Table 18: Postal Voting Returns 2005, 2008 and 2012 Elections 2005 2008* 2012 Postal Vote Details No. % No. % No. % Issued Postal Vote Packs Issued to Voters 4 446 4 072 5 314 Returns Completed and Returned by Deadline 3 281 73.8 2 916 71.6 3 777 71.1 Completed and Returned after Deadline 219 4.9 246 6.0 230 4.3 Returned to Sender (RTS) 99 2.2 84 2.1 82 1.5 Cancelled 151 3.4 91 2.2 96 1.8 Not Returned 696 15.7 735 18.1 1 129 21.3 * Elections in Arnhem and Macdonnell were not contested.

Although 71.1% of the postal ballot papers mail-out was returned by the deadline, the legislated timetable for postal voting presents challenges for ensuring that electors in remote areas and those applying from interstate and overseas can vote. Australia Post mail delivery services have declined in recent years and the current difficulties appear certain to become greater in the coming years. There is a need to continue working closely with Australia Post to monitor any future changes to their delivery model and any potential impact on postal voting services; however, it is likely that more electors will find themselves incapable of returning postal votes from distant places at elections, especially in the case of by-elections being conducted at short notice.

Processing of Returned PVC Envelopes

PVC envelopes are rejected if they are received later than the deadline, have been completed after polling day, have not been witnessed and/or signed by the elector. All elector signatures are subject to checks against their original application or the register of postal voters. Of the 408 rejected certificates, 168 were received after the cut-off, 62 were due to the elector voting late, 61 were not signed, 35 were not witnessed and 82 were returned to the sender.

The following table compares the 2012 admission and rejection rates of postal vote envelopes received by the deadline for admission to the count, with data from the 2005 and 2008 general elections.

Table 19: Postal Vote Envelope Scrutiny Details 2005, 2008 and 2012 Elections 2005 2008* 2012 Postal Vote Scrutiny Details No. % No. % No. % Admitted to Further Scrutiny 3 042 92.7 2 648 90.8 3 777 90.3 Rejected from Scrutiny 239 7.3 268 9.2 408 9.7 * Elections in Arnhem and Macdonnell were not contested.

The Territory-wide average for admission in 2012 was 90.3%. Appendix G contains further details of admitted PVCs for all divisions.

The 2009 amendments to the Electoral Act provided a slightly longer postal voting timetable that assisted with the return of completed postal votes from electors in remote areas of the Territory. The amendments also allowed for the despatch of postal votes as soon as practicable after the close of nominations, at least three

42 working days earlier than under the legislation that existed for the 2008 poll. However, timeframes still do not provide sufficient time for most electors applying from overseas or from the more remote parts of Australia.

Recommendation  An extension of the timeframe, by one day, from the close of nominations to polling day (see Section 2.7 - Options 1 and 2) to allow additional time for the despatch and receipt of postal votes

Consideration could also be given to moving the deadline for the receipt of postal votes from 6pm to 12 noon on the Friday after polling day. Australia Post no longer delivers twice a day and therefore it is unlikely that postal votes would be received after 12 noon and access to post office collection areas is limited after 5pm. A slightly earlier deadline would adequately provide for the return of postal votes completed by the close of poll, allow the final count to be commenced during working hours on the Friday and therefore more timely results to be achieved on that day. This recommendation was also made in the 2012 Local Government General Elections report.

The NTEC notes that the 6pm close for postal voting despatch on the Tuesday (to electors overseas) and Thursday (intra and inter-state electors) of election week was originally tied in with post office business hours. There may be an argument for bringing the hour forward in the future to coincide with current business operating hours, closing at 5pm.

Recommendations  The removal of the elector and witness signatures from the postal vote application so that an online application can be lodged electronically through the NTEC website.  The bringing forward of the postal voting despatch deadlines to 5pm on the relevant days prior to polling day and the receipt deadline to 12 noon on the Friday after polling day to allow earlier commencement of the final count.  Prescribing the return address for all completed postal vote applications distributed by parties/candidates to be that of the NT Electoral Commission.

4.7.2 Early Voting

The NTEA s71(1)(b) enacted in 2004 states only that an elector is entitled to vote at an early voting centre (EVC) if they are unable to attend a polling place on polling day. However, before the introduction of the 2004 Act, the criteria for claiming a pre-poll vote were the same as for a postal vote. This is still the case with early and postal vote eligibility provisions in the Local Government (Electoral) Regulations that apply at NT local government elections. Picture: Earl Vote Under Commonwealth legislation (Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 - Schedule 2), an elector must similarly meet one of the criteria imposed for both postal and pre-poll voting. However, at the 2013 Federal election, a more relaxed approach towards issuing ballot papers was applied to electors who attended an early voting centre. In practical terms, no challenges or declaration of reasons from electors were required in the Commonwealth context, rather an implied acknowledgement that the elector was unable to vote in the normal fashion on polling day.

At the 2012 LA elections, electors presenting themselves at the issuing point were asked to provide their reasons for voting early. A relatively small number of electors were identified as being able to vote at a polling place on polling day and they generally accepted that this was a service for those who could not.

Recommendation  Harmonise the grounds for receiving an early vote under both the Electoral Act and the Local Government (Electoral) Regulations so that the eligibility criterion is as specified in the NTEA with no nexus to the criteria for receiving a postal vote.

43 EVCs were open from Monday 13 August to 6pm Friday 24 August at the Darwin and Alice Springs offices, at five other locations in Darwin/regional centres as well as at the seven interstate electoral commissions, under reciprocal service arrangements. Early voting was also provided the day prior to polling day at Jabiru and, for the three days prior to polling day, at the Alice Springs and Darwin Airports. Early voting was available at the airports for the first time, with the hours of operation varying according to peak departure schedules. The highest proportion of early votes issued (24.8%) was at the Alice Springs EVC, which may be due to its prominent location. The following table summarises the number of ballot papers issued at each EVC. Appendix H provides details of early votes issued by source and division.

Table 20: Early Voting Centres and Ballot Papers Issued Intra-Territory Interstate/Territory Centre Issued Centre Issued Alice Springs MyVote Central 3 296 Adelaide 75 Alice Springs Airport 70 Brisbane 33 Casuarina 2 308 Canberra 9 Darwin NTEC 2 396 Hobart 1 Darwin Airport 132 Melbourne 33 Jabiru 116 Perth 13 Katherine 1 850 Sydney 21 Nhulunbuy 362 Palmerston 1 974 Tennant Creek 579 Subtotal (10) 13 083 Subtotal (7) 185 (98.6%) (1.4%) Total Issued 13 268

In line with national trends, the number of electors voting in person before polling day continues to increase significantly from election to election, with a total of 13 268 early votes issued in 2012, 13.9% of the total ballot papers and an increase of 43.9% compared with the 2008 LA elections. Early votes cast by electors voting outside their region were placed in envelopes for later reconciliation and scrutiny. As detailed in the following chart, the number of electors accessing early voting has increased by 281.7% since 1997 when it was first made available. The increase reflects the mobility of the NT population, a growing propensity for electors to want or need to vote before polling day and the more relaxed issuing rules applied by other jurisdictions, especially the Commonwealth at federal elections.

Chart: Early Voting 1997 to 2012 Elections

13 268

No. Early 9 217 Votes Issued 5 775 4 044 3 476

1997 2001 2005 2008* 2012 Election Year

* Elections in Arnhem and Macdonnell were not contested.

The ongoing increase in early voting presents challenges for the NTEC in relation to locating suitable premises and providing appropriate levels of polling materials, staffing, security, resources and training. While the

44 introduction of fixed term elections enabled the identification of staff and premises in advance of the election, securing suitable premises at Casuarina and Palmerston in the Top End was still problematic.

Electors wanting to cast an early vote at the Alice Springs EVC when it first opened on the Monday morning were slightly delayed due to printed ballot papers not yet being available from locally produced back-up stock before the delivery (later that day) of the full complement of ballot papers from Darwin.

At the Darwin and Casuarina EVCs, council or landlord restrictions were placed on campaign workers setting up outside the EVC premises. As a result, they were permitted to set up within the reception area of the EVCs, separated from the issuing area by screens or walls. This created minor confusion for some electors who initially thought the campaign workers were EVC staff, as well as generating some negative feedback from electors who felt that it was not appropriate for the campaign workers to be situated inside the premises.

Appendix I provides details of EVC locations and the canvassing guidelines that were issued to candidates and parties.

Following the close of rolls, an Excel spreadsheet containing the details of all electors enrolled as at the roll close was emailed as an encoded zip file to interstate contact officers. An email advising the recipients of the password to open the file was sent separately. The file was then extracted and loaded on a laptop or net book for use by the early vote issuing officer.

After the close of nominations, templates of ballot papers for the 25 Legislative Assembly divisions were emailed to interstate contact officers for them to produce photocopies of ballot papers onto the ballot paper stock.

In order to be able to issue ballot papers to early voters outside the NT on and from the commencement of early voting (Monday 13 August 2012), green ballot paper stock was provided to interstate Electoral Commissions. Issuing officers were required to mark the Excel spreadsheet and record, as a backup measure, the names of all voters who were issued with an early vote. Recipients were required to acknowledge receipt of all emails.

At the completion of early voting, each jurisdiction emailed:  A copy of the marked Excel spreadsheet in the same format that it was provided.  Scanned copies of the record of voters.

Once the data was received and checked, an instruction was issued to all interstate contact officers to destroy their local copy.

The Darwin rural area is experiencing ongoing development and growth, with the nearest early voting centre at the 2012 elections situated at Palmerston. Taking this growth into account, as well as the increasing propensity for electors to access early voting facilities, consideration will be given to establishing an early voting centre in the rural area for a short time before polling day.

The introduction of a fixed term election, in conjunction with the promotional campaign leading up to the poll and the capacity for electors to lodge a postal vote application up to three months before the issue of the Writ, persuaded the NTEC not to pursue early voting at overseas centres for the 2012 elections; it will be reviewing the merit of this option for the 2016 elections.

4.7.3 Mobile Polling

Mobile polling is conducted for distinct concentrations of electors, where voting may best be facilitated by a team of visiting electoral officials polling for limited hours at a prearranged time. Such situations include remote locations, hospitals and small population centres with a high incidence of special needs.

45 A total of 241 locations were mobile polled at the election, 217 of these in remote areas. The balance comprised hospitals, aged care and correctional facilities and town camps (six in Alice Springs).

Eighteen larger communities were static polled. Fifteen of these were larger remote communities (see Table 22) and polled 8am to 6pm on polling day for the first time; previously they had been mobile polled. The three more distant townships of Adelaide River, Alyangula and Pine Creek were also polled on polling day but had historically been static polling places at previous NTLA general elections.

Picture: Mobile polling - Adelaide A summary table is provided below. River

Table 21: Mobile Polling Statistics Detail No. Locations visited by teams 241 Urban 24 (inc. 6 Alice town camps) Remote 217 in 7 remote divisions Statics polled by mobile teams 18 Statics in remote communities 15 Teams 23 Staff trained 83 Community assistants employed 97 Votes taken (including remote static booths) Ordinary 13 418 Absent 1 918 Declaration Voting (not on roll) 267 Assisted votes 531 By polling official 385 By other 146 Number of variations to schedule 24

As roll quality can vary significantly from time to time, the best guide to comparing election turnouts for mobile polling services is the actual number of electors that cast a vote at particular locations and by region, rather than turnout percentages. Comparative statistics on the issue of ballot papers by mobile polling location for 2008 and 2012 are provided at Appendix J. Excluding the locations within the divisions of Arnhem and Macdonnell which did not go to poll in 2008, the number of votes cast rose from 8324 in 2008 to 9355 in 2012, an increase of 1031.

Mobile Polling Planning and Schedule

In a system of compulsory voting, it is incumbent on electoral administrations to ensure that those eligible have every opportunity to vote. In major regional centres, electors have various convenient and effective options, such as early and postal voting, and voting at a static polling place. Even in urban centres, access to standard facilities poses difficulties for some electors and teams of electoral officials can mobile poll hospitals, care organisations and some town camps.

46 More than a thousand communities and outstations in the Northern Territory have populations that are very transient. The mobile polling program also serves many of these remote population centres to enfranchise electors whose access to voting options is relatively limited.

Before making any determination of communities to be mobile polled, the following is considered:  The practicalities of electors attending a different polling place for the election.  The logistics of establishing a mobile polling place for those electors.  The number of electors involved.  The resources required for sending in a mobile team.  The appropriateness and effectiveness of postal voting services for the residents of any particular location under consideration.

Mobile polling itineraries for the 2012 LA elections also took into account previous mobile polling schedules, current enrolment, voter participation at recent elections (especially the March 2012 LG elections), the most efficient means of travel to individual or groups of communities and the availability of accommodation.

Fieldwork was conducted in remote communities prior to the election as part of the QR12 enrolment program. The mobile schedule was also constantly reviewed as information came to hand through the activities of the program and ongoing liaison with key community contacts. This included confirmation of the timing of festivals and events, accommodation availability, road and airstrip conditions, population movements and identification of static polling premises.

A draft mobile polling schedule was disseminated to stakeholders (including political parties and the then shire service centres) for feedback and any other matters that might affect the schedule. Stakeholders had a month to respond with one response received. Appendix K contains details of the schedule for each division.

The mobile polling schedule was devised so that mobile teams finished in the 15 growth towns, plus Adelaide River, Alyangula and Pine Creek, the Friday before polling day to set up the static polling place. The service provided in these communities was consistent with that in larger urban centres. The static polling places were located and advertised to enable electors from surrounding smaller outstations to also vote on polling day.

The establishment of a full day’s polling in major remote towns delivers some major benefits. It means that providing electors are in any township of a reasonable size on polling day, they will have ready access to ordinary and absent voting facilities. Both the surrounding area mobile and static polling counts can be conducted locally with count results provided sooner than if returned to a centralised counting centre.

The following table compares turnout in the 2008 and 2012 elections at the 15 communities provided with static polling. No polling was provided in four of the 15 communities in the 2008 elections as two divisions were uncontested. Turnout in nine of the eleven communities polled in both elections improved in the 2012 election with the overall numbers increasing by 17%. Five of the increases and all of the decreases were marginal; however, four significant increases were recorded in Gunbalanya (40%), Maningrida (11%), Lajamanu (38%) and Yirrkala (36%).

47 Table 22: Static Remote Polling Place Statistics 2008-2012 Votes Taken Polling Location 2012 2008 Division (Territory Growth Towns) Remote Saturday Week Day Absent Absent Day Polled Static Polling Polling Gunbalanya 122 466 11 - 333 Thursday Maningrida 32 405 28 - 366 Friday Arafura Nguiu 21 663 21 - 653 Friday Ngukurr 20 327 No election Ramingining 21 232 Ali Curung 9 120 6 - 126 Thursday 221 Barkly Borroloola 25 225 11 - - (12pm-6pm) Elliott 8 145 10 140 Wednesday

Daly Wadeye 27 684 16 681 - - Hermannsburg 14 156 Namatjira* No election Papunya 8 127 Galiwinku 26 463 20 - 459 Monday Nhulunbuy Yirrkala 13 343 10 - 253 Friday Lajamanu 12 180 4 - 130 Monday Stuart 228 Yuendumu 29 222 21 - - (9.30am-2.30pm) Total 387 5 026 158 1 130 2 460

* The divisions of Arnhem and Macdonnell (Namatjira in 2012) did not proceed to poll in 2008

At the 2013 federal election, the AEC implemented significant changes to its remote mobile service delivery model, including contractual arrangements with the Department of Human Services (DHS). These arrangements included enrolment activities, consultation over the employment of some staff and the mobile polling schedule and, during the election period, the following:

 Engagement of DHS staff to act as polling officials.  Use of DHS vehicles to undertake mobile polling.  Appointment of mostly DHS premises from which to conduct mobile polling where possible.

In addition, the AEC extended the operation for mobile polling in remote growth towns from one appointed day to a number of days (but not including polling day), reduced the number of small remote locations to be visited and engaged local assistants (referred to by the AEC as Voter Information Officers) only if cleared by party workers.

Officers of the NTEC visited several major remote locations in the Top End and Central Australia during the federal mobile polling period to independently observe and gauge the efficiency and effectiveness of the new service delivery model. Further analysis will be undertaken into the remote mobile polling models of each agency.

The AEC has not yet publicly disclosed any detail of the cost of its contractual arrangements with DHS, but given the significant range of services provided over an extended time, it is clear that it would have been resource intensive. NTEC observers also found that the DHS Centrelink offices used as polling places were not always the best option within the community and, at times, unsuitable for the conduct of polling because of cramped conditions and the simultaneous conduct of Centrelink’s normal business.

48 The following table compares the number of remote locations visited and the number of person days in the field conducting mobile polling.

Table 23: Number of Remote Locations and Person Days in the Field– 2012 NT LA Elections and 2013 Federal Election 2012 NT LA Elections 2013 Federal Election* Locations Visited 217 188 Person Days in the Field 471 531 * Source: AEC

The table below shows the number of ordinary votes taken by remote teams in the 2010 and 2013 federal elections, and in the 2012 NT LA elections and the informality rate. For comparative purposes, absent votes taken by remote teams in the 2012 NTLA elections (that would be ordinary Lingiari division votes in a federal election) have been included.

Table 24: Formal and Informal Ballot Papers - Remote Mobile Polling Teams - 2010 Federal Election, 2012 NT LA Elections and 2013 Federal Election Ballot Papers Detail Election* Formal Informal Total Informality % 2010 Federal House of Representatives 11 033 1 358 12 391 10.95 2012 NT Legislative Assembly# 12 663 660 13 323 4.95 2013 Federal House of Representatives 14 005 1 593 15 598 10.2 * The number of candidates in the seven remote divisions in the 2012 NTLA elections ranged from 2 to 5; this compares with 6 at the 2010 federal election and 8 at the 2013 election for the Division of Lingiari. # Includes Absent Votes. Source for federal data: AEC Website

The electoral roll for Lingiari at the 2010 federal election was 61 168 and increased by 4769 electors (7.8%) at the 2013 federal election to 65 937. An increase in turnout at each successive election can be expected, commensurate with the growth in the roll.

The AEC has the legislative capacity to mobile poll for 13 days, two days longer than the 11 days for the NTEC. Polling for both can include the weekend before, and Saturday polling day.

The AEC has operated an Indigenous Electoral Participation Program (IEPP) since April 2010 with up to five officers employed in the NT. These officers were charged, in the 12 months leading up to the 2013 federal election, with raising awareness in remote communities of the upcoming elections and encouraging voter turnout. The NTEC is not currently resourced to run such a program, however, subject to funding, is intending to conduct a fieldwork program during the year leading up to the 2016 NTLA elections.

The NT LG general elections are a fixed poll and currently conducted in March of the same year as the NT LA general elections, the latter fixed for August. Legislation dictates that the NTEC must provide a static (8am to 6pm) polling place on polling day in every local government council area. In addition, the NTEC conducts numerous local government by-elections each year and must provide a static polling place on polling day for each relevant ward at a by-election.

Wherever possible the remote mobile polling service provided at the 2012 LA elections mirrored the service provided at the 2012 LG general elections. To provide static polling places on polling day for the fixed LG general elections in March of an election year, and then to change those polling arrangement five months later for the NT LA elections, would unnecessarily confuse electors.

49 Based on the raw turnout figures at the 15 growth towns at the LA elections, and the need to provide commensurate services for electors at local government elections, the NTEC is likely to continue to provide voting services in major remote communities on polling day, despite the differing AEC model adopted at the 2013 federal elections.

Staffing of mobile teams

Remote mobile polling at LA elections is a complex core electoral service with many associated risks. Recruiting and training polling staff with the required skills and experience, who work in a culturally and politically sensitive environment, is fundamental to the success of the mobile program and will continue to be a principal focus for, and managed by, the Commission. This will not preclude the NTEC from seeking assistance from other agencies where relevant risks can be appropriately managed.

The recruitment and retention of quality staff can be a testing exercise due to the temporary and intermittent nature of the work. Mobile team recruitment in Alice Springs, traditionally a significant challenge, was so again for the 2012 elections. Mobile polling team leader positions, especially, require a broad range of skills: staff must be politically neutral, have good administrative skills and considerable initiative, be politically astute and aware, possess a good knowledge of the NT and, for remote polling in particular, a demonstrated ability for working in indigenous communities and have 4WD experience over difficult terrain.

Mobile polling staff for the LA elections included experienced electoral officers, some of whom had also mobile polled at the 2012 local government elections and benefited from that recent experience. The remainder of the mobile polling staff were casuals with previous election experience. A total of 83 staff was employed for the 23 teams that operated out of Darwin and Alice Springs with some mobile staff working on more than one team.

Consideration will be given to establishing a remote fieldwork staff recruitment program in 2015 to undertake pre-election enrolment drives and to also act as polling officials for the 2016 LG and LA elections.

The intermittent nature of the work and the high turnover of staff between elections present challenges for staff training. Previously, all team members attended one five-hour training session just before the commencement of the mobile polling program. At this election, two training sessions were conducted for all mobile team staff, with approximately eight hours of training for senior staff. The fixed date elections enabled the training to be conducted earlier than at past elections.

Training encompasses the technical requirements for working as a polling official, discussion of common issues experienced in previous elections and highlights potential issues that may arise.

Local assistants

Local assistants are NTEC polling team members with the following duties:  Facilitating access in the community.  Advising on cultural issues.  Providing local knowledge.  Identifying names on the certified list.  Completing/witnessing enrolment forms.  Relaying instructions on ballot papers and required assistance to voters in local language.

A total of 97 local assistants were employed to work with the polling teams and assist, where available, at the communities that were mobile polled.

Potential local assistants are identified in each community during the course of fieldwork and the conduct of council by-elections and many had previous experience in similar roles. Prior to the 2012 LA elections, communities were contacted and arrangements made for local assistants to meet the mobile polling team for

50 their locality. Lists of these assistants were provided to mobile team leaders however, due to some assistants not showing up, a significant number of local assistants were recruited on the spot by mobile team leaders. In some communities it was not possible to recruit any local assistants.

Twenty-two Aboriginal Interpreter Service (AIS) employees were engaged at the 15 communities where static polling places operated, to undertake the roles performed by local assistants at other locations. This service was provided at no cost.

The AIS nominated persons to work at the major remote communities in accordance with NTEC requirements. A training program was developed for the AIS polling staff by their supervisors that covered their role, including the importance of political neutrality. Mobile team leaders reinforced this requirement at the beginning of polling with both AIS and local assistants.

At the 2013 federal election, the AEC NT office did not engage the AIS staff as local assistants. It recruited 85 voter information officers (VIOs), the equivalent of a local assistant, in the year leading up to the election, and, where possible, provided an induction and training course for those officers. Where the latter was not provided, or where VIOs were recruited on the spot, the team leader conducted induction and training before polling commenced. All VIOs were asked about any political associations they might currently, or previously have had, before signing the declaration of political neutrality. The same process is followed by the NTEC.

In the wake of the NT LA general election allegations about vote influencing, to ensure all staff were, and were seen to be politically neutral, there was also a request at the federal election for political party workers to disclose, before polling commenced, if they were aware of any assistant being politically active in any way since before the 2010 federal election, or if the VIO had any relationships that might be perceived as impacting on their neutrality. In addition, the AEC extended political association to include anyone who had worked for a political party (e.g. as a party worker outside a polling place) in the three years prior to the federal election. If so, they were deemed unsuitable to work as a VIO at the election. In communities where no suitable staff were available, team leaders were directed by the AEC to leave the position unfilled.

Currently, the NTEC does not involve the political parties, in a formal way, in the vetting of its staff although it can, and does, respond to any objection being made from political sources in attendance at remote mobile polling. Rather, the NTEC highlights, in mobile team leader training, the importance of vetting local assistants for perceived political neutrality as best they can in the field and to exercise a conservative approach to this type of recruitment if there might be any possibility of doubt in the public eye. Mobile team leaders are advised to contact senior staff where issues arise regarding the appointment of local assistants.

The Commission neither supports a system that makes party workers the final arbiter on the selection process for local assistants nor a policy of not recruiting persons to these positions if clearance cannot be obtained.

The operational model for the recruitment and training of local assistants and interpreters, including political neutrality vetting and procedures, will be reviewed as will the use of the AIS and the AEC model used during the 2013 federal election.

Voter awareness

The marking of NTLA ballot papers is a relatively simple process when compared to the complexities and different options available to, and confronting, electors marking House of Representative and Senate ballot papers at a federal election. Care must be taken not to be too proactive in ascertaining the need for assistance. Indigenous electors are inclined to answer in the affirmative to offers of assistance and yet assisted voting diminishes the elector’s capacity to have a secret ballot and can give rise to subtle intimidation, as the ballot paper marking is open to observation by others, including both polling officials and scrutineers.

51 Mobile polling in the field

Contact was maintained with council service centres and outstation resource centres before, and during, the election period. As a result, 24 changes were made to the itinerary in eight days, fewer requests than experienced at previous elections. Parties and candidates were notified of all changes to the schedule. Reasons for the changes included:  Inclement weather, i.e. a helicopter could not take off on schedule due to foggy conditions.  Issues with pilot hours and night flying.  Date changes to festivals and sporting events.  A previously unidentified community festival at Mt Liebig (Namatjira).  Stakeholder advice that some small communities not included in the original schedule had people living there or that people were no longer living at a homeland community.  Polling hours extended due to a small bus of voters arriving towards the end of the scheduled time.  Cancellation of polling accommodation.  Addition of Tanumbirini Station (Barkly division) due to advice from the owner of the presence of seasonal workers  Due to a ceremony, women at a large community had been moved to an outstation not previously included in the schedule.  Funeral – causing timing adjustment i.e. more time was allocated for voting before the funeral.  Funeral – community locked down – not able to attend at all on the first scheduled polling day, however a static poll was already organised for polling day (Gunbalanya, Arafura division).  Polling time extended due to stakeholder feedback (Dundee Beach, Daly division).

As has been the case in past elections, mobile team leaders were provided with both satellite and mobile phones. Team leaders were required to phone the Darwin office on arrival at a community, provide statistics at the completion of polling in each community, and to notify the Darwin office of any incident, complaint, or potential issue as they arose. Incidents were dealt with on the spot, or escalated as required. The effectiveness of this is dependent, to some degree, on campaign workers and scrutineers notifying team leaders of perceived issues as they arise.

Turnout at remote locations can be influenced by a number of factors: visits were undertaken by NTEC teams to each of the 20 Territory Growth Towns prior to the elections as part of the QR12 program, to stimulate enrolment and raise election awareness and, intelligence was gained on matters that could affect the elections. Mobile polling was also supported by a public awareness campaign using local radio and posters customised for individual communities before the mobile team visit. Appendix J shows the number of votes taken at each mobile polling location for 2008 and 2012 (including remote static polls).

Program considerations

Infrastructure The infrastructure in remote communities can make it difficult for council service staff to download and display, as requested, materials advertising the elections for local electors. Suitable polling premises and accommodation for mobile teams are difficult to book, especially with the competing demands from council, NTG and federal agencies. Access to polling premises on the day can also change with little notice, necessitating the speedy identification of alternative locations.

Staffing Whilst potential local assistants were identified prior to going into the field, a significant number were unavailable at the last moment and others ended up needing to be recruited on the spot and in some cases no local assistants were employed.

52 Mobile polling relies on council service centre staff for airstrip pickups, transport around the community and the dissemination of election information. While willing to help wherever possible, the business priorities of the service centre staff can impact on their capacity to provide assistance.

Festivals A large festival in Gunbalanya (Arafura) was taking place during the election and two additional teams were established to cater for an expected increase in the number of absent votes, though this did not eventuate. Initially polling for ‘locals’ was planned for the Friday as well as the static poll for both locals and visitors on the Saturday, however due to a death in the community, the then Shire Service Manager advised not to poll on the Friday.

The date for a festival in Kalkarindji (Stuart) was altered at the last minute and the schedule was amended and extra staff employed to cater for the change.

A new mobile team was established to cater for a previously unknown festival at Mt Liebig (Namatjira) during the election, which meant that it could not be polled on the day planned.

Issues arising

Polling at Yuendumu (Stuart) was set up in two locations in response to ongoing tensions within the community. On advice from local authorities and the police, separate polling locations were established to allow two family groups to vote at differing locations so that the groups need not mix. As there was no neutral location, both locations were in areas associated with the particular family groups. During the course of polling, the mobile team leader was advised by local police that a particular polling location should be closed due to pending issues which would make the location unsafe. This occurred in the afternoon and the other polling location in Yuendumu remained open with electors continuing to vote. Media reporting that all polling at Yuendumu had ceased was incorrect.

A complaint was received that a candidate set up a barbeque in the vicinity of a mobile polling booth at Daly River. Such complaints are not uncommon during major NT elections. Acts of hospitality and acts of bribery are often confused. Election bribery is a serious offence and is covered by the Criminal Code which is not administered by the NTEC.

The ALP made allegations regarding attempts to influence votes at Nyirripi by local assistants employed by the NTEC and Wadeye by AIS nominated staff. The performance of those providing interpreter services during remote mobile polling is often the subject of particular focus by scrutineers during the course of polling. Allegations of inappropriate behaviour have not been uncommon in the past but have never been substantiated. Usually the allegations are found to be generated by a perceptual bias or over-exuberance by the scrutineers and interest in pursuing the allegations wains completely once voting ceases. At these elections, however, the allegations were formalised by the ALP and lodged directly with the Northern Territory Police.

Police Prosecutions advised that:  Allegations made in respect of polling at Nyirripi were not substantiated, resulting in no further action being taken.  An interpreter would be charged in relation to matters arising from the allegations associated with polling at Wadeye.

The NTEC responded to all police requests for information during the above investigations.

Remote polling management system – future development

Mobile polling is managed using an Access database called TIGER (Territory Information Governing Elections Remotely). The sheer volume and complexity of the tasks involved in remote polling particularly, demonstrates a business requirement for an upgraded system that will facilitate delivery of these services.

53 System requirements include the following:  A database holding the names of remote communities, organisations and persons to, and via, which electoral services can be delivered.  The planning and management of accommodation, staffing and travel arrangements for fieldwork and remote and urban mobile polling.  The capacity to generate promotional material such as email notifications, newspaper advertising and election posters.  The production of reports in various formats to monitor the cost and effectiveness of the fieldwork program and the export of data for the benefit of other election programs.

Further detail is included in Section 6.5.

As already noted, the Commission will be seeking funding for a fieldwork program in the 2015-16 financial year, similar to the QR12 program, to include remote enrolment, polling schedule review, local assistant selection and recruitment and update of community information.

4.7.4 Static Polling

The majority of electors vote at a static polling place for their division. In 2012, 67 were appointed, including the 15 remote static polling places that were previously mobile polled for shorter hours before or on polling day. A total of 58 608 ordinary ballot papers were issued, 61.6% of ballot papers counted. This compares with 52 349 static votes (62.7%) in Picture: Polly Vote 2008, when Arnhem and Macdonnell did not go to poll, and 55 247 (61.6%) in 2005.

The identification, inspection, negotiation and contracting of polling place premises is a time consuming process. However, a Memorandum of Understanding for the period January 2012 to December 2015 between the NTEC and the Department of Education for the use of school facilities made the securing of suitable premises at NT Government schools easier. Finalising locations of polling places in growth towns did create some logistical problems and premises in the 15 remote communities were appointed in consultation with the relevant local community authorities. Table 22 in the mobile polling section (4.7.3) compares the number of votes taken at the 2012 remote statics with the number of votes taken during 2008 mobile polling at the same location. Appendix L contains details of static polling places.

Two new static polling places were appointed at Rosebery (Blain and Brennan divisions) and Wagaman (Sanderson division) and three joint polling places:  Pioneer Park Alice Springs – Araluen & Greatorex.  Rosebery – Blain and Brennan.  Berrimah – Fong Lim & Nelson.

In the three joint polling places, signage and the recruitment of an additional person to meet each elector and direct that person to the correct polling area worked well and minimised problems.

At the March LG elections, static polling was available at the Alice Springs Town Council office; however for the LA elections the council office fell on the boundary of the three Alice Springs divisions and was not appointed as a polling place. The closest static polling was therefore at Sadadeen, not within walking distance of the CBD. A Stand Man was placed in the front of MyVote Central with information about polling place locations for electors enquiring there on polling day as to where they could vote.

Community awareness of polling locations, dates, and opening and closing hours is critical to any election. Static polling place locations were advertised in the print media, on the website and in the elector mail-out; television and radio reminded electors to refer to

Picture: Nightcliff static polling place 54 the print media and website plus mark their ballot papers correctly. In the urban areas, signage stating that the venue would be a polling place on polling day was placed a week before polling day, and replaced with ‘Polling Place Here’ signs on polling day itself.

The recruitment of suitable polling place staff - officer-in-charge (OIC), second in charge (2IC), and declaration officers - is a major undertaking in any election. The recruitment strategy allows for attrition and catered for the significant numbers of previously recruited polling staff who indicated their unavailability as late as the week before polling day. This is a perennial problem and is overcome by generating new staff into the employment pool and maintaining a list of back-up staff on standby. Picture: Polling officials

A training package was developed for declaration voting and senior polling officials that linked the exercises for ballot paper issuing and accountability by ordinary and declaration vote issuing officers to the OIC’s return and the two candidate preferred count. Documentation was identical with the documents an OIC would deal with on polling day.

The night before Saturday polling day is always busy for election staff. The management of campaign and party workers seeking access to polling places, particularly school premises before they are vacated by staff and students, and the competition for signage space remain a challenge.

Suggestions for Operational Improvement

The NTEC will look to recruiting a younger demographic so that polling staff are a mix of experienced older and younger staff. It is desirable to have younger people in the staffing pool who can gain electoral and leadership experience. By-elections are an opportunity to refine staffing models between general elections.

Electronic means for delivering and reinforcing training, in addition to the more conventional methods, will be costed and evaluated. Training of staff in Alice Springs in this election was by video link from Darwin. Training via video link across multiple sites enables a consistent message, is resource effective, though needs refinement.

During its review of polling places for the 2016 elections, the Commission will pursue premises’ agreements, where appropriate, that lock in polling places for the local government and the LA general elections as well as considering a polling place for the Alice Springs CBD.

4.7.5 Absent Voting

Absent voting is provided at static and mobile polling places for electors who are not voting within their enrolled division on polling day. The provision of Territory wide A-Z rolls in polling places helped to confirm the voter’s enrolled division.

At the 2012 election, 10 995 absent ballot papers were issued, 11.5% of ballot papers counted, compared with 10 709 absent ballot papers (12.8%) in 2008 and 11 634 (13%) in 2005. Appendix M shows the number of absent votes taken by division.

The following factors contribute to absent voting levels at Legislative Assembly general elections:  The small geographical area of urban electorates and the location of many polling places near boundaries.  The mobility of the Territory population.  Elector awareness of alternative voting services.  The ‘habit’ factor where electors vote at the same polling place for Commonwealth, Territory and council elections.

55  The convenience of voting at polling places located near shopping centres/sports venues to fit in with the elector’s Saturday routine.  Lack of awareness of the effects of a redistribution of electoral boundaries.  Electors being enrolled for a previous address.

Given that there had been boundary changes in 14 divisions, the lower level of absent voting indicates the strategy of advising electors of the new boundaries and their local polling places was effective. In 2008 the election was called only a few weeks after the final report of the augmented redistribution committee was released and there was little time to advise electors of changes. Urban electors with mail delivery addresses were initially advised of their division in October 2011 and again in July 2012.

All absent votes taken on polling day were placed in envelopes for processing during the week after polling day at the two count centres in Alice Springs and Darwin. The volume of absent votes, early votes taken outside of their region and the return of some mobile polling teams late on Sunday presented challenges in sorting ballot papers in time to begin counting these votes on the Wednesday following polling day.

4.7.6 Unenrolled Voters

A person whose name cannot be found on the roll can sign a declaration on an envelope affirming their entitlement to vote. Their ballot paper is placed in the envelope and enrolment details checked again after polling day to determine the validity of their claim and their right to have their ballot paper admitted into the count.

The declaration voting (DV) envelope, signed by an elector claiming an entitlement to vote but whose name was not found on the roll or had been marked as having voted, was redesigned to also serve as an enrolment form (see Picture at right). It provided all the information required to determine the acceptance or otherwise of the elector’s voting entitlement and could also be used to substantiate an enrolment transaction. Arrangements were made with the AEC to use it as a source document to update an elector’s enrolment, thus alleviating the need for the elector to complete a separate enrolment form. The DV envelopes were processed for enrolment purposes after the envelope details had been checked to ascertain the eligibility of the elector’s right to have their ballot paper included in the count.

At the election, 1732 declaration ballot papers were issued and 225 of these (13.0%) were admitted to the count following enrolment checks. Three declaration envelopes did not contain ballot papers. In 2008, 981 were issued and 105 (10.7%) admitted to the count. Picture: Declaration envelope

56 Of the 1507 envelopes that were inadmissible, 1424 (94.5%) were due to the elector’s name not being found on the roll, 61 (4.0%) due to enrolment in a different division and 22 (1.5%) were not signed by the elector. Copies of all declaration vote envelopes were provided to the AEC for updating the electoral roll.

The increase in the number of ballot papers issued and admitted for unenrolled electors can be attributed to the following:  Deterioration in the quality of the electoral roll.  No absent votes were issued in 2008 for Arnhem and Namatjira (previously Macdonnell), the two uncontested divisions.  Difficulty for a small number of electors using the on-line enrolment system with Australia.com (a central website for Australian Government services) before the move to the AEC site.  A number of Borroloola electors removed incorrectly from the roll by objection but who were not advised in time to rectify the situation before the election.  Some electors had been advised as deceased and their names were removed from the roll in error.  Electors not heeding, or failing to respond in a timely way to the public awareness campaign to update their enrolment.

See Appendix N for details of declaration envelopes lodged and admitted/rejected by division.

Recommendation

 The incorporation into the Act of a cut-off date or other criteria for determining the admissibility or otherwise of a declaration envelope from an unenrolled elector whose name may have been previously listed on the electoral roll.

4.8 Electors with Special Needs

Physical incapacity, advanced pregnancy, caring for electors in this situation, an inability to attend at, or remoteness from, a static polling place on polling day itself or other defined circumstance can impact on an elector’s ability to attend their local polling place to vote. Electors are provided with a number of options - voting early, by post, or, in some instances, with a mobile polling team. Prior to the 2012 elections, legislative amendments extended the postal criteria to disabled electors, or those who feared for their personal safety.

Polling officials were trained to provide assistance to electors with a disability and procedural manuals also included relevant instructions. Services provided at the elections included:  Instructing polling officials how to support electors requiring assistance with voting.  Mobile polling of residents at 18 institutions, including hospitals, renal dialysis centres and aged care facilities and at six town camps, to provide services for electors with special needs.  Postal and early voting services for electors who due to illness, infirmity or approaching maternity, or caring for another person with a medical condition, or who had to work on polling day or, for religious reasons, could not attend a polling place.  Electors registered as RPVs are sent ballot papers by mail as soon as they are available.  Early voting centres and static polling places offering full or assisted wheel-chair access and, where possible, parking facilities for people with a disability; polling procedures also allowed electors to vote from their vehicles if needed. Full or assisted wheelchair access was available and advertised at 47 of the 67 static polling places (70.1%).

57  Allowing electors at polling centres who were unable to record their mark, to request assistance from a nominee or an electoral officer or, if voting by post, from an authorised witness.  Providing magnifying sheets at early voting centres and static polling places to enlarge ballot papers for people with vision impairment.  Producing radio broadcast material in 15 indigenous languages (for details see Section 5.3).  Using bi-lingual polling staff (22 AIS interpreters and 97 community assistants), at mobile and static polling places.  Establishing disabled parking bays at polling places.  Incorporating captions on television advertising for hearing impaired electors.

Enabling legislation is now in place for greater use of electronic means in processes, especially in connection with those electors with special needs. There is a need to monitor the internet voting services proposed by the NSW Electoral Commission for take-up, appropriate security procedures and cost effectiveness.

Table 25: Indicators of Special Needs Descriptor Number Polling places accessible by wheelchair 47 out of 67 Electors on the RPV 2245 Electors assisted by mobile teams 531 Interpreters 22 Community assistants 97

The NTEC will review existing and suggested polling premises to ensure the most accessible locations are used. The collection of statistics from static polling places and early voting centres on the type of assisted voting provided will provide information on how to improve the support for electors with special needs, both in the polling situation and in its education programs. Mobile polling teams already record these statistics.

The NTEC intends to approach relevant organisations and community groups to discuss services for the 2016 elections.

4.9 Elector Turnout and Participation

Turnout was 76.9% (95 215 electors voting out of 123 805 on the roll), an increase of 1.2% compared with the 2008 elections when two remote divisions were uncontested.

Table 26: NT Legislative Assembly Turnout 2005 to 2012 Elections NT LA General Elections 2005 2008* 2012 Turnout % 80.1 75.7 76.9

*In 2008, the divisions of Arnhem and MacDonnell were uncontested

There was a small overall decline of 0.6% in seven remote divisions compared to the 2008 LA elections (62.0% in 2012 and 62.6% in 2008). Appendix O shows turnout by ballot papers counted for each division.

58 Table 27: Turnout by Division and Region 2008 and 2012 Turnout 2012 Electors 2012 Turnout % Region Difference Division % On Roll Voting 2008 2012 2008-12 Araluen 78.0 Alice Springs Braitling 76.8 14 110 10 968 74.8 77.7 +2.9 Greatorex 78.4

Fannie Bay 84.0 Darwin Fong Lim 79.4 14 492 11 715 75.7 80.8 +5.1 Inner Suburbs Port Darwin 79.1

Casuarina 86.0 Johnston 85.2 Darwin Karama 86.6 Northern 29 375 25 397 83.3 86.5 +3.2 Nightcliff 83.9 Suburbs Sanderson 87.9 Wanguri 89.1

Goyder 85.2 Darwin Rural 10 038 8 284 78.9 82.5 +3.6 Nelson 79.6 Katherine Katherine 81.3 5 174 4 207 75.8 81.3 +5.5 Blain 83.2 Palmerston Brennan 84.5 15 219 12 688 80.1 83.4 +3.3 Drysdale 82.5

Arafura 58.1 Arnhem* 51.9 Barkly 64.9 Remote Daly 73.5 35 397 21 956 62.6 62.0 -0.6 Namatjira* 59.8 Nhulunbuy 62.7 Stuart 62.9 Total 123 805 95 215 75.7 76.9 +1.2 * Not contested in 2008

Compared with 2008, turnout in the remote divisions of Arafura, Barkly and Daly decreased by 2.7%, 0.2% and 0.4% respectively while turnout in Nhulunbuy and Stuart increased by 2.9% and 10.1%. Arnhem and Macdonnell (now Namatjira) were not contested in 2008. Turnout rates by division and grouped by geographic region are shown in Table 25.

The raw turnout figure (total number of voters) increased by 14.1% and 6.2% compared to the 2008 and 2005 elections. The decline in raw turnout figures in 2008 was a consequence of the two uncontested elections.

The improved raw turnout in 2012 could be attributed to:  Activities undertaken as part of the QR12 project from October 2011 to July 2012 (for details see Section 3.5) resulting in an increased number of enrolments received prior to, at and after the local government elections in March 2012.  A timely advertising campaign driven by the fixed date election.

It is suspected that the decline in turnout percentage since 2005 is largely attributable to a decline in roll quality over that time. Removals by objection since then are known to have been significantly delayed and reduced, resulting in the retention on the roll of the names of greater numbers of electors who have moved away. The increase in turnout from 2008 to 2012 can be attributed to the roll stimulation generated by QR12, the extended public awareness campaign and greater advance public warning of the poll itself, which was conducted as a fixed poll for the first time.

59 The traditional figures for turnout (the proportion of electors on the roll whose ballot papers are actually included in the count) do not encompass statistics for the total ‘reach’ that the electoral jurisdictions have, and can account for, during an election period. As a result of advertising, a large number of electors contact the Commission with excuses for not voting, turn up to vote though their names may not be on the roll and indeed attempt to vote but may fail due to non-receipt or return of materials through the mail etc.

Table 28: Summary of Election Turnout and Participation Details Detail No. Electors on roll 123 805 Electors voting 95 215 Turnout % 76.1 Excuses lodged 2 257 Rejected PVAs 272 Rejected PVCs 412 Unreturned postal packs 1 120 Rejected DVs (not on roll) 1 424 Additional participation 5 485 Elector participation % 81.3 PVA - Postal vote application, PVC - Postal vote certificate envelope, DV - Declaration envelope

4.10 Informal Voting

Amendments to legislation regarding formality

The amendments to the Electoral Act, enacted on 21 December 2011, included relaxation of ballot paper formality provisions. A tick or a cross, instead of a 1, marked on a ballot paper is formal provided that all other candidate squares have been marked with sequential numbers, commencing with the number 2. Electors are still directed to mark the ballot paper with a 1 for the elector’s preferred candidate and then successive preferences for all other candidates. One square may be left blank - deemed the voter’s last preference.

All the informal ballot papers from the 2012 LA elections were examined. Any elector lodging a ballot paper complies with the compulsory voting provisions; however some electors seemed unwilling to lodge a vote that can be counted e.g. submitting a totally blank ballot paper, scrawling on the ballot paper or marking with repetitive characters or digits. Other electors, for literacy or numeracy reasons, seem to find the sequential preferencing difficult and, as a result, lodged ballot papers that clearly indicated an intention to vote but scrutiny revealed a sequencing error or insufficiency of preferences.

In an effort to reduce informality rates, OICs were instructed to remind issuing officers to reinforce verbally with electors how many preferences were needed on the ballot paper for their division e.g. 1, 2, 3 and 4. This was in addition to the compulsory questions about their name and address details and whether the elector had voted before. Polling place liaison officers were asked to ensure the instruction was being observed. The how-to-vote message was also reinforced in public awareness advertising.

Further assistance is provided by staff members who can assist electors to vote where necessary. Indigenous assistants (97) and AIS interpreters (22) were employed in remote communities. Picture: Voting screen

60 Informal ballot paper survey observations

A total of 3072 ballot papers were informal, 3.2% of the total ballot papers counted, a 0.8% decrease in informality compared to the 2008 elections.

Ballot papers were grouped into categories of informality that were either assumed ‘intentional’ informality or assumed ‘unintentional’ informality.

Appendices P and Q contain details of rural/remote and urban informality.

Assumed intentional or deliberate informality

Assumed intentional informality comprised more than half (52.9%) of the informal ballot papers, with totally blank ballot papers the highest category (26.6%). Other ballot papers in the assumed intentional category include scribbled on, marked all the same e.g. 111, 222 or held messages dismissive of voting.

Intentional informality made up 64.8% of informality for urban divisions, 34.9% of which comprised ‘totally blank’ ballot papers, followed by 24.1% marked ‘all the same’. For the rural/remote divisions, intentional informality was lower at 35.0%.

Assumed unintentional or uninformed informality:

Assumed unintentional informality made up 47.1% of all informal ballot papers, with ‘first preference only’ the highest category (13.6%). Assumed unintentional ballot papers also included those marked with a tick or cross only, duplicated, non-sequential or incomplete preferences, illegible, signed, alpha marked ballot papers or those issued as a result of administrative error.

Unintentional informality accounted for 35.2% of informal ballot papers in the urban divisions in contrast to 65.0% in rural/remote divisions. Of the latter, 21.5% was due to voters marking a 1st preference only and 17.2% to difficulties by voters in marking preferences in a sequential number range.

The following table shows, by vote type, the lowest and highest incidences of informality. Appendix R contains further informality details by vote type and division.

Table 29: Vote Types - Lowest and Highest Informal Rates Vote Type Lowest Informal Rate % Highest Informal Rate % Ordinary Static Wanguri 1.6 Namatjira 7.3 Mobile Nelson 1.7 Fannie Bay & Greatorex 11.1 Absent Nelson 1.3 Arafura 7.5 Declaration Barkly & Namatjira 3.4 Arafura 11.5 Early Katherine 1.0 Stuart 18.4 Postal Drysdale 0.6 Johnston 5.8 All Katherine 1.8 Stuart 5.9

61 A summary of additional findings follows:

High informality The highest informality rates occurred in remote divisions, i.e. Stuart (5.9%), followed by Daly (5.5%) and Arafura and Namatjira (4.7% each).  Stuart – three candidates: 81.8% of informal ballot papers were assumed uninformed informality, mainly due to voters marking a 1st preference only (40.3%).  Daly – five candidates: 75.7% of informal ballot papers were assumed uninformed informality, mainly due to difficulties by voters marking preferences in a sequential number range, i.e. duplicated numbers (7.0%), non-sequential numbering (29.0%) and incomplete numbering (11.7%).  Arafura – four candidates: 74.3% of informal ballot papers were assumed uninformed informality, again mainly due to difficulties by voters marking preferences in a sequential number range, i.e. duplicated numbers (8.8%), non-sequential numbering (14.2%) and incomplete numbering (16.9%).  Namatjira – three candidates: 72.0% of informal ballot papers were assumed uninformed informality, mainly due to voters marking a 1st preference only (37.8%) and non-sequential numbering (25.9%).

For the urban divisions, Johnston had the highest informality rate (3.8%). Of this, 62.5% was due to assumed deliberate informality, 31.9% of which comprised totally blank ballot papers.

Low informality The lowest rates of informality occurred in the urban divisions of Katherine (1.8%), followed by Wanguri (1.9%) and Casuarina (2.1%). The number of candidates in these divisions was three for Katherine and two each for Wanguri and Casuarina.

The rural division of Nelson had the lowest informality rate of the rural/remote divisions (1.9%), followed by the remote division of Arnhem (3.0%) and the rural division of Goyder (3.1%). The number of candidates in these divisions was three, two and three respectively.

Chart: Informal Voting Rates 1990 to 2012 Elections - 7 elections

There has been a downward trend in informal voting since the 2001 LA elections, with the exception of 2008. This occurred not only in the overall percentage of informal votes, but also in both urban and remote areas. The amendments to the Electoral Act with regards to formality contributed to the overall decrease of 0.8% from 2008 to 2012.

62 Analysis was undertaken of the number of ballot papers that were made formal as a result of the change to formality criteria in the legislation – see the following table.

Table 30: Division, Number of Candidates and Number of Formal Ticks and Crosses Division Candidates  + Preferences  + Preferences Total Arafura 4 3 0 3 Araluen 3 1 0 1 Arnhem 2 67 14 81 Barkly 4 1 0 1 Blain 3 2 0 2 Braitling 4 1 1 2 Brennan 2 42 58 100 Casuarina 2 45 41 86 Daly 5 2 0 2 Drysdale 3 2 1 3 Fannie Bay 3 5 1 6 Fong Lim 4 1 1 2 Goyder 3 1 0 1 Greatorex 4 0 0 0 Johnston 5 0 1 1 Karama 3 1 1 2 Katherine 3 1 1 2 Namatjira 3 0 0 0 Nelson 3 1 1 2 Nhulunbuy 3 3 0 3 Nightcliff 7 0 0 0 Port Darwin 4 1 1 2 Sanderson 4 2 2 4 Stuart 3 4 0 4 Wanguri 2 26 44 70 Total 86 212 168 380

The two candidate contests benefited the most from the change and any advantage accrued from the savings device declined as the number of candidates rose above two.

4.11 Two Candidate Preferred (TCP) Count

The TCP count is a notional allocation of preferences on the ballot papers of minor candidates to those thought likely to be the two final candidates remaining in the count. TCP counts are undertaken firstly on polling night to give the public an early indication of the likely outcome of the election and also during subsequent rechecks and following the admission of fresh ballot papers into the scrutiny after polling day.

The preferred candidates at the 2012 election were those representing the ALP and Country Liberals in all divisions except for Nelson, where the sitting member, Independent Gerry Wood, and the Country Liberals candidate were chosen for the TCP count.

The notional TCP count for each division is superseded by the official full distribution of preferences.

4.12 Distribution of Preferences

A full distribution of preferences was conducted in the 21 divisions where more than two candidates contested the election. The distribution was conducted the Friday night following polling day, immediately after the deadline for the receipt of postal votes. Full preference distributions were undertaken for statistical purposes, even if a candidate achieved an absolute majority at an earlier stage of the count.

63 The count for the division of Stuart commenced in Alice Springs, along with counts for Araluen, Barkly, Braitling and Greatorex but due to the narrow margins in the count figures, the Stuart count was transferred to Darwin. Recounts were conducted for Arafura and Stuart in Darwin on the Sunday following the Friday night counts with no changes being recorded to earlier results.

The final TCP counts by margin for each division are shown in Appendix S and a graphic showing swing-to-lose (Country Liberals/non-Country Liberals) figures is shown in Appendix T.

An additional notional count was conducted in Nelson to ascertain the outcome on a two party preferred basis (ALP/CLP) for each division. Two party preferred figures are shown in Appendix U.

The division snapshots, in Part 2 of the report, include full count details and the distribution of preference tables for each division, where applicable.

4.13 Declaration of the Polls and Return of Writ

The public declaration of the polls for the election was conducted at the Darwin office on Monday 3 September 2012 at 10am and was video linked to MyVote Central in Alice Springs. Candidates and senior party officials were given the opportunity to speak during the proceedings.

Following the declarations, the Writ was endorsed with the names of the successful candidates and returned to Her Honour the Administrator that same day. Picture: Declaration of the polls 4.14 Election Outcomes

The number of primary votes polled by affiliation is summarised below. Refer to Appendix V for further details by division.

Chart: First Preference Votes by Affiliation

First Preference Votes by Affiliation 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% Affiliation 10.0% 0.0% ALP CLP ASX GRN FNPP

IND/OTHER

Seats held by affiliation after the elections were as follows: Australian Labor Party 8 Country Liberals 16 Independent 1

Four seats changed hands from ALP to Country Liberals: Arafura, Arnhem, Daly and Stuart.

64 Table 31: Seat Status Following the 2012 Elections % Range Status Divisions (Affiliation) 0-<6% Marginal (6) Arafura (CLP), Arnhem (CLP), Daly (CLP), Johnston (ALP), Sanderson (CLP), Stuart (CLP) Barkly (ALP), Casuarina (ALP), Fannie Bay (ALP), Fong Lim (CLP), Karama (ALP), Nelson 6%-10% Fairly Safe (9) (IND), Nightcliff (ALP), Port Darwin (CLP), Wanguri (ALP)

Araluen (CLP), Blain (CLP), Braitling (CLP), Brennan (CLP), Drysdale (CLP), Goyder >10% Safe (10) (CLP), Greatorex (CLP), Katherine (CLP), Namatjira (CLP), Nhulunbuy (ALP)

The number of first preference votes and seats won by affiliation at elections from 1990 to 2012 is shown at Appendix W.

4.15 Disclosure

The Electoral Act requires candidates in an election, registered political parties and their associated entities, broadcasters, publishers and certain donors, to disclose information regarding political contributions and electoral expenditure above certain thresholds. Financial disclosure is in place to increase accountability, transparency and information in the public domain about the financial dealings of political parties, associated entities, candidates, donors, broadcaster and publishers involved in the electoral process.

Disclosure materials, including the necessary forms, were included in packs made available to parties and candidates prior to the election.

Table 32: Election Disclosure Requirements after 25 August 2012

Person/Organisation Required Date After Polling Day, 25 August 2012 Disclosure Requirement to Disclose Due Posted on Website

Within 16 weeks after the Donations or loans (including in- Political parties & associated entities end of the financial year - 1 March 2014 kind gifts) above $1500 by 18 October 2013

Within 15 weeks of Donations over $200 and loans Candidates polling day – by 15 February 2013 over $1500 7 December 2012

Donations over $200 to a candidate or $1000 to registered Within 15 weeks of Donors to political parties and political parties or other polling day – by 15 February 2013 candidates organisations gazetted by the 7 December 2012 NTEC

All electoral advertising broadcast Within 8 weeks of polling Not published but Broadcasters and publishers or published during the election day - by available for public period 19 October 2012 inspection

Amended returns were received from Larissa Lee (Arnhem) and Deborah Rock (Braitling) and subsequently posted on the website.

Disclosure thresholds

The current disclosure thresholds for candidates and parties were introduced into legislation in 2004 and were then in line with the provisions under the Commonwealth Electoral Act. These thresholds are not indexed to inflation and there has been no increase since they were introduced. The disclosure threshold for donations to a registered political party under the Commonwealth Electoral Act for 2012-13 was $12 100. A threshold limit similar to the Commonwealth would significantly reduce the number of donors that are disclosed and would seem to be inappropriate for this jurisdiction with its smaller electorates.

65 However, given the thresholds have not changed for almost a decade they should be reviewed in order to keep the disclosure threshold limits in line with the original benchmarks that were set. There would also seem to be a need to reduce the variety of figures contained in the current threshold schedule. Since 2004 the CPI has increased by almost 30% and, bearing in mind some reduction in the variety of figures, the following thresholds would seem justifiable until a further review after the 2016 general elections:  Political parties and associated entities: $3000 for donations and loans.  Candidates: Donations $300, loans $3000.  Donors to candidates/political parties: $300 to candidates and $3000 to parties.

It was highlighted at this election that one candidate did not recognise the need to disclose, as donations, gifts in kind received above $200. This, and other disclosure requirements, can be further clarified in the candidate’s handbook.

Submission date for election disclosure returns

With the exception of registered political parties, returns relating to the conduct of the 2012 LA elections were published approximately six months after polling day. As the fixed term elections are conducted early in the financial year (fourth Saturday in August) registered political parties are not required to lodge returns until approximately 14 months after polling day and they are not made publicly available until almost 18 months after the polling day. This creates a double standard in election reporting in terms of the timing of lodgement of disclosure returns of registered political parties compared to independents.

Recommendations:  The thresholds for disclosure of donations and loans be increased as follows: o Political parties and associated entities: $3000 for donations and loans o Candidates: Donations $300, loans $3000 o Donors to candidates/political parties: $300 to candidates and $3000 to parties  Registered political parties be required to provide donor returns covering the election period in a timely manner. Options include having registered political parties prepare a separate return covering the election period or extending the time period in an election year to 30 September in a general election year (rather than 30 June the following year).

4.16 Campaign Material Issues Arising During the Election Campaign

A candidate for Daly produced a brochure containing the photographs of several prominent community members in the Wadeye area who allegedly endorsed his candidature. A complaint was subsequently received from community members advising they did not consent to the endorsement contained in the brochure and requesting its immediate recall. The candidate was contacted and he withdrew the brochure from circulation.

During mobile polling at Binjari (Katherine Division), a scrutineer:  Helped voters place their ballot papers in the ballot box and was requested by the mobile polling team leader not to touch the ballot box.  Came into the polling place later wearing a party campaign shirt and was asked to leave by the mobile team leader. In both instances the scrutineer complied with the request.

Problems were encountered during mobile polling at Nyirripi, Wadeye and Yuendumu. Detailed information on these issues is contained in section 4.7.3 – Mobile Polling.

66 4.17 Processing of Apparent Non-voters

At the conclusion of the election, the certified lists marked in polling places were scanned to identify electors against whose names there was no voting record. The raw total of 32 898 apparent non-voters was reduced by the culling of the 20 460 electors for the following reasons:  Electronic lists recorded a postal or early vote marker (the latter at interstate locations).  A valid reason had been provided for failing to vote.  The elector name was deleted from the roll after the election as a result of advice received.  The elector was registered as not voting due to a religious reason.  Incidences of potential multiple voting (148) were resolved – all were dual markings and checked against the list of potential non-voters.  The elector did not have a reliable postal delivery service.

Following the culling process, the names of 12 438 apparent non-voters were identified for further investigation.

In accordance with s300 of the Act, electors who apparently failed to vote without a valid and sufficient reason were issued with an infringement notice, mailed on 24 October 2012. After consideration of responses and further culling of and deletions from the roll, the remaining 8341 non-voters who failed to reply to the infringement notice were sent a reminder notice on 21 November 2012.

Warning letters were forwarded to 39 electors whose reasons for non-voting was deemed to be not wholly valid and sufficient. These electors were also advised that a record had been made of their failure to vote.

A summary of the non-voting process is in the following table.

Table 33: Apparent Non-Voter Mailing and Replies at 19 February 2014

Apparent Non-voter Mail Records No. %

First Notices Mailed – 24 October 2012 12 438 Results Breakdown Returned unclaimed and endorsed RTS 1 435 11.5 Replied – valid and sufficient reason provided 2 028 16.3 Replied – warning issued in lieu of penalty 28 0.2 Replied – penalty paid 369 1.9 Second Notices Mailed – 21 November 2012 8 341 Results Breakdown Returned unclaimed and endorsed RTS 845 10.1 Replied – valid and sufficient reason provided 1 061 12.7 Replied – warning issued in lieu of penalty 11 0.1 Replied – penalty paid 887 10.6 Replied – penalty unpaid 1 0.01 No reply and no RTS mail to first or second notice 5536 44.5

A total of 5536 electors (44.5%) failed to respond to either the first or second notice seeking a reason for their apparent failure to vote at the elections. This figure, combined with the 2280 notices returned unclaimed and endorsed RTS (18.3%), brings to the fore concerns in relation to the quality of the electoral roll.

A total of 1256 non-voters admitted liability and paid the infringement notice penalty fee of $25, resulting in $31 400 being paid to the NT Receiver of Territory Monies (RTM), an increase of $50 from the 2008 elections.

67 The expiation fee for non-voting at a NT Legislative Assembly election was set at $25 in 2004. The expiation fee for non-voting at NT LG elections is $50 (see Schedule 2 of the Local Government (Electoral Regulations). Consideration should be given to increasing the expiation fee for a failure to vote at LA elections to maintain consistency with the penalty for the same offence at NT LG elections, where voting is also compulsory.

Recommendation  An increase in the expiation fee for a failure to vote at LA elections from $25 to $50.

Facilities for Payment of Penalties

An initiative introduced following the 2008 election to pay non-voter fines at offices of the Receiver of Territory Monies (RTM) was retained. It allowed electors to pay in person in all regional centres or by phone using a credit card. A similar number of non-voters paid the penalty through the RTM network in 2012 as at the 2008 election.

Court Action

One non-voter elected to go to court and appeared for a hearing on Friday 13 September 2013. He pleaded guilty and was fined $25 plus costs of $150.

4.18 Ballot Paper Security

The issues recently experienced at the 2013 Federal election in Western Australia over the handling of missing Senate Election ballot papers has highlighted the need for a timely review of local processes and procedures for the management, movement and storage of ballot papers. The report3 prepared Mr Mick Keelty AO on the WA Senate Election will be reviewed in the NT context, including the recommendations and cost implications.

3 Inquiry into the 2013 WA Senate Election, December 2013, Australian Electoral Commission

68 5 KEY RESULT AREA – PUBLIC AWARENESS

5.1 Background

The NTEC has statutory obligations under the NTEA s309 to publicise matters relating to elections. It conducts advertising and education programs to promote awareness of electoral events and the rights and responsibilities of electors.

The election campaign was based on the model rolled out for the March 2012 LG elections, modified for the parliamentary context. Major features of the campaign reinforced the advertising and themes of the QR12 enrolment program, and included enrolment and voting services messages tailored for remote communities in a number of electorates.

Making use of the fixed election timeframe, the NTEC was able to plan enrolment stimulation activities, pursue arrangements with Australia Post and a partnership with the AFLNT in order to promote and facilitate access to enrolment services before the issue of the Writ.

During July 2012:  The call centre commenced operations.  Enrolment stalls were established at major shopping centres and the NT Show circuit and operated at major AFLNT games in Alice Springs and Darwin.  Life size ‘Stan D’ man’ displays were placed at NT corporate post offices.  A new NTEC website using a SharePoint 2010 platform was migrated into production.  The Territory-wide enrolment campaign commenced. Picture: Stan D’man

On 28 July, one week before the issue of the Writ, the official election advertising campaign began, using the NTEC banner and a distinctive ‘NT General Election’ logo based on a Territory map, to advise electors about the pending roll close and how, when and where to vote. Public notices provided the basis for supplementary advertising, placed with television and radio networks according to key dates in the election timetable.

NTEC website details and references to the free 1800 call centre number were included on all advertising with ‘Voting is Compulsory’ a repeating theme.

The NTEC publicly invited nominations and made information available about election arrangements. It ensured notification of, and access to, public events, including the declaration of nominations, the tally room on election night, and the declaration of polls.

A summary of public awareness activities is provided at Appendix X.

5.2 Information Strategy

The information strategy incorporated public awareness and media activities needed to publicise the elections and to reach a diverse and geographically dispersed body of electors in urban, rural and remote areas. Statutory notices, information templates and web content were rewritten to take account of legislative changes assented to in December 2011. Campaign themes and key messages about enrolment, rolls close, polling services and locations were applied consistently across all advertising mediums.

69 Delivery mechanisms included placing public notices in all NT newspapers, supplementary advertising in the electronic media (television and radio), direct mail to addresses with a normal postal delivery service, street banners and signage, dedicated election information on the NTEC website, posters for all electoral areas and local service centres, and displays in community centres and at community events. Picture: NTEC banner The campaign model included activities designed to:  Maximise new enrolment and enrolment updates prior to roll close.  Increase the level of voter participation at the elections through effective publicity of enrolment and voting services.  Reduce the level of informal voting.  Maintain public confidence in the NTEC by providing timely, clear and accurate election-related information to voters, candidates and other stakeholders.  Provide accessible and timely election results.

The resource requirements for the in-house production of public awareness materials and advertising, for the call centre and for the staging of public events were finalised in early May 2012. Information was prepared to promote additional parliamentary voting services at the offices of interstate jurisdictions and early voting at the Darwin and Alice Springs Airports.

The timeliness of advice and ability to make changes quickly to advertised mobile polling schedules and the mechanisms for distributing updated information were reviewed. The mobile polling software (TIGER) was used to generate customised posters publicising mobile polling information for distribution by email to regional coordinators and service centre managers. The streamlining of the data management processes increased the speed at which any changes were posted on the NTEC website. All mobile team schedules were time and date stamped to identify updated versions of the schedules.

Appropriate planning of the business requirements and support for new technology was critical to the roll-out of election information and the functional requirements for the new SharePoint website and tally room electronic results software were examined. The Election Management System (EMS) produced data for use in newly commissioned software that pushed results to the tally room projection screens, website and the media simultaneously. As a contingency measure, the previous Lotus Notes website was reconfigured and kept continuously refreshed with all election content, so that it would be on standby to be switched over at a moment’s notice if required.

The preliminary budget for public awareness expenditure was $360 000, including direct mail advice to electors with a normal postal delivery service, enhanced display materials for the Australia Post and AFLNT initiatives and the print and electronic media campaigns.

5.3 Advertising

The NTEC advertising campaign was delivered mainly through the press and the electronic media, and customised as appropriate for urban, rural and remote audiences.

Public notices were placed in all NT newspapers; posters were distributed to service centres and key stakeholders with information about electoral boundaries, enrolment, the close of rolls and nominations, early/postal voting services and polling place locations and operating hours. Mobile polling services were further advertised by radio as it gave wide coverage and could reach target audiences in remote communities.

70 Newspaper advertisements were placed for the issue of the Writ, close of rolls, call for nominations, early and postal voting, mobile polling services and polling places on polling day. The notices were placed in the NT News and in eight regional newspapers and were rolled out according to key dates in the election timetable and local publication schedules.

The public notices, required by the NTEA, comprised a major part of the print advertising for the election; regional press advertisements were supplementary and the size, content and placement of each tailored to the requirements of the relevant region. A total of 136 notices were placed in the print media.

A newspaper lift-out, showing all NT static polling places and access details on polling day, was placed in the NT News and Sun newspapers. Further polling day advertising was placed with regional newspapers, showing only the divisions within the immediate area of the newspaper circulation.

Television advertising used the new ‘Vote Family’ characters: Roland, Earl, Mark and Polly Vote and an election jingle ‘Vote, Vote, Vote, Vote…………..’ complemented the electronic campaign. The four characters were used at appropriate points during the pre-election and election period to reinforce enrolment and voting service messages Picture: Newspaper and to link in with supplementary newspaper advertising and poster campaign advertisement targeting remote communities.

Picture: Roland Vote, Earl Vote, Mark Vote and Polly Vote

Nine television advertisements, with a total of 2209 program placements, were placed with ten television channels over the course of the election period and broadcast, where possible, to urban and regional areas. The roll-out of digital television resulted in more channels for the viewer to select from, and the placement of ads was designed to capture the target demographic/viewer group for each channel.

The television scripts and jingle were used as the basis for the radio campaign, which ran concurrently with the television advertising. Radio advertising was limited to enrolment stimulation, mobile polling and polling day services, and was broadcast over a total of 13 radio stations, including four community networks.

Radio advertising gave wide coverage in urban centres in the week leading up to polling day and on polling day itself. Messages for mobile polling were adapted for audiences in remote communities and broadcast on seven stations. Scripts were produced in 15 local indigenous languages spoken, wherever possible, by local Aboriginal translators.

Television and radio were considered to be the most effective mediums to reach the largest number of electors, irrespective of their literacy level and geographic location. The major component of the public awareness budget was allocated to advertising in the electronic media. The total cost for print and electronic media advertising was $319 000 (GST exclusive). See the following chart for a breakdown of costs.

71 Chart: Breakdown of Costs for Print Media, Television, and Radio Advertising.

Advertising Costs

7.6% 42.0% Print Media Television Radio

50.4%

5.4 Information and Publicity

A range of information and publicity activities was carried out to raise election awareness before and during the election period.

Materials supporting the QR12 enrolment stimulation and roll cleansing activities were conceptualised prior to the election, including press and television advertising, refreshed web content and call centre support. Personalised mail was sent from 17 July to all electors with a normal postal street delivery address in Darwin, Palmerston, Litchfield (part), Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, notifying them of their current enrolment details, and the division for which they were enrolled. An enrolment form was included for completion if required and a divisional map showing polling place locations and access details. Electors were advised to contact the NTEC call centre on 1800 or go on-line to the NTEC website for further information. Concurrent television and press advertising also drew attention to the mail-out.

Picture: Got one of these? Mail-out advertisement

Ten enrolment stalls operated at shopping complexes in the main population centres of Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs and at major urban markets. The NT Show circuit display was refreshed to include the Roland ‘Vote Family’ character, division maps and public awareness materials providing general information about the upcoming elections. The stand was used at the Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine and Darwin shows. The show display complemented the broader enrolment stimulation activities being undertaken in each region through direct mail, poster campaign, television advertising and enrolment stalls, including enrolment promotion at the Melbourne versus Port Adelaide AFL game at TIO Stadium.

Bookings were made in advance and approval sought from councils controlling bridges and banner frames on public roads, to display street banners (22 in all) in Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine and Alice Springs. Enrolment information, posters, division maps and other election information were customised for display at community service centres. Corflute ‘Polling Place Here’ signs were placed at static polling places to publicise those locations in the lead up to polling day.

Email was used, at various times, to contact key stakeholders (including NTG employees) with election messages. Election bulletins were sent, via email or mail, to candidates, campaign managers and political parties. Regional coordinators assisted with the promotion of enrolment and voting service messages to communities by on-forwarding public notices to service centres, via some 1000 email/faxes. Each notice was a

72 poster and included early voting/postal voting, mobile polling location and times, and polling places on polling day for the relevant division. Division maps were extensively used in press advertising, were accessible on the NTEC website and reproduced in direct mail-outs to urban electors.

An arrangement between AFLNT staff and players and their regional community network, initiated at the March 2012 LG elections, was continued: key messages were placed on the AFLNT website and voice-over messages on their live streaming of football matches to promote enrolment services at major football events; election advertising, including a 30 second promotion featuring Roland Vote, was broadcast on the newly installed big screen at TIO Stadium for the Melbourne versus Port Adelaide AFL match.

An Australia Post arrangement, in place at the LG elections, was re-activated allowing enrolment form collection boxes to be placed at key Picture: AFL hand-ball promotional corporate post offices up to roll close and seven ‘Stand Man’ figures to be activity displayed in six corporate post offices in major centres. They contained, at varying times, enrolment forms, postal vote applications and voting services information.

Instructions and graphics outlining how to mark ballot papers correctly were printed on new voting screens, consistent with advice given in electronic broadcasts and at ballot paper issuing points in order to help reduce the informality rate.

Wherever possible, the electoral education program continued in schools in the Top End and in centres where regional coordinators were out-posted. Picture: Voting screen instructions

A heightened interest in election night counts was catered for by commissioning new software for the delivery of count data to the tally room, NTEC website and the media. A note on the result pages advised that count figures were updated progressively. Time stamping and headings on the result templates were also adjusted. Scrutiny details were provided in relation to declaration counts, the deadline for receipt of postal votes and the declaration of the polls.

5.5 Media Communication

Media management and monitoring was undertaken in-house during the election period and all media enquiries were directed to the Commission. During the four weeks from the issue of the Writ to the declaration of poll, response was made to approximately 170 enquiries from the media on issues such as candidate and party campaign materials and signage, early voting services, mobile polling services and polling on polling day.

The Electoral Commissioner and regional coordinators also made themselves available for media interviews to promote enrolment and voting service information. NTEC media orientation prepared staff to respond to journalists, clarify issues and keep an archive of comments made in letters and texts to the editor and in new forms of advertising in social media. Regular contact was made with regional coordinators to obtain up-to-date media reports and support their response to media enquiries on the conduct of the election in their local area.

The Commission also responded to numerous questions and comment from candidates and key stakeholders.

Contact was made with the Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA), the government body responsible for regulating compliance and enforcement activities under the provisions of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, in relation to broadcasting, the internet, radio communications and telecommunications.

73 Early information was provided to broadcasters and publishers relating to campaigning and advertising responsibilities, advising that:  All campaign material and electoral matter must clearly state the name and address of the person authorising the publication or distribution.  Details of electoral offences and of broadcaster/publisher financial disclosure obligations were posted on the NTEC website and recommending familiarisation with the provisions.

Fourteen media releases were issued during the election period to media contacts, candidates and key stakeholders on election related topics. Appropriate avenues were used to distribute additional enrolment and voting services information and to place branded content i.e. on the AFLNT and NT News websites.

A large contingent from television, radio and the print media attended the tally room, the central point for the display of election night count figures. SBS conducted its first live-to-air election broadcast in Australia at the venue. Few candidates and party members attended.

Monitoring the electronic media, including social media for the first time e.g. Facebook, Twitter, online newspapers, and online editorial comment for campaigning and advertising irregularities, became increasingly difficult without a dedicated resource for this function, especially when the elections assumed a higher profile nearer to polling day.

5.6 Call Centre

The call centre was established at the NTEC Darwin office to:  Provide a responsive and consistent service to the public during the elections on enrolment and voting arrangements and to act as a point of contact for calls by candidates and other stakeholders.  Direct and/or transfer callers to regional coordinators, project officers and other staff.  Forward complaints and potential contentious issues to the appropriate contact.  Draw the attention of callers to the NTEC and AEC websites where appropriate and, if required, assist them with navigating the websites to find the relevant information.  On request, send enrolment forms and postal vote application forms by mail, fax or email.  Provide an additional resource for cross-agency activities e.g. document editing, proofing, collation and despatch of materials, vote counting etc.

The call centre number was publicised on all advertising and information materials, including the NTEC website. A significant number of public enquiries were generated from the website ‘Ask a question’ feature, the NTEC email address and messages left on after hours voice mail, with the majority of the remaining enquiries from the general public calling the 1800 MYVOTE smart number.

Initially four call centre staff members were employed, increasing to nine in the week leading up to polling day, with a target time for responding to calls of ten seconds. Operators had online access to the roll and the website to allow immediate responses to most queries. Call centre hours were 8am to 4.30pm, with extended hours for the close of rolls, receipt of postal vote applications, early voting, polling day and the last day for receipt of postal vote envelopes. Voice mail messages were also set up with information corresponding to those dates.

The centre operated from 2 July 2012 until after the declaration of the polls, closing on 7 September 2012. A total of 8923 enquiries was received and processed, 2037 of these (22%) in the week leading up to and including polling day, with 294 enquiries received on polling day. Information on counts and results and recording non-voter excuses continued for another 13 days with 266 enquiries received after polling day.

Enquiries about postal voting (21.2%), early voting (18.9%) and enrolment (18.8%) generated the most contact, followed by electors advising that they or other family members would not be able to vote (14.0%).

74 The majority of the enquiries (78.8%) came from the general public calling the 1800 MYVOTE smart number. An additional 1889 enquiries (21.2%) were made via email (18.8%), the NTEC website ‘Ask a question’ feature (1.5%) or by messages left on after-hours voice mail (<1.0%).

The following table provides details of call centre services to the public.

Table 34: Call Centre Enquiries by Source, Type and Number Call Centre Enquiry Source ‘Ask A Total Enquiry Type Call Website Overnight % Question’ Enquiries Centre Emails Voice Mail Emails Enrolment Query 704 36 5 12 757 8.5 Enrolment Form Request/received 446 469 8 0 923 10.3 Nominations/Candidates 93 2 2 0 97 1.1 Media/Public Awareness 68 2 1 0 71 0.8 Early 1 618 36 31 5 1 690 18.9 Postal 1 139 714 29 9 1 891 21.2 Mobile 67 0 1 0 68 0.8 Election Day 281 9 4 0 294 3.3 Unable to Vote 1 086 128 31 6 1 251 14.0 Results 5 8 1 0 14 0.2 Other 936 4 0 45 985 11.0 Escalated to NTEC Darwin Staff 521 170 0 3 694 7.8 Escalated to Public Awareness 15 25 0 0 40 0.5 Escalated to Mobile Polling Coordinator 6 4 0 0 10 0.1 Escalated to Postal/Early voting 15 17 0 0 32 0.4 Escalated to NTEC Alice Springs staff 4 0 0 0 4 0.0 Escalated to Regional Coordinators 1 3 0 0 4 0.0 Escalated to AEC 29 2 0 0 31 0.4 Escalated to NTEC Project Officers 0 47 20 0 67 0.8 TOTAL 7 034 1 676 133 80 8 923 % 78.8 18.8 1.5 0.9

5.7 Website

The website operated for the full election period and was a central source for all election information. Leading up to the elections, the site was redeveloped using a SharePoint 2010 platform; content was rewritten, incorporating legislative changes. Redevelopment was completed during May/June 2012 and the new site was tested on 14 June.

New features included a ‘Latest News’ function; the capacity to act as a repository for all enrolment notices and polling service information; an electronic results function; quick link buttons to the AEC homepage and the capacity to download a postal vote application, nomination form and candidate handbook. Whilst these documents needed to be returned as hard copy, faxed or emailed, the online versions were able to be accessed in remote locations, especially closer to the deadlines for the lodgement of forms.

Up until the ‘go live’ of the SharePoint website in the second week of July, the Lotus Notes website acted as the main source of general election information and was refreshed with new enrolment content to support enrolment stimulation activities being undertaken in support of the QR12 program.

When the SharePoint site was placed into the production environment, customised sliding enrolment banners reflecting current press and television advertising themes navigated users to the new dedicated enrolment pages. External links to the AEC on-line enrolment and ‘Check your enrolment details’ functions were given prominence on the home page.

75

The SharePoint site included new navigation and content for financial disclosure, division profiles, candidate and party information and customised mapping features using GIS data. These pages and ‘quick link’ features also appeared on dedicated election pages enabling users to navigate by the quick links between the home page and election sub-site when seeking further information.

Dedicated pages on the LA election sub-site were migrated into the production environment on 25 July, the week before the issue of the Writ, allowing users to access voting services information before the official election period. The sub-site also displayed a new navigation structure with election information on enrolment and voting services provided over 24 pages, including information for candidates, campaign requirements, division profiles, ‘Find my electoral area’, mobile polling locations, result pages for all divisions, interpreter services, office locations, legislation and links. The sub-site expanded to 26 pages after enrolment statistics and candidate lists were added. This was a significant increase compared to the 13 dedicated election pages on the website for the 2008 LA elections.

Website updates occurred at key stages in the election, i.e. at close of rolls, nominations, release of mobile polling schedules and static polling place information, the counting of votes and declaration of the polls. The sub-site held media releases, advertising, and other public domain information. Candidate photos and their contact information, if authorised, were posted on the site including, for the first time, a candidate’s nominated website address.

A dedicated officer and external service provider were on call to ensure continuous update of website information and to provide immediate responses to requests for content and navigation changes over the course of the election. DBE was required to provide significant development services to reconfigure the website server for the electronic results. Templates were developed from the EMS for the transfer of candidate photos and contact information for posting on the website, media release attachments, voting services’ reports and results display.

The use of the website on election night to display count figures as they were made available by polling place and counting centre, required an additional external secure server on site at the tally room, linked to existing NTEC systems, to act as a push mechanism. The refresh rate (or push) from that server was set at 60 seconds, so that users coming onto the site did not have to refresh their browsers. The secure server also acted as a risk management measure as there were several data replications during the night to ensure there was no loss of critical progressive count records.

The NTEC will evaluate establishing a virtual tally room on its website for 2016.

Agreement was reached with parties to use an abbreviated three or four character acronym for the display of count figures at the tally room, on the website and in feeds to the media. The same acronyms are used in Part 2 of this report.

Users viewed a total of 165 014 pages (inclusive of all dedicated pages) between 1 July to 30 August 2012, compared to 57 216 page views in 2008, a 200% increase. In part this reflected increased advertising with standard pointers to the website.

Peaks in web enquiry occurred at the declaration of nominations, including the ‘go live’ of candidate lists, and during the early voting and mobile polling periods. Web enquiry surged in the lead up to polling day, on polling day itself and through to the declaration of results. Analysis of the pages viewed indicated that the candidates’ list, mobile polling schedule, polling day locations and election results were of the most interest.

5.8 Public Events

The declaration of nominations (including the draw for positions on the ballot paper) and declaration of the polls were conducted at the Darwin office and were well attended by the public, candidates and the media. A small

76 number of candidates and the media attended My Vote Central in Alice Springs to watch the declarations via video link. The NTEC’s first electronic tally room was staged at the Darwin Convention Centre, with software allowing count data to be posted in real time onto projection screens, with simultaneous feeds to the website and the media. The Chan Building, previously used for the tally room at no cost, was not available.

Picture: Tally room The Convention Centre provided the capacity to seat up to 500 people and accommodated separate data entry and guest areas. Consideration was given to the likely attendance of a large media contingent, and the potential for a number of visitors coming in from the music event being televised at the Convention Centre on the same night. Early advice of, and an invitation to attend the tally room was sent to candidates and to registered party officers, including follow-up phone calls to party officers in the week leading up to polling day.

The NTEC hosted a visitors’ program to observe the election in the lead up to polling day and on polling day itself. The visitors included staff from other electoral commissions, members of the Victorian Electoral Matters Committee and an East Timorese delegation from CNE (Commissão Nacional de Eleições) and STAE (Secretáriado Técnico de Administração Eleitoral). The East Timorese delegation was observing the elections as part of the AEC program ‘Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections’ (BRIDGE), a professional development program designed to enhance the understanding and capacity of electoral administrators. Delegates also participated in election information sessions in the week prior to polling day, which included an optional visit to Jabiru and Gunbalanya to observe polling in a remote location.

Total attendance at the tally room on election night was 318, including 12 NTEC staff, 21 guests, the 25 member East Timorese delegation, 111 members of the public and 132 media personnel from ABC News, ABC Radio, SBS (NITV), Sky News, Channel 9, Mix 104.9, Territory FM 104.1, the NT News, Darwin Sun Newspapers and the Australian Associated Press.

While the NTEC electronic tally room was a particularly successful exercise, it is an expense that electoral administrations are now reconsidering in the light of costs and the development of other mechanisms to provide results in real time. With enhancements made to NTEC in-house results technology during and subsequent to the election, the NTEC now has the capability to provide count figures to the website and the media simultaneously, which arguably makes the need for a static tally room redundant. Several other jurisdictions, for example the New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia Commissions, have recently moved to a virtual tally room. The AEC, for the first time, did not stage a national tally room for the 2013 Federal Election. Also of note in the NT context, NT politicians and party members were noticeable absentees on the night, despite earlier indications that they would attend. This seems to reflect a modern trend for those individuals to locate themselves at their own election gatherings in preference to attending the tally room to monitor proceedings and make public statements.

Recommendation  Discontinue the provision of a tally room and replace with publically displayed count figures using a virtual tally room, with simultaneous feeds to the media.

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78 6 KEY RESULT AREA – CORPORATE SUPPORT

6.1 Background

The NTEC has a small base of 11 permanent officers that is augmented at major elections with polling, casual and interstate electoral staff.

Numerous corporate activities are administered during election periods in support of the election functions i.e. management of employee contracts, salaries and related payments, travel and accommodation arrangements, ITC infrastructure requirements, administrative record keeping, accounts processing and financial management.

Budget allocations are managed with the support of the Department of Treasury.

6.2 Human Resource Recruitment, Support and Management

A total of 530 positions were filled for the 2012 LA elections with a number of staff filling more than one position e.g. the same person employed as a call centre operator and a polling official.

A determination was made of the number of election, enrolment and public awareness staff that were required to conduct the election, and the basis of their remuneration on either a casual/temporary contract or under secondment arrangements.

Remuneration determinations for polling staff were as follows:  Polling officials in static polling places on polling day were paid a set package rate, based on the expected hours of work.  Mobile polling officials were paid on a daily/hourly rate according to time spent in the field.  Early voting (and casual office support) staff were paid an hourly rate.

An additional component was paid for face-to-face training for all early voting and mobile staff, OICs, 2ICs and declaration vote issuing staff.

Three Department of Business and Employment (DBE) officers were seconded to the NTEC for a period that covered both the LG and LA elections to provide support across the corporate services area.

Discussions took place with DBE Payroll Services and Employment Services regarding the timing and increased workload associated with the processing of and paying additional casual staff and polling officials.

Procurement Services provided technical guidance and advice on the tender process for chartering aircraft and assisted with the preparation of tender documentation. Vehicles were hired under an existing whole of Government contract, identical to the one used for the LG elections.

Arrangements were put in place with DBE’s IT department to support computing infrastructure which included: computers, printers, server capacity, software and telecommunications for the NTEC offices in Darwin and Alice Springs, the regional offices at Katherine, Nhulunbuy and Tennant Creek, the call centre, postal voting and post- election day activities. Most of these were in situ from the LG elections earlier in the year; however the tally room requirements were a significant add-on with major risk factors that needed to be separately addressed.

Challenges and Operational Problems

Mobile polling staff required cash for travelling allowance (TA) payments, a small amount for expenditure on sundry items while in the field and for community assistants’ wages, as the latter are paid on the day for their

79 duties with NTEC mobile teams. An external provider was engaged to handle the transportation of monies to the Darwin office to address safety concerns.

The date of the election fell a few days after the cut-off for the next pay period so prompt payment of casual staff was a challenge, given the large number of transactions. The bulk of the staff payments were made two and a half weeks after polling day, with some staff being paid a fortnight later where problems with employment paperwork required resolution.

Table 35: Comparison of Polling Official Positions 2008 and 2012 Position Numbers Position Classification 2008* 2012 Static Polling Place Officer in Charge (OIC) 47 49 2nd Officer in Charge (2IC) 13 19 Declaration Voting (DV) Officer 57 113** Ordinary Voting (OV) Officer 157 151 Ballot Box Guard 30 38 Polling Place Liaison Officer 3 5 Mobile Polling Team Leader 23 26 Deputy Team Leader 16 28 Team Member 24 28 Office Support Postal and Early Voting 19 24 Call Centre, Tally Room, Count 24 45 Seconded Staff Australian Electoral Commission 10 2 Victorian Electoral Commission 6 0 Tasmanian Electoral Commission 1 0 West Australian Electoral Commission 0 1 New Zealand 0 1 Total 430 530 * In 2008, the divisions of Arnhem and Macdonnell were uncontested ** Formulae for staffing levels had been adjusted where necessary to allow for higher staff/elector ratios, including for declaration officers to allow for a potential increase in absent/unenrolled elector voting

6.3 Regional Centre Deployment

Regional centres were established in Alice Springs, Katherine, Nhulunbuy and Tennant Creek for community and local media liaison, the receipt of nominations, management of early voting, training of polling staff and oversight of static polling places on polling day. Each regional centre was staffed with a regional coordinator (RC) and a local casual staff member on an ‘as required’ basis. RCs spent some time in either the Darwin or Alice Springs offices prior to commencing duties where they were briefed on their responsibilities.

Although clear instructions were provided at the outset, operational problems meant RCs were required to ‘think on the ground’ in any given situation. Formalising all duties and instructions in a comprehensive manual would save time and provide clearer direction for out-posted officers.

RCs were provided with accommodation and a vehicle to carry out election related tasks in their local area. The hire of reliable transport was difficult to procure during the peak dry/tourist season.

80 The infrastructure for each regional office included a desktop and laptop computer (for after-hours work outside the office environment and as a contingency should the desktop fail), a mobile phone for local and 4G network calls, a portable USB modem and a printer. Each RC also received a separate satellite phone for contact with mobile teams in the field. A landline phone was available for use should the need arise.

RCs were instructed to report daily to their nominated managing office, i.e. for Nhulunbuy and Katherine to Darwin and Tennant Creek to Alice Springs. Whilst known network issues were still a significant problem in the regional offices, most of the IT difficulties were manageable due to the lessons learned from the March 2012 LG elections.

Basic public awareness material was able to be downloaded in the regional areas by RCs for dissemination in their area. Large and more complex advertising material such as banners or signage larger than A3 was produced in Darwin and freighted to regional offices.

There were limited options for accommodation in regional centres and the offices in both Nhulunbuy and Tennant Creek proved to be too small. In addition, the remoteness of all centres from Darwin meant that the NTG network was unable to meet NTEC operational requirements and the incompatibility with LG networks (when council premises were used) also led to an inability to effectively communicate across systems.

Options for using existing government infrastructure to establish temporary regional offices, e.g. councils or other NTG departments will be investigated in the lead up to the 2016 elections.

6.4 Information Technology and Communication Support

An IT infrastructure and support for the 2012 LG and LA elections was first discussed with DBE in March 2011 after the date for the LG elections had been Gazetted. A decision was taken to set up a structure that would serve both Territory-wide events, minimise dismantling of equipment and double handling of resources. DBE reviewed its project plans and workload in the light of two proximate events. An upgrade in the level of ITC support was provided during critical periods e.g. close of rolls and nominations, polling day and the tally room. A dedicated IT manager was provided throughout the election period.

With the expected roll out of the National Broadband Network (NBN) in regional areas, access to the internet and increased network speeds should, in the future, alleviate a number of the IT issues experienced.

6.5 IT Systems

Hardware

All computers in the Darwin and Alice Springs offices were refreshed in December 2011. Additional desktop computers, printers, and telephones were acquired for seconded and casual staff assigned to election projects in the NTEC offices, the call centre, regional centres and tally room. The following table details the hardware provided.

Table 36: Additional ITC Hardware Deployed Regional Centre Darwin Alice Springs Tally Room Coordinators Desktop Computer 17 3 4 10 Laptop - - 4 - Printer 2 - 3 1 Desk Phone 17 3 - 10 Mobile Phone 23 3 4 - USB Modem - - 4 -

81 Satellite telephones (25) were provided to mobile polling teams and RCs travelling to remote areas of the Territory. The phones enabled NTEC staff to communicate regularly with officers in the field and were a key means of transmitting information to the Darwin and Alice Springs offices, including voting statistics and issues on the ground.

Software

The NTEC uses several computer-based systems which automate election task processing, provide increased efficiencies, and enhance accountability/reporting capacities. Three systems form a significant part of the election operational suite: the Election Management System, the remote polling management system (TIGER) and the postal voting database.

Specialised software costing $53 000 was commissioned to capture and display count figures at the tally room, with feeds to the website and the media. This was the first time the website was used to publish election data in real time.

Challenges and Operational Problems

A limitation of the three election specific databases is that they are not integrated and only allowed full access by the Darwin office, limited access by the Alice Springs office and no access by temporary regional offices. For all three databases, their less than optimum performance can be attributed to the unsuitability of the current software as a platform for multi-user, multi-site information systems. The current databases met the needs of the agency when the systems were developed over the last ten years, however, changes to operational procedures, the proliferation of information and contemporary demands for timely reporting mean that the current systems no longer meet business requirements. More importantly, the systems have become unstable as they are not on a platform compatible with modern IT infrastructure.

Whole of government NTG systems such as the Electronic Invoice Management System (EIMS) and Travel Requisition Information Processing System (TRIPS) provided some functional problems as they were not flexible when dealing with sudden movement changes and reversals to the payment of goods and services.

In conjunction with the current NTG IT agency, DCIS, an ITC services specialist was engaged after the elections to evaluate, review and provide options for the development of a modern, integrated and stable platform for the election management system, the remote polling management system and the postal voting database, that meet election and corporate related agency needs.

6.6 Election Budget

The holding of the first fixed-term election meant that historical LA general election costs could not be relied upon as a guide for the 2012 general election. Reference to the costs of the fixed local government general elections held in March 2012 was far more instructive despite the fact that not all the elections were contested. The LG general elections cost $2.284m.

The NTEC recommended after the 2008 elections that an allocation be made for early program expenditure in the financial year prior to the LA elections. An advance of $1.0 million was provided: $0.4 million in the 2011-12 financial year and the balance of $0.6 million in 2012-13. The balance of funds to meet election expenditure was met by a Treasurer’s Advance prior to the end of the 2012-13 financial year.

6.7 Overall Expenditure

Expenditure for the 2012 elections was $2.698 million, comprised of $1.116 million in operational costs and $1.582 million of personnel costs. The cost of the election per enrolled elector was $21.79. As stated above, total expenditure for the 2012 Local Government elections was $2.284 million.

82 Table 37: Comparison of Costs 2008 LA Elections, 2012 LG Elections and 2012 LA Elections 2008 LA 2012 LG 2012 LA Expense Type Elections* Elections Elections $ $ $ Operational Property/Premises Hire/Accommodation 107 621 139 513 217 000 ITC Charges (inc. Roll Scanning), and Communications (Postage, 72 110 63 331 77 000 Phones, etc.)* Printing* and Equipment 77 684 207 673 201 000 Marketing and Promotion 109 684 253 097 376 000 Travel 148 343 331 315 162 000 Vehicles 32 055 43 681 44 000 Other (Freight, Legal, Miscellaneous etc.) 10 851 46 787 39 000 Total Operational Expenses 558 348 1 085 397 1 116 000 Personnel Agent Services (Interstate and Local Secondments) 150 211 22 055 145 000 Permanent Staff Overtime Costs 38 681 37 156 73 000 Polling Officials, Casual Staff, Payroll Tax/Super & Other Staff Costs 547 435 1 139 307 1 364 000 Total Personnel Expenses 736 327 1 198 518 1 582 000 Total Election Expenses 1 294 675 2 283 915 2 698 000 * 2008 figures adjusted to more readily compare with 2012 charges (latter rounded)

The 2012 LA election was the first conducted under a fixed term and a raw comparison of expenditure indicates it was significantly more expensive than previous elections. Contributing factors to the increase in operational and personnel expenses between the 2008 and 2012 electoral events can be attributed to a number of factors.

Fixed Election Period

A fixed election date allowed, in the months leading up to the election, the development of a phased campaign focussed on improving the quality of the roll that had deteriorated since the September 2010 federal election.

To stimulate enrolment, QR12 program activities included sending personalised mail, contacting electors by phone or doorknock, processing returned mail, review of town camps, enrolment stands/promotion and remote division enrolment drives (for further details see Section 3.5). The cost of the QR12 program was approximately $250 000, funded through a mix of a specific Treasurer’s Advance and the election budget.

An unofficial election period commences when candidates, parties and the media start to publicise campaigning, prompting, in turn, an expectation by the public for early election information. For example the election call centre operated for four weeks in the 2008 election but eight weeks in 2012.

The experience in the NT is similar to that of other jurisdictions with a fixed date poll. They have found that the extended unofficial election period, and the ever-increasing expectations from both stakeholders and electors for information and services, translates to increased election costs. Resources can also be allocated to increasing the effectiveness of election programs and planned activities.

Enrolment Numbers and the Number of Contested Elections

Enrolment numbers had risen by 3.3% between 2008 and 2012. Additionally, the two remote divisions of Arnhem and Macdonnell that were uncontested in 2008 were contested in 2012, along with all other divisions. Both of these factors had significant implications for costs across the board.

83 Property/Premises Hire/Accommodation

Increased rental and leasing costs are to be expected when conducting an election during the height of the tourist season and can vary widely depending on the known scarcity of premises and accommodation. The Chan Building, previously used without charge as the tally room, was not available and, after lengthy investigation, a new site at the Darwin Convention Centre was procured at a discounted cost of $54 000.

ITC Charges and Communications

Additional desktop computers, printers and landlines were procured for the Darwin, Alice Springs and regional offices to accommodate program and regional staff. As part of the office back-up procedures, four mobile broadband cards were used to back-up computers in regional centres.

Thirty additional mobile phones were allocated to regional, project, early voting and mobile polling staff to allow convenient and accessible communication.

Specialised software was acquired that enabled elections results to be instantaneously published on the website, displayed electronically at the tally room and provide data feeds to the media.

Marketing and Promotion

Previous LA general elections were not fixed term, though most parliaments sat for the then allowable four years. Without a known election date, advertising could not commence. However, under the conditions of the first fixed election in 2012 within a short election timeframe, this changed and an extensive and targeted advertising campaign was instigated. All mediums were used for the extended lead in to polling day and an elector mail-out to all electors in urban areas (at a cost of $80 000) was implemented in line with electoral practice in other jurisdictions with fixed date polls. The additional cost for the expanded public awareness costs related to the election is estimated at over $250 000. For further details see Section 5.3.

The mainly in-house production of the community awareness messages serves to contain the advertising component of the budget as well as maintain the independence of the agency.

Personnel Expenses

Wage and CPI increases since 2008 have also added to election costs; NT public sector pay rises of 3% p.a. were applied in August 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively. These rises were incorporated in the increased salary levels negotiated following a review of duties of key polling officials.

Historically, other electoral jurisdictions (including the AEC) have provided specialised electoral staff to play key roles in the conduct of the elections, with the NTEC paying the marginal cost of the secondment arrangements. For example in 2008, the Victorian Electoral Commission provided six staff on a marginal costs basis.

In 2012, other electoral bodies were unable to second staff for the conduct of the LA election and those that were willing to, would only do so on a full cost recovery basis. Charges for two secondments from the AEC (one sourced locally and one from interstate) on a full cost recovery model amounted to $53 000. Two secondments were arranged on a marginal cost basis and categorised as development opportunities by their home jurisdictions. One of these was from the Western Australia Electoral Commission, the other from the New Zealand Electoral Commission under a Trans-Tasman program to promote electoral understanding and best practice. Several key electoral positions were filled by experienced and recently retired electoral practitioners, whose remuneration added significantly to overall staffing costs.

Previously, enrolment processing for the close-of-rolls was conducted ‘in-house’ by the AEC at minimal cost to the agency. Due to the short time frames involved, this function was outsourced in 2012 for the first time, using qualified data input operators sourced from an employment agency. This model proved more expensive, costing $29 000.

84 To meet the increased requirement to communicate and inform the electorate, a graphic designer, call centre manager and a community engagement officer were engaged to support the permanent dedicated public awareness officer.

Compared to 2008, when the divisions of Arafura and Macdonnell were uncontested, additional staff for mobile polling was required in 2012.

A significant increase in the number of declaration issuing officers was required to accommodate an anticipated rise in absent/provisional voting following elector movements associated with the LA boundary distribution and the aftermath of the LG general election in March.

Equipment

Additional stocks of cardboard equipment were purchased in mid-2012, sufficient to cover the LA election as well as a further Territory-wide election.

Printing

Roll printing was performed by the Government Printing Office in Darwin, with roll scanning undertaken, as usual, by an interstate company as there was no local provider.

Travel and Vehicles

Under a whole of Government contract, one supplier provided all election vehicles. In centres where the provider did not operate, alternative arrangements were made. Two companies were used for air charters, one for fixed wing flights and the other for journeys by helicopter.

Future Expenditure

The NTEC is monitoring the outcomes of the finding of the Keelty Report4 in regard to the conduct of the 2013 Federal Election in Western Australia. The report makes a number of recommendations to improve electoral practices, specifically as they relate to ballot paper security. The Keelty recommendations will be reviewed to determine if they should be adopted in the Northern Territory. There are likely to be cost implications in changing electoral practices and procedures in line with the recommendations contained within this report.

4 Ibid

85

86 7 APPENDICES

Appendix A(i) Status of NTEC Recommendations – 2005 & 2008 Election Reports Appendix A(ii) Status of NTEC Action Items Outlined in the 2008 Election Report Appendix B Elector Transfers Resulting from the 2011 Redistribution of Electoral Boundaries Appendix C Enrolments at Close of Rolls 1994 to 2012 Appendix D Candidate Advice – Election Advertising and Campaign Material Appendix E Candidates and their Affiliation by Division Appendix F Summary by Division of Candidates, Enrolment, Turnout and Ballot Paper Type Appendix G Postal Vote Certificate Envelopes – Issues, Returns, Admissions and Rejections Appendix H Early Votes Issued by Early Voting Centre and Division Appendix I Early Voting Centre Locations within the NT and Canvassing Guidelines Imposed; Interstate Early Voting Centres Appendix J Mobile Polling – Ballot Papers Lodged by Polling Location 2008 and 2012 (including remote static polls) Appendix K Mobile Polling Schedule by Division Appendix L Static Polling Place Locations on Polling Day (8am-6pm) Appendix M Declaration Votes by Type Appendix N Unenrolled Declaration Envelope Details by Division Appendix O Elector Turnout by Ballot Papers Counted Appendix P(i) Informal Ballot Papers at LA Elections 2008 – 2012 Appendix P(ii) Informal Ballot Papers at LA Elections 2008 - 2012: Rural/Remote Divisions Appendix P(iii) Informal Ballot Papers at LA Elections 2008 - 2012: Urban Divisions Appendix Q(i) Informal Ballot Paper Survey Rural/Remote Divisions Appendix Q(ii) Information Ballot Paper Survey Urban Divisions Appendix R Informal Rate per Division by Vote Type Appendix S Two Candidate Preferred (2CP) Full Distribution Margin Appendix T Swing-to Lose (%) after 2012 Election Appendix U Two Party Preferred Count by Division Appendix V First Preference Votes by Division and Affiliation Appendix W First Preference Votes by Affiliation, Seats Won 1990-2012 Appendix X Summary of Public Awareness Activities

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88 APPENDIX A(i) Status of NTEC Recommendations – 2005 & 2008 Election Reports

Prior to the 2012 LAGE, the Electoral Act 2004 underwent amendment in 2009 and 2011. The 2009 amendments introduced a fixed term timetable and an extension of the election period by one day to a total of 20 days, with nomination day four days after the issue of the writ, postal votes to be issued as soon as possible after the close of nominations, and allowing an additional day in the time for postal vote mail-out.

Further legislative amendments were passed in December 2011, principal amongst which were relaxation of formality provisions, changes to party registration matters, strengthening of authorisation requirements on campaign material and the extension of postal and early voting services to disabled electors or electors fearing for their safety. A summary of action taken in relation to the Election Reports of 2005 and 2008 follows:

Recommendations Status and Comments as at March 2014

A fixed poll date be established or, if that is not supported, The Act was amended 2009 to fix a poll date but the then the period from the issue of the writ to polling day be timetable for extraordinary general elections under the extended by at least a week. (2005) changes is tight and should be extended

Commonly exempted advertising items in other jurisdictions Partly implemented 2011– see section 274 of the also be specifically exempted under the authorisation Electoral Act. provisions contained in the Act. (2005 & 2008)

Allow for the issue of postal and pre-poll votes as soon as The Act was amended 2009 to provide for this. practicable after the close of nominations. (2005)

The NTEC examine options for using electronic means to enhance services to remote, interstate and overseas electors and the Act be amended so as to permit the application of The Act was amended 2011 to allow for this. electronic voting means where secure and certain prescribed circumstances exist. (2005 & 2008)

Additional funding for a public awareness information program for remote communities is provided to the NTEC Funding provided 2011-12 year (QR12 project). once parliament has served its first three years. (2005 & 2008)

The Commission reviewed its position following the Establish a how-to-vote card distribution service for mobile 2008 election and no longer holds to this view. It took polling that is overseen by the NTEC (2005) into account the lack of this feature in Commonwealth legislation and party feedback.

Allow for the destruction of electoral papers relating to a general election to occur at the discretion of the Electoral The Act was amended in 2011. Commission once returns can no longer be disputed. (2005 & 2008)

The NTEC be provided with an advance in the 2011-12 Accepted. $400k allocated to NTEC for the 2011-12 financial year to support the preliminary planning for the financial year and $600k for the 2012-13 financial year. 2012 Legislative Assembly election. (2008)

Achieved in part. Prior to the passing of NTEA amendments in 2011, the NTEC investigated recent The Electoral Act be reviewed to achieve harmonisation, and proposed amending legislation in other jurisdictions where appropriate, with the electoral legislation of the to consider their applicability for the NT jurisdiction. Commonwealth and other States/Territories. (2008) Some of these were included in the amendments for LG and LA electoral legislation.

89 The following recommendations were made but not adopted

Recommendations Status and Comments as at March 2014

More detailed guidelines be provided on the processing and assessment procedures in respect to declaration votes for Still supported by the Commission. unenrolled electors. (2005 & 2008)

Allow electors to lodge an application for a postal vote for a Still supported by the Commission although fixed term nominated period of up to one year, at any time or at least elections address some of the problems that generated once the final year of the current Parliament commences. this recommendation. (2005 & 2008)

Amend Section 78 of the Act to more specifically set the Still supported by the Commission. criteria for the selection of locations for mobile polling. (2005

& 2008)

Allow the draw for positions on the ballot paper to be conducted at sites determined by the Electoral Still supported by the Commission. Commissioner. (2005 & 2008)

Allow the roll as at roll close be made available to all candidates, subject to an appropriate undertaking being Still supported by the Commission. made by the candidate that restricts its electoral usage to the election period only. (2005 & 2008)

Amend the financial disclosure provisions to set Territory specific reporting thresholds and allow redesign of the The NTEC would support the application of thresholds returns so as to draw identical information from both that are applicable to the NT jurisdiction. endorsed and unendorsed candidates. (2005 & 2008)

A separate and expanded election timetable be provided in the Electoral Act for an extraordinary general election and Still supported by the Commission. that this timetable provide for at least an additional week in the election period. (2008)

The NTEC be authorised to impose a fine for failure to vote and that the necessary legislation be put in place to enable the NTEC to forward cases of non-payment of these fines to Still supported by the Commission. a fines recovery unit along the same lines as applies in some States. (2008)

90 APPENDIX A(ii) Status of NTEC Action Items Outlined in the 2008 Election Report

The response and progress on the action items outlined in the 2008 report are shown below.

Action Items - 2008 Election Report Status and Comments as at March 2014

Both agencies carried out enrolment initiatives. The Establishing a joint enrolment program with the AEC over a NTEC obtained significant funding in 2011 to undertake four-year cycle that improves the accuracy of the rolls for NT a program (QR12) aimed at improving roll integrity for general elections and other major electoral events. the 2012 LG and LA elections.

Not pursued. The fixed term and slight extension of the election timetable reduced lodgement and despatch Lodging of postal votes addressed via Mt Isa directly at Mt issues. Despatch timetables were established with Isa post office for regional dispatch. Australia Post to ensure timely lodgement for remote areas.

Scheduling a simultaneous review of the general postal voter The AEC initiated a review of its silent/ general postal register and promotion of registered postal voting services in register in time for the 2012 LA elections the lead up to future fixed elections.

Exploring possible enhancements to the lay-out, detail and Achieved. Will review again in the light of future presentation of the postal vote certificate envelope to developments and interstate practices. minimise any involuntary errors in completion by electors.

Not pursued. A fixed term timetable enabled Appointing pre-poll centres at Mt Isa and selected overseas arrangements to be made with Australia Post to ensure locations. mail distribution in the Barkly. Voting was available at Darwin and Alice Springs airports in the last week.

Not pursued. A fixed term timetable enabled the polling Appointing mobile polling locations at appropriate locations program to be structured around regional/shire service outside NT borders. centres in all remote areas.

Exploring opportunities to provide more interpreter support at Achieved through the Aboriginal Interpreter Service polling places. (AIS). If used again, will be refined.

Investigated. The NTEC is a member of a joint State/Territory initiative in developing electronic training materials and tools for inclusion on websites. It is Exploring on-line training possibilities for polling staff with monitoring progress and the cost effectiveness and other State/Territory Commissions. take-up of these options, as they supplement rather than replace existing face-to-face training and instructions in hard copy format.

91 APPENDIX B Elector Transfers Resulting from the 2011 Redistribution of Electoral Boundaries

Electoral Elector Transfer Division

Arafura No change.

Araluen No change.

Arnhem No change.

Barkly No change.

Increased by the transfer of 475 electors from the Division of Brennan. Blain Decreased by the transfer of 896 electors to the Division of Drysdale.

Braitling No change.

Brennan Decreased by the transfer of 475 electors to the Division of Blain and 54 electors to the Division of Nelson.

Casuarina Increased by the transfer of 339 electors from the Division of Wanguri.

Daly Decreased by the transfer of 81 electors to the Division of Stuart.

Increased by the transfer of 896 electors from the Division of Blain. Drysdale Decreased by the transfer of 447 electors to the Division of Fong Lim. Increased by the transfer of 377 electors from the Division of Port Darwin. Fannie Bay Decreased by the transfer of 408 electors to the Division of Fong Lim. Increased by the transfer of 447 electors from the Division of Drysdale, 408 electors from the Division of Fannie Fong Lim Bay and 99 electors from the Division of Karama. Decreased by the transfer of 739 electors to the Division of Johnston.

Goyder No change.

Greatorex No change.

Increased by the transfer of 739 electors from the Division of Fong Lim. Johnston Decreased by the transfer of 470 electors to the Division of Sanderson.

Karama Decreased by the transfer of 99 electors to the Division of Fong Lim.

Katherine No change.

Namatjira Name change from the Division of Macdonnell. No elector transfers.

Nelson Increased by the transfer of 54 electors from the Division of Brennan.

Nhulunbuy No change.

Nightcliff No change.

Port Darwin Decreased by the transfer of 377 electors to the Division of Fannie Bay.

Sanderson Increased by the transfer of 470 electors from the Division of Johnston.

Stuart Increased by the transfer of 81 electors from the Division of Daly.

Wanguri Decreased by the transfer of 339 electors to the Division of Casuarina.

92 APPENDIX C Enrolments at Close of Rolls 1994 to 2012

% Change Division 1994 1997 2001 2005 2008 2012 from 2008 Arafura 3 715 4 224 4 209 4 613 4 924 5 477 11.2 Araluen 3 747 3 814 4 395 4 532 4 963 4 817 -2.9 Arnhem 3 910 4 091 4 291 4 760 4 660 4 902 5.2 Barkly 3 926 3 974 3 834 4 195 4 702 5 137 9.3 Blain 4 091 4 353 4 475 4 825 4 980 3.2 Braitling 3 889 3 791 4 324 4 319 4 944 4 687 -5.2 Brennan 3 996 4 519 4 817 4 535 4 966 5 061 1.9 Casuarina 3 548 4 088 4 142 4 237 4 680 5 031 7.5 Daly 3 761 4 707 4 662 5 329 14.3 Drysdale 3 949 4 438 4 561 4 742 5 178 9.2 Fannie Bay 3 469 4 179 4 209 4 696 4 943 4 879 -1.3 Fong Lim 4 885 4 883 0.0 Goyder 4 120 3 904 4 358 4 491 4 699 5 323 13.3 Greatorex 3 723 3 790 4 481 4 529 4 823 4 606 -4.5 *Jingili 3 937 3 800 Johnston 4 321 4 265 4 931 4 879 -1.1 Karama 3 606 4 278 4 283 4 318 4 935 4 713 -4.5 Katherine 3 729 3 989 3 811 4 647 4 921 5 174 5.1 *Leanyer 3 825

*Macdonnell 3 979 4 331 4 182 4 471 4 865 *Millner 3 845 4 472 4 496 4 434 Namatjira 5 127 Nelson 4 006 3 869 4 049 4 628 4 635 4 715 1.7 Nhulunbuy 3 717 4 152 4 262 4 606 4 532 4 719 4.1 Nightcliff 3 671 4 307 4 302 4 436 4 945 4 797 -3.0 *Palmerston 3 861 Port Darwin 3 919 4 012 4 013 4 537 4 741 4 730 -0.2 Sanderson 3 535 4 251 4 400 4 387 4 852 5 100 5.1 Stuart 3 730 3 948 3 685 4 274 4 481 4 706 5.0 *Victoria River 3 886 4 161 Wanguri 3 718 3 902 4 090 4 301 4 558 4 855 6.5 NT Total 95 007 101 886 105 506 111 954 119 814 123 805 3.3 *Note Jingili formed part of new Johnston Leanyer formed part of Wanguri and new Drysdale Macdonnell renamed Namatjira Millner formed part of new Fong Lim Palmerston formed part of new Blain Victoria River formed part of new Daly

93 APPENDIX D Candidate Advice – Election Advertising and Campaign Material

Advertising and Campaigning Requirements

Information is contained in the 2012 Candidate Handbook. Candidates should also be aware of the provisions of Part 13 Division 1 of the Electoral Act which contains details of electoral offences under the following six categories:  Protection of election rights and duties  Campaigning offences  Compulsory voting and entitlement to vote  Voting fraud offences  Other offences relating to electoral papers and  Official functions.

Your attention is drawn to:  the description of campaign material (section 268 of the Act).  authorisation and printer requirements including dual sided material (section 270 (1) of the Act) and  publishing and distributing material that contains an untrue or incorrect statement, or is likely to mislead, or deceive an elector or improperly interfere with an elector casting a vote (section 270 (3) of the Act).

Campaign material includes any advertisement or document etc. intended to promote the electoral prospect of a candidate or group of candidates for an election, for example:  an electoral advertisement  a printed document such as a handbill, pamphlet and how-to-vote cards  a message containing electoral matter that is sent by telephone or broadcast by electronic means and  published material containing electoral matter.

Electoral matter is any matter, in printed or electronic form, intended, or likely, to affect voting at an election. Campaign material, both printed and in electronic format, published during the election period, must have:  the name and address of the person authorising the advertisement (not a PO Box) and  if a printed document, the name and address of the printer printed at the end.

Where the material is to be viewed from two sides, the authorisation and printer details are required on both sides. Letters to the editor of a newspaper, if published, require the name and address of the author (street name/suburb is deemed sufficient).

A person must not publish or distribute any campaign material that:  is likely to a. mislead an elector or b. deceive an elector or c. improperly interfere with an elector casting a vote or  contains an untrue or incorrect statement.

During the election period, any person involved in push-polling activities must state clearly the name and address of the person authorising the activity. Push polling means the conduct of any surveys intended to influence an elector in deciding his or her vote.

Electronic Advertising – Television, Radio and Internet The Commonwealth Broadcasting Services Act 1992 Schedule 2 outlines provisions relating to the broadcasting and televising of political matter. It requires that political matter broadcast by a person other than a political party should state (and record in word images on screen if using television):

94  the name of the person authorising the broadcast and  the town, city or suburb in which the person lives or, if the person is a corporation or association, in which the principal office is situated.

The required particulars must be broadcast in the same language as the political matter. Broadcasting and televising of election advertisements are prohibited in State/Territory parliamentary elections from midnight on the Wednesday preceding polling day until the close of the poll.

Further information on campaign advertising is included on a fact sheet entitled Broadcasting and communication of political and election matter at www.acma.gov.au. Refer any queries to the Australian Communications and Media Authority [PO Box Q500, Queen Victoria Building, Sydney, NSW, 1230. Telephone (02) 9334 7700]. Internet advertising using social media e.g. Facebook, Twitter must carry the name and address of the authoriser.

Printed Advertising

The requirements for printed election advertisements are provided under the Electoral Act Part 13, Division 1, Subdivision 2.

The name and address (not a PO Box) of the person authorising the material and that of the printer must appear at the end of the item.

Example: Authorised by Joe Bloggs, 5 Day Road, Suburb

How to Vote Material

Although formality provisions have been modified, electors should still be directed to number all voting squares with consecutive numbers commencing with the number 1.

Election Signage

The Power and Water Corporation and the Department of Construction and Infrastructure have policy guidelines with respect to campaign advertising (including posters) on their property. All candidates and campaign workers should be aware of these. The specific detail is included in the Candidate Handbook (pages 15 and 16).

Council regulations relating to signage restrictions on public property or land can be checked on the websites of individual councils or by directly contacting the councils themselves. Owner / occupiers should be approached before signage is attached to their property. See the separate attachment to this bulletin with recent advice from the City of Palmerston regarding advertising.

The above information was accompanied by details of early voting centre locations and the canvassing restrictions that applied to the premises.

95 APPENDIX E Candidates and their Affiliation by Division (ballot paper order, elected candidates in bold)

Division Candidate Name Affiliation Division Candidate Name Affiliation Arafura XAVIER, Francis Maralampuwi CLP Johnston BUSSA, Peter PASCOE, George GRN METCALF, Krystal ASX RIOLI, Dean ALP PARROTT-JOLLY, Alana GRN GADAMBUA, Jeannie FNPP SANGSTER, Jo CLP Araluen BAXTER, Edan Ross FNPP VOWLES, Ken ALP LAMBLEY, Robyn CLP Karama LAWRIE, Delia ALP FINDLAY, Adam ALP KELLY, Rohan CLP Arnhem McCARTHY, Malarndirri Barbara ALP ELCOATE, Frances Bunji GRN LEE, Larisa CLP Katherine KING, Cerise ALP Barkly WILLEY, Stewart IND WESTRA VAN HOLTHE, Willem CLP SHANNON, Valda FNPP CUMMINGS, Teresa IND McCARTHY, Gerry ALP Namatjira ROGERS, Des ALP HEALY, Rebecca CLP ANDERSON, Alison CLP Blain FEJO, Daniel FNPP WILLIAMS, Warren H FNPP BAHNERT, Geoff ALP Nelson McALEAR, Sharon ALP MILLS, Terry CLP WOOD, Gerry IND Braitling FURPHY, Colin IND COLE, Judy CLP ROCK, Deborah ALP Nhulunbuy FANNING, Allen CLP GILES, Adam CLP TRUDGEN, Kendall IND SHAW, Barbara GRN WALKER, Lynne ALP Brennan CHANDLER, Peter CLP Nightcliff FYLES, Natasha ALP JEFFREY, Russell ALP GALE, Owen GRN Casuarina VATSKALIS, Kon ALP BLANCH, Stuart IND JOHNSON, Jane Elizabeth CLP ARTHUR, Andrew IND Daly HIGGINS, Gary John CLP WARDLE, Felicity ASX POLLOCK, David GRN RUDGE, Peter IND JENKINS, Trevor LOVEDAY, Kim CLP KNIGHT, Rob ALP Port Darwin LEUNIG, Rowena ASX RISK, Bill FNPP ELFERINK, John CLP Drysdale BURKE, James ALP ANDREWS, David GRN BOHLIN, Ross IND JAMES, Alan ALP FINOCCHIARO, Lia CLP Sanderson GREEN, Jodie ALP Fannie Bay GUNNER, Michael ALP STYLES, Peter CLP BIRD, Ken GRN MAGRIPLIS, Dimitrious FNPP CLEMENTSON, Tony CLP BRIGGS, Jillian ASX Fong Lim MARSH, Ashley ALP Stuart PRICE, Bess Nungarrayi CLP BURNHEIM, Peter ASX HAMPTON, Karl ALP TOLLNER, David CLP RYAN, Maurie Japarta FNPP HAUBRICK, Matt GRN Wanguri HENDERSON, Paul ALP Goyder PURICK, Kezia CLP HARKER, Rhianna CLP KEARNEY, John ALP Australian Labor Party NT SMITH, Damien ALP ASX Australian Sex Party NT Greatorex FOLEY, Rowan ALP CLP Country Liberals ROULLET, Evelyne GRN FNPP First Nations Political Party GRNS The Greens WALCOTT, Phil IND IND Independent CONLAN, Matt CLP

96 APPENDIX F Summary by Division of Candidates, Enrolment, Turnout and Ballot Paper Type

Ballot Paper Type

Counted

Division (Not on Roll)

No. Candidates Enrolment Turnout % Early Postal Mobile Polling Static Absent Declaration Total Ballot Papers

Arafura 4 5 477 58.1 137 34 946 1 766 281 16 3 180 Araluen 3 4 817 78.0 966 124 55 2 256 348 8 3 757 Arnhem 2 4 902 51.9 73 22 1 339 827 271 12 2 544 Barkly 4 5 137 64.9 658 106 974 1 293 290 11 3 332 Blain 3 4 980 83.2 475 150 0 2 952 557 7 4 141 Braitling 4 4 687 76.8 810 95 44 2 184 462 3 3 598 Brennan 2 5 061 84.5 470 180 0 3 091 528 6 4 275 Casuarina 2 5 031 86.0 584 192 20 2 923 600 6 4 325 Daly 5 5 329 73.5 256 188 926 1 985 554 6 3 915 Drysdale 3 5 178 82.5 482 176 0 2 855 755 4 4 272 Fannie Bay 3 4 879 84.0 512 221 18 2 949 384 12 4 096 Fong Lim 4 4 883 79.4 434 189 4 2 328 920 2 3 877 Goyder 3 5 323 85.2 440 232 0 3 358 494 9 4 533 Greatorex 4 4 606 78.4 1 017 86 9 2 172 329 0 3 613 Johnston 5 4 879 85.2 450 161 0 3 017 520 10 4 158 Karama 3 4 713 86.6 416 156 0 3 144 354 10 4 080 Katherine 3 5 174 81.3 1 483 168 100 2 225 211 20 4 207 Namatjira 3 5 127 59.8 458 122 1 729 496 250 12 3 067 Nelson 3 4 715 79.6 428 178 177 2 438 524 6 3 751 Nhulunbuy 3 4 719 62.7 372 95 406 1 909 159 19 2 960 Nightcliff 7 4 797 83.9 402 203 2 2 992 422 4 4 025 Port Darwin 4 4 730 79.1 561 225 14 2 366 570 6 3 742 Sanderson 4 5 100 87.9 503 167 0 3 278 529 7 4 484 Stuart 3 4 706 62.9 339 126 1 583 498 393 19 2 958 Wanguri 2 4 855 89.1 542 181 0 3 306 290 6 4 325

Totals/Average 86 123 805 76.9 13 268 3 777 8 346 58 608 10 995 221 95 215

97 APPENDIX G Postal Vote Certificate Envelopes – Issues, Returns, Admissions and Rejections

Rejected Total Total Not Not Returned Received Voted Division Admitted Issued Returned Signed Witnessed to Sender Too Late Too Late Arafura 46 38 34 2 0 0 1 1 Araluen 168 132 124 1 1 0 2 4 Arnhem 34 27 22 1 0 0 4 0 Barkly 192 131 106 2 1 11 10 1 Blain 201 165 150 1 2 1 11 0 Braitling 126 103 95 1 1 2 3 1 Brennan 230 198 180 3 0 1 10 4 Casuarina 258 209 192 2 2 5 6 2 Daly 271 212 188 4 6 6 4 4 Drysdale 364 187 176 0 0 4 5 2 Fannie Bay 300 248 221 4 1 7 13 2 Fong Lim 257 211 189 3 3 3 8 5 Goyder 301 260 232 8 5 2 11 2 Greatorex 117 91 86 1 1 1 1 1 Johnston 227 181 161 7 0 2 9 2 Karama 199 169 156 4 1 5 3 0 Katherine 240 180 168 1 1 0 5 5 Namatjira 163 134 122 1 4 2 3 2 Nelson 228 197 178 2 2 0 6 9 Nhulunbuy 130 98 95 0 0 1 2 0 Nightcliff 275 229 203 3 0 4 13 6 Port Darwin 310 249 225 1 0 7 13 3 Sanderson 218 179 167 3 2 0 4 3 Stuart 212 156 126 4 2 16 8 0 Wanguri 247 201 181 2 0 2 13 3

Totals 5 314 4 185 3 777 61 35 82 168 62

98 Early Votes Issued by Early Voting Centre and Division

EVC

Arafura Araluen Arnhem Barkly Blain Braitling Brennan Casuarina Daly Drysdale Fannie Bay Fong Lim Goyder Greatorex Johnston Karama Katherine Namatjira Nelson Nhulunbuy Nightcliff DarwinPort Sanderson Stuart Wanguri Total Alice Springs MVC 1 922 0 21 2 769 8 3 5 6 4 5 5 953 2 2 3 446 2 2 5 7 5 115 3 3 296 Alice Springs Airport 4 12 1 3 0 10 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 26 1 0 3 3 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 70 Casuarina 8 6 5 3 22 3 34 432 30 25 76 85 48 2 241 271 6 0 38 9 186 27 347 7 397 2 308 Darwin NTEC 9 5 7 4 56 6 87 111 68 62 388 247 83 10 165 109 3 1 96 14 165 474 115 5 106 2 396 Darwin Airport 0 0 1 1 10 0 7 4 5 3 12 6 9 0 13 8 3 0 3 0 16 18 10 0 3 132 Jabiru 104 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 2 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 116 Katherine 7 1 52 65 2 4 2 6 5 7 5 1 9 6 0 4 1451 2 5 3 7 1 3 201 1 1 850 Nhulunbuy 0 1 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 1 341 1 1 1 4 1 362 Palmerston 3 1 2 1 381 4 325 13 130 371 7 76 283 2 15 12 6 0 277 0 12 15 19 3 16 1 974 Tennant Creek 0 3 0 554 0 1 0 0 2 1 1 1 0 3 1 1 5 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 579 NT Sub-Total 136 952 71 652 474 797 465 571 248 476 494 423 438 1 004 440 409 1482 454 424 370 393 544 501 337 528 13 083 Adelaide 11 4 7 1 6 4 5 3 2 9 3 1 1 1 1 2 4 1 2 7 75 Brisbane 1 1 2 3 1 1 3 4 1 3 1 1 1 1 2 5 1 1 33 Canberra 2 1 3 1 1 1 9 Hobart 1 1 Melbourne 1 1 1 3 2 2 2 5 1 2 1 3 1 3 3 2 33 Perth 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 13 Sydney 1 1 3 4 1 2 1 1 1 4 2 21

Interstate Sub-Total 1 14 2 6 1 13 5 13 8 6 18 11 2 13 10 7 1 4 4 2 9 17 2 2 14 185 H APPENDIX Total 137 966 73 658 475 810 470 584 256 482 512 434 440 1 017 450 416 1483 458 428 372 402 561 503 339 542 13 268

99 APPENDIX I Early Voting Centre Locations within the NT and Canvassing Guidelines Imposed; Interstate Early Voting Centres

EVC Canvassing Guidelines Hours of Polling ALICE SPRINGS MyVote Central Outside the office on footpath. The area between the Mon 13 Aug 2012 to Fri 17 Aug 2012 - Suite 3, Yeperenye Centre, fixed rubbish bin and the steel grate on the footpath 8am to 4.30pm Gregory Terrace outside the entrance of the office is to remain clear. NTEC staff on site can identify the streetscape items. Mon 20 Aug 2012 to Thur 23 Aug 2012 - Note canvassing is not to encroach across other 8am to 4.30pm tenants’ shopfront windows. Fri 24 Aug 2012 - 8am to 6pm

Alice Springs Airport Due to airport security restrictions, no access is Wed 22 Aug 2012 to Fri 24 Aug 2012 - Santa Teresa Road available for candidate/party workers. 10am to 2pm Departure Lounge

CASUARINA 3/21 Vanderlin Drive Under cover inside the EVC reception area – no Mon 13 Aug 2012 to Fri 17 Aug 2012 - Casuarina external signage on fencing or building allowed by 8.30am to 4.30pm landlord. Candidate/party workers to provide own furniture which may be stored at the EVC overnight. Mon 20 Aug 2012 to Thur 23 Aug 2012 - 8.30am to 4.30pm Fri 24 Aug 2012 - 8.30am to 6pm DARWIN Level 2, TCG Centre Under cover in EVC reception area on 2nd floor – Mon 13 Aug 2012 to Fri 17 Aug 2012 - NTEC to provide on-site guidelines. No canvassing in 8am to 4.30pm 80 Mitchell Street foyer or under outside street canopy. Candidate/party Mon 20 Aug 2012 to Thur 23 Aug 2012 - Darwin workers to provide own furniture which may be stored at the EVC overnight. 8am to 4.30pm Fri 24 Aug 2012 - 8am to 6pm

Darwin International Airport Due to airport security restrictions, no access is 10pm Wed 22 Aug 2012 to Midnight Wed Henry Wrigley Drive available for candidate/party workers. 22 Aug 2012 Departure Lounge Midnight Wed 22 Aug 2012 - to 2am Thur 23 Aug 2012 10pm Thur 23 Aug 2012 to Midnight Thur 23 Aug 2012 Midnight Thu 23 Aug 2012 - to 2am Fri 24 Aug 2012 10pm Fri 24 Aug 2012 to Midnight Fri 24 Aug 2012 Midnight Fri 24 Aug 2012 - to 2am Sat 25 Aug 2012

JABIRU West Arnhem Shire Council Outside the Council Headquarters Fri 24 Aug 2012 - 8.30am to 6pm Office 13 Tasman Crescent KATHERINE 1st Floor, Government Outside the Government Centre on the footpath. Party Mon 13 Aug 2012 to Fri 17 Aug 2012 - Centre workers will need a permit from Katherine Town 8am to 4.30pm First Street Council to distribute handbills on the footpath. Party workers are asked not to obstruct pedestrian flow into Mon 20 Aug 2012 to Thur 23 Aug 2012 - the Government Centre. Election posters cannot be 8am to 4.30pm displayed on any KTC building, however election Fri 24 Aug 2012 - 8am to 6pm posters will be allowed in the grounds of KTC property on polling day

100 EVC Canvassing Guidelines Hours of Polling NHULUNBUY Regional Training Centre Nhulunbuy Town Corporation’s policy prohibits the Mon 13 Aug 2012 to Fri 17 Aug 2012 - placement of any election campaign signage 8am to 4.30pm DBE Office throughout its boundaries. DBE has a similar embargo Chesterfield Circuit on signage. NTEC signage is excepted. Mon 20 Aug 2012 to Thur 23 Aug 2012 - 8am to 4.30pm Fri 24 Aug 2012 - 8am to 6pm PALMERSTON Civic Plaza Under cover on the ground floor of Civic Plaza, Mon 13 Aug 2012 to Fri 17 Aug 2012 - Cnr University Ave and Chung provided council/landlord requirements are met and 8.30am to 4.30pm Wah Tce disturbance to normal business activities is minimised. No external signs on Council land including the car Mon 20 Aug 2012 to Thur 23 Aug 2012 - Polling location: Committee park. 8.30am to 4.30pm Room Fri 24 Aug 2012 - 8am to 6pm TENNANT CREEK Pyramid Centre No election poster is to be displayed on any Barkly Mon 13 Aug 2012 to Fri 17 Aug 2012 - Peko Road Shire Council building or in the grounds of any shire 8am to 4.30pm property. Mon 20 Aug 2012 to Thur 23 Aug 2012 - 8am to 4.30pm Fri 24 Aug 2012 - 8am to 6pm

Interstate Early Voting Centres

Interstate early voting centres operated during their normal business hours from Monday 13 August 2012 and ceased at 6pm on Friday 24 August 2012. Restrictions on canvassing were determined by the interstate jurisdiction and/or their building owners.

ADELAIDE MELBOURNE Electoral Commission SA VIC Electoral Commission Level 6 Level 11, 530 Collins Street 60 Light Square Ph: (03) 8620 1100 Ph 1300 655 232 Fax: (03) 9629 8632 Fax: (08) 7424 7444 BRISBANE PERTH Electoral Commission QLD WA Electoral Commission Level 6 Forestry House Level 2, 111 St Georges Terrace 160 Mary Street Ph: (08) 9214 0400 Ph: 1300 881 665 Fax: (08) 9226 0577 Fax: (07) 3229 7391 CANBERRA SYDNEY Elections ACT Electoral Commission NSW 41 Rae Street Level 25, 201 Kent Street Belconnen Ph: 1300 135 736 Ph: (02) 6205 0033 Fax: (02) 9290 5991 Fax: (02) 6205 0382 HOBART TAS Electoral Commission Level 2 Telstra Centre 70 Collins Street

Ph: 1800 801 701 Fax: (03) 6224 0217

101 APPENDIX J Mobile Polling – Ballot Papers Lodged by Polling Location 2008 and 2012 (including remote static polls)

2008 NTLA Election 2012 NTLA Election

Ballot Papers Ballot Papers Polling Location On Roll Ord Absent Dec Total On Roll Ord Absent Dec Total Acacia Hills 258 36 8 0 44

Acacia Larrakia 32 1 1 0 2 31 11 1 0 12 Adelaide River* 188 92 13 0 105 140 157 43 4 204 Alexandria Stn 13 3 0 0 3

Ali Curung* 239 126 6 10 142 304 120 9 1 130 Alice Springs Hospital 19 0 0 0 0

Alice Springs Prison 1 56 128 0 184

Alpurrurulam 281 135 7 2 144 270 137 19 1 157 Alroy Downs Stn 11 0 0 0 0

Alyangula* 423 268 53 8 329

Alyuen 35 13 2 0 15 14 23 0 0 23 Amanbidji 62 24 1 2 27 62 24 1 0 25 Amengernterneah 16 11 1 0 12

Amoonguna 159 63 4 1 68

Ampilatwatja 260 132 13 4 149

Angurugu 504 213 15 0 228

Ankerrapw 90 0 0 0 0

Anthelk-Ewlpaye 136 9 13 1 23

Arawerr 54 36 1 0 37

Areyonga 167 105 5 2 112

Arlparra 106 85 11 0 96

Artekerr 2 1 0 0 1

Artekerre

Atheley 25 18 1 0 19

Atitjere 91 57 1 1 59

Atneltyey 36 2 0 1 3

Atnwengerrpe 14 12 0 0 12

Avon Downs Stn 13 2 1 0 3

Badawarrka 13 7 0 0 7

Bagot 196 72 20 1 93

Balma 11 9 0 0 9

Baniyala 98 40 0 0 40 103 38 1 1 40 Banthula 32 8 0 0 8 16 10 0 0 10 Bark Hut Inn 0 3 0 0 3 1 2 1 0 3 Barkly Homestead 4 3 1 0 4 8 5 1 0 6 Barrak Barrak 12 0 0 0 0

Barrkira 11 0 0 0 0 15 12 0 1 13 Barunga 91 111 15 0 126 224 115 15 0 130 Belyuen 135 52 1 0 53 122 69 12 0 81 Beswick 297 121 1 2 124 357 166 15 0 181 Binjari 145 41 6 0 47 155 43 9 1 53 Birany Birany 23 28 0 2 30 26 34 2 4 40 Black Point 19 6 2 0 8 15 3 1 0 4

102 2008 NTLA Election 2012 NTLA Election

Ballot Papers Ballot Papers Polling Location On Roll Ord Absent Dec Total On Roll Ord Absent Dec Total Bolkdjam 0 0 0 0 0 15 15 0 1 16 Border Store 6 4 0 0 4 0 9 1 0 10 Borroloola* 415 221 11 2 234 356 225 25 3 253 Brunette Downs Stn 20 5 0 0 5

Bulgul 20 19 3 1 23 34 9 1 0 10 Bulla 68 22 3 1 26 77 42 6 0 48 Bulman 133 62 7 1 70

Buluhkaduru 46 3 0 1 4 28 3 0 0 3 Burt Creek 19 5 0 0 5

Buymarr 18 9 0 1 10 18 5 0 0 5 Camel Camp 21 22 3 0 25

Cannon Hill 15 11 1 2 14 15 0 0 0 0 Canteen Creek 91 47 3 5 55 106 66 12 1 79 Cape Crawford 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 3 Connells Lagoon 10 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 Cooinda 24 5 2 0 7 0 0 0 0

Corella Creek 20 9 1 10 23 18 1 0 19

Curtin Springs 7 3 0 0 3

Daguragu 131 86 0 3 89 125 91 4 0 95 Daly River 40 17 6 0 23 32 6 4 0 10 Daly Waters 5 3 1 0 4 8 5 0 0 5 Darwin Prison 0 240 6 246

Darwin Private Hospital 0 0 0 0

Dhalinybuy 46 11 0 3 14 59 25 2 1 28 Dhuruputjpi 22 9 0 0 9 22 11 2 0 13 Djarrung 8 1 0 0 1

Djirrbiyak 0 8 0 0 8

Donydji 25 7 0 0 7

Douglas Daly 23 13 1 0 14

Dundee Beach 158 51 8 0 59 118 73 11 0 84 Edith River 42 19 1 0 20

Elliott* 234 140 10 0 150 202 145 8 1 154 Emu Point 46 38 2 0 40 73 46 1 0 47 Engawala 82 36 4 0 40

Erldunda 3 0 1 0 1

Ewyenper-Atwatye 180 13 1 0 14 162 9 13 1 23 Finke 116 58 3 2 63

Galiwinku* 1 028 459 20 7 486 1 284 463 26 16 505 Galupa 31 3 0 0 3

Gamardi 34 0 0 0 0 20 3 1 1 5 Gamargawan 10 0 0 0 0

Gan Gan 77 32 0 2 34 80 27 0 0 27 Gapuwiyak 598 290 20 7 317

Garrthalala 29 12 1 2 15 40 40 1 0 41 Gawa 2 21 0 0 21

103 2008 NTLA Election 2012 NTLA Election

Ballot Papers Ballot Papers Polling Location On Roll Ord Absent Dec Total On Roll Ord Absent Dec Total Gilwi 24 3 1 4 30 4 0 0 4

Gochan Jiny-Jirra 42 22 0 2 24 28 17 0 1 18 Gulkula 0 93 175 6 274

Gumarrirnbang 14 10 0 0 10 14 5 0 0 5 Gunbalanya* 606 333 11 2 346 645 466 122 3 591 Gunyangara 127 31 7 0 38 140 62 6 4 72 Gurrumuru 27 14 0 2 16 32 24 0 0 24 Gutjangan 4 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 Haasts Bluff 112 65 1 2 68

Hermannsburg* 353 156 14 3 173

Hiway Inn 0 0 4 0 4

Ilperle-Tyathe 77 0

Imangara 53 35 0 0 35 41 27 1 1 29 Imanpa 120 42 1 0 43

Indaringinya 23 12 7 0 19

Inkawenyerre 30 19 0 0 19

Inkwelaye 31 11 0 0 11

Intjartnama 8 5 0 0 5

Irrerlirre 31 12 2 0 14

Irrultja 47 15 0 1 16

Iylentye 28 7 0 1 8

Ji-Balbal 0 1 0 0 1 11 7 1 0 8 Ji-Bena 10 1 0 0 1 9 8 0 2 10 Jilkminggan 165 55 0 0 55 210 57 5 0 62 Ji-Malawa 32 13 0 1 14 19 5 0 0 5 Ji-Marda 35 52 2 5 59 33 3 0 2 5 Jodetluk 32 12 0 0 12

Juninga Nursing Home 0 0 0 0 (Darwin) Kabulwarnamyo 0 22 2 0 24 6 4 1 0 5 Kakadu National Park HQ 13 8 0 0 8 61 9 0 0 9 Kalinjarri 15 1 0 1 2 15 3 0 0 3 Kalkarindji 257 125 4 18 147 568 61 2 2 65 Kaltukatjara 209 108 3 1 112

Kapalga 11 13 1 0 14 0 2 0 0 2 Kaporilya 7 11 0 0 11

Karnte 0 0 0 0

Katherine Hospital 18 8 7 0 15

Katherine Hostel (formerly 7 2 0 9 Red Cross Aged Care) Keep River 0 3 0 0 3

Kiana 29 8 0 0 8

Kiana Stn 0 5 1 0 6

King Ash Bay 63 46 2 0 48 58 30 2 0 32 Kings Canyon 3 0 0 3

Kings Creek Stn 3 0 0 0 0

Kintore 206 85 6 4 95

104 2008 NTLA Election 2012 NTLA Election

Ballot Papers Ballot Papers Polling Location On Roll Ord Absent Dec Total On Roll Ord Absent Dec Total Kolorbidahdah 14 2 0 0 2 13 5 0 2 7 Kulgera 5 0 2 1 3

Kulpitharra 14 0 0 0 0

Kumurrulu 0 2 0 0 2

Kurrurldul 0 0 0 0 0

Kurundi Stn 13 1 0 0 1

Kybrook Farm 74 34 0 0 34 60 28 4 0 32 Lajamanu* 461 130 4 0 134 436 180 12 0 192 Lake Bennett 58 11 0 0 11 50 2 1 0 3 Lake Nash Stn 4 1 0 0 1

Langarra 14 0

Laramba 177 62 3 0 65 167 116 3 4 123 Larapinta Valley 86 42 13 0 55 108 0 0 0 0 Larrimah 13 4 6 0 10

Lingara 21 17 1 0 18 14 11 1 0 12 Malgawa 4 3 0 0 3

Malkala 17 17 1 0 18

Mallapunyah Springs Stn 13 0 0 0 0

Malnjangarnak 17 0 0 0 0

Mamadawerre 36 20 0 2 22 38 11 0 0 11 Mamukala 5 5 0 1 6 7 2 0 0 2 Maningrida* 1 087 366 28 17 411 1 598 405 32 28 465 Mankorlod 8 4 0 0 4

Manmoyi 64 35 2 1 38 51 51 0 0 51 Manyallaluk 74 27 1 1 29 88 29 4 0 33 Mapuru 28 20 0 4 24 37 28 2 0 30 Mara 79 80 2 0 82 111 163 6 0 169 Marlinja 47 0 33 17 0 0 17

Marrakai 151 35 2 1 38

Marrkolidjban 50 5 0 0 5 47 5 0 0 5 Mata Mata 17 5 0 0 5 21 11 0 1 12 Mataranka 132 66 18 1 85 108 69 31 0 100 Mbunghara 20 15 2 0 17

McArthur River Mine 4 12 55 1 68

Menngen 31 8 3 0 11 40 16 0 0 16 Milikapiti 284 210 13 6 229 282 206 8 0 214 Milingimbi 688 244 19 8 271

Milyakburra 96 53 0 1 54

Minjilang 178 108 4 0 112 161 74 4 0 78 Minyerri 282 154 24 3 181 297 158 22 0 180 Mirrnatja 10 3 1 1 5

Mistake Creek 10 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 Mt Eaglebeak 15 8 0 0 8

Mt Liebig 296 63 0 11 74

Mt Nancy 58 21 4 2 27

105 2008 NTLA Election 2012 NTLA Election

Ballot Papers Ballot Papers Polling Location On Roll Ord Absent Dec Total On Roll Ord Absent Dec Total Mudginberri 22 8 0 1 9 27 11 8 0 19 Mulga Bore 59 27 2 0 29 54 8 0 3 11 Mulggan 36 29 29 2 60

Mumeka 35 5 0 0 5 28 14 3 1 18 Mungalawurru 16 4 0 0 4 16 3 0 0 3 Mungkarta 46 19 1 2 22 12 0 0 12

Munyalini 8 0 0 8

Murgenella 9 0 0 0 0

Mutitjulu 168 84 5 0 89

Myatt 56 3 0 1 4 64 25 2 0 27 Nadirri 13 0 0 0 0

Nauiyu 337 172 8 0 180 287 198 15 2 215 Nemarluk 10 0 0 0 0

Ngangalala 25 22 3 0 25

Nguiu* 969 653 21 2 676 968 663 21 1 685 Ngukurr* 690 327 20 5 352

Nightcliff Renal Unit

Ntakarra 5 0 0 0 0

Nturiya 81 24 6 0 30 93 18 4 1 23 Nulawan 7 3 0 10

Numbulwar 504 194 15 3 212

Nyewente 82 11 7 0 18

Nyirripi 149 55 5 6 66 180 91 0 12 103 Old Timers Hostel and Nursing Home (Alice 0 0 0 0

Springs) Orrtipa-Thurra 57 29 0 2 31

Palmerston Renal Unit

Palumpa 188 125 14 2 141 205 136 1 0 137 Papunya* 327 127 8 1 136

Patonga (Airstrip) 39 15 5 2 22 30 4 0 0 4 Pearl Retirement Resort 18 0 0 18

Peppimenarti 105 92 4 2 98 82 76 10 0 86 Pigeon Hole 78 42 0 0 42 62 40 19 0 59 Pine Creek* 134 96 54 0 150

Pirlangimpi 252 192 20 0 212 271 277 6 0 283 Pmara Jutunta 132 83 3 2 88 134 88 4 6 98 Pulka Pulkka Kari Nursing 12 2 0 14 Home (Tennant Creek) Pungalindum 30 15 0 0 15

Ramingining* 583 232 21 6 259

Raymangirr 52 8 2 2 12

Red Sandhill 8 5 0 0 5

Rittarangu 41 28 11 4 43

Robertson Barracks 819 181 276 15 472

Robinson River 145 79 1 1 81 127 76 4 0 80 Rockhampton Downs Stn 10 4 0 0 4

106 2008 NTLA Election 2012 NTLA Election

Ballot Papers Ballot Papers Polling Location On Roll Ord Absent Dec Total On Roll Ord Absent Dec Total Rockhole 86 40 7 0 47 88 41 2 0 43 Rocky Ridge Aged Care 0 0 0 0 Facilities Roper Bar 0 1 2 0 3

Rorruwuy 21 13 0 0 13 17 11 0 0 11 Royal Darwin Hospital 16 0 0 0 0

Rurrangala 10 8 0 0 8 11 5 1 0 6 Sand Palms Roadhouse 0 38 7 0 45 14 29 3 0 32 Santa Teresa 349 206 7 6 219

Soakage Bore 27 7 2 0 9

South Alligator 18 4 0 0 4 8 5 0 0 5 Spring Peak 6 3 0 0 3 5 0 0 0 0 Tanumbirini Stn 1 3 2 0 5

Tara 14 28 10 2 40 48 28 3 0 31 Tennant Creek Hospital 9 33 2 0 35

Tennant Creek Work Camp 6 27 0 33

Terrace Gardens Nursing 0 0 0 0 Home (Palmerston) Threeways 0 0 0 0

Ti Tree 142 81 12 1 94 111 73 17 7 97 Timber Creek 86 33 16 2 51 77 52 14 0 66 Tipperary Stn 28 11 4 0 15

Titjikala 155 74 3 2 79

Tiwi Gardens Aged Care 0 0 0 0 (Darwin) Tjuwanpa Resource centre 58 5 1 64

Tommyhawk Swamp 10 6 0 0 6

Top Springs 13 5 0 0 5 3 7 0 0 7 Tracey Aged Care 1 13 0 14

Ucharonidge Stn 11 6 1 0 7

Ukaka 24 0 0 0 0

Ulpanyali 21 6 0 0 6

Umbakumba 263 138 7 3 148

Undurana 9 1 0 0 1

Victoria River 4 3 5 3 11

Victoria River Downs Stn 11 2 0 0 2

Wadeye* 1 094 681 16 2 699 1 300 684 27 1 712 Wagait Beach 232 170 10 0 180 288 169 6 0 175 Walhallow Stn 0 7 2 0 9

Wallaby Beach 8 22 3 2 27

Wallace Rockhole 73 33 2 0 35

Wandangula 32 21 1 0 22

Wandawuy 44 11 0 0 11 45 23 1 1 25 Warlpiri Transient Camp 39 3 17 6 26

Warruwi 256 132 1 1 134 232 138 15 1 154 Wauchope 10 1 0 0 1 1 14 1 0 15 Weemol 71 7 6 1 14

107 2008 NTLA Election 2012 NTLA Election

Ballot Papers Ballot Papers Polling Location On Roll Ord Absent Dec Total On Roll Ord Absent Dec Total Werenbun 30 12 1 0 13 21 5 6 0 11 Werre-Therre 9 0 0 0 0

Willowra 195 20 3 0 23 188 102 4 4 110 Wilora 78 23 14 1 38 64 38 10 2 50 Wogyala 17 7 0 2 9

Wollogorang

Wollogorang Stn 11 4 3 0 7

Woodycupaldiya 41 19 2 0 21 40 23 0 0 23 Woolaning 18 13 3 0 16 33 15 0 0 15 Woolianna 6 18 4 1 23 17 30 0 0 30 Wudapuli 31 17 0 0 17 31 5 0 0 5 Wurankuwu 39 37 3 0 40 34 4 0 0 4 Wurdeja 0 0 0 0 0 9 4 0 0 4 Wutunugurra 138 91 1 9 101 146 72 6 0 78 Yanungbi 12 0

Yarralin 153 76 1 1 78 151 98 3 1 102 Yathalamarra 23 1 0 0 1

Yikarrakkal 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 Yilan 2 0 0 0 0

Yinyikay 0 4 0 0 4

Yirrkala* 550 253 10 8 271 571 343 13 5 361 Yuelamu 164 99 6 0 105 146 75 4 1 80 Yuendumu* 555 228 21 4 253 559 222 29 4 255 Totals: 16 999 8 324 819 187 9 330 27 790 13 418 1 918 267 15 603 * Remote Static Poll in 2012 In 2008 the Divisions of Arnhem and Macdonnell (Namatjira) did not proceed to poll

108 APPENDIX K Mobile Polling Schedule by Division

Division & Location Date Polling times Arafura Black Point Tuesday 21 August 2012 3pm - 3.30pm Bolkdjam - Community Wednesday 22 August 2012 8.15am - 9am Border Store Thursday 23 August 2012 10.15am - 11.15am Buluhkaduru - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 2pm - 3pm Cannon Hill - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 8.15am - 8.45am Cooinda - Gagudju Lodge Bistro Thursday 23 August 2012 5.15pm - 5.45pm Gamardi - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 11.45am - 12.15pm Gamargawan - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 10am - 10.30am Gochan Jiny-Jirra - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 9.45am - 10.30am Gumarrirnbang - Community Monday 20 August 2012 2.45pm - 3.15pm Gunbalanya - Shire Training Room Saturday 25 August 2012 8am - 6pm Ji-Balbal - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 12pm - 12.30pm Ji-Bena - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 8am - 8.30am Ji-Malawa - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 1.30pm - 2pm Ji-Marda - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 3.15pm - 4pm Kakadu National Park - HQ Office Wednesday 22 August 2012 1.30pm - 2.30pm Kapalga - Research Station Wednesday 22 August 2012 10am - 10.30am Kabulwarnamyo – Community Friday 24 August 2012 3.15pm - 3.45pm Kolorbidahdah - Community Friday 24 August 2012 8.30am - 9am Malgawa - Community Friday 24 August 2012 5pm - 5.30pm Mamukala - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 2.45pm - 3.15pm Mudginberri - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 12.45pm - 1.15pm Mamadawerre - Community Monday 20 August 2012 12.30pm - 1.30pm Maningrida - Youth Centre Saturday 25 August 2012 8am - 6pm Manmoyi - Community Monday 20 August 2012 4.45pm - 5.15pm Marrkolidjban - Community Wednesday 22 August 2012 11am - 12pm Milikapiti - Council Office Friday 24 August 2012 8.30am - 1.30pm Minjilang Wednesday 22 August 2012 8.30am - 1pm Mumeka - Community Wednesday 22 August 2012 1.30pm - 2.30pm Nguiu - Sport and Recreation Hall Saturday 25 August 2012 8am - 6pm Patonga (Airstrip) - Community Friday 24 August 2012 11am – 12 noon Pirlangimpi - Council Meeting Room Thursday 23 August 2012 8am - 1pm South Alligator - Ranger Station Wednesday 22 August 2012 11.30am - 12pm Spring Peak - Community Friday 24 August 2012 9am - 9.30am Warruwi - Community Hall Tuesday 21 August 2012 9.30am - 1pm Wurankuwu - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 2.30pm - 3.30pm Wurdeja - Community Friday 24 August 2012 1pm - 1.45pm Yikarrakkal - Community Friday 24 August 2012 10.30am - 11.15am Araluen *Alice Springs - Hospital Friday 24 August 2012 9.30am - 12.30pm Karnte Saturday 25 August 2012 12pm - 1.30pm Larapinta Valley Saturday 25 August 2012 9.30am - 11.30am *Old Timers Hostel and Nursing Home Thursday 23 August 2012 9.30am - 11.30am

109 Division & Location Date Polling times Arnhem Alyangula - School Saturday 25 August 2012 8am - 6pm Angurugu - Sport and Recreation Hall Friday 24 August 2012 9am - 2pm Balma - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 10.30am - 11am Bulman - Council Meeting Room Thursday 23 August 2012 1pm - 4.30pm Donydji - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 12.30pm - 1pm Gapuwiyak - Community Hall Thursday 23 August 2012 11.30am - 4.15pm Malkala - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 3.30pm - 4pm Milingimbi - Youth Centre Friday 24 August 2012 9.30am - 3pm Milyakburra - Council Meeting Room Wednesday 22 August 2012 3pm - 4.30pm Ngukurr - Shire Service Centre Saturday 25 August 2012 8am - 6pm Numbulwar - Council Meeting Room Wednesday 22 August 2012 9.30am - 1.30pm Mirrnatja - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 2.30pm - 3pm Ngangalala - Community Wednesday 22 August 2012 11.30am - 12.15pm Nulawan - Community Friday 24 August 2012 1pm - 1.30pm Ramingining - School Saturday 25 August 2012 8am - 6pm Raymangirr - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 9am - 10am Rittarangu - Community Friday 24 August 2012 9.30am - 10.30am Umbakumba - Libary Thursday 23 August 2012 9.30am - 12.30pm Weemol - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 10am - 11.30am Yathalamarra - Community Wednesday 22 August 2012 9.15am - 10am Braitling Anthelk-Ewlpaye - Community Saturday 25 August 2012 9.30am - 11.30am Mt Nancy Saturday 25 August 2012 12pm - 1.30pm Nyewente Saturday 25 August 2012 12pm - 1.30pm Barkly Ali Curung - Shire Service Centre Saturday 25 August 2012 8am - 6pm Alpurrurulam - Council Meeting Room Tuesday 21 August 2012 9.30am - 1.30pm Barkly Homestead - Verandah Monday 20 August 2012 4pm - 5pm Borroloola - Shire Service Centre Saturday 25 August 2012 8am - 6pm Canteen Creek - School Verandah Thursday 23 August 2012 11am - 12.30pm Cape Crawford - Verandah Monday 20 August 2012 5pm - 5.30pm Connells Lagoon - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 1pm - 1.45pm Corella Creek - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 10am - 11am Daly Waters - Hotel Verandah Saturday 18 August 2012 9.30am - 10am Elliott - Shire Service Centre Saturday 25 August 2012 8am - 6pm Imangara - Community Wednesday 22 August 2012 1pm - 2pm Jilkminggan - Council Meeting Room Friday 17 August 2012 3.15pm - 4.45pm Kalinjarri - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 3.30pm - 4pm Kiana - Store Wednesday 22 August 2012 9.30am - 10.30am King Ash Bay - Boat & Fishing Club Tuesday 21 August 2012 10.30am - 1.30pm Mara - Mabunji Admin Building Friday 24 August 2012 9am - 1pm Marlinja - Community Friday 24 August 2012 12pm - 3pm Minyerri - Council Meeting Room Friday 17 August 2012 8.30am - 11am Mungalawurru - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 9.30am - 10.15am Mungkarta - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 1.15pm - 2pm

110 Division & Location Date Polling times Munyalini - Bough Shed Thursday 23 August 2012 12.30pm - 1.30pm Robinson River - Council Office Wednesday 22 August 2012 12pm - 1pm Tanumbirini Station Monday 20 August 11.15am – 11.45am Tara - Community Friday 24 August 2012 9.45am - 11.45am *Tennant Creek – Pulka Pulkka Kari Nursing Home Wednesday 22 August 2012 1pm - 2pm *Tennant Creek - Hospital Wednesday 22 August 2012 10.30am - 12pm *Tennant Creek - Work Camp Wednesday 22 August 2012 3.15pm - 5pm Threeways - Verandah Wednesday 22 August 2012 8am - 8.30am Wandangula - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 9.15am - 10.15am Wauchope - Hotel Verandah Wednesday 22 August 2012 4.30pm - 5.30pm Wutunugurra - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 2.30pm - 4.30pm Brennan *Terrace Gardens Nursing Home Monday 20 August 2012 10.3am to 12 Noon Casuarina *Tiwi Gardens Aged Care Thursday 23 August 2012 3pm to 5pm *Darwin Private Hospital Friday 24 August 2012 8.30am to 10.30am *Royal Darwin Hospital Friday 24 August 2012 11.30am to 5pm Daly Acacia - Larrakia Community Friday 24 August 2012 9.30am - 10.30am Adelaide River - School Saturday 25 August 2012 8am - 6pm Bark Hut Inn - Roadhouse Verandah Monday 20 August 2012 9am - 9.30am Belyuen - Council Office Thursday 23 August 2012 10.30am - 2pm Bulgul - Community Friday 17 August 2012 1.15pm - 1.45pm Daly River - Store Wednesday 22 August 2012 9am - 9.30am Dundee Beach - Lodge Patio Thursday 16 August 2012 12.30pm - 3pm Emu Point - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 9.30am - 10.30am Lake Bennett - Community Monday 20 August 2012 2pm - 4pm Marrakai - Corroboree Park Tavern Monday 20 August 2012 11am - 12pm Nauiyu - NN Inc Boardroom Tuesday 21 August 2012 1.15pm - 4.15pm Palumpa - Resource Centre Friday 24 August 2012 10am - 12.30pm Peppimenarti - Women’s Centre Thursday 23 August 2012 1.15pm - 4.30pm Sand Palms - Roadhouse Thursday 16 August 2012 10.15am - 11am Wadeye - Sport and Recreation Hall Saturday 25 August 2012 8am - 6pm Wagait Beach - Council Office Thursday 23 August 2012 4pm - 7pm Woodycupaldiya - Resource Centre Wednesday 22 August 2012 12.30pm - 1.30pm Woolaning - Primary School Friday 17 August 2012 10.30am - 11.30am Woolianna - School Tuesday 21 August 2012 11am - 11.45am Wudapuli - Community Friday 24 August 2012 2pm - 2.30pm Fannie Bay *Pearl Retirement Resort Wednesday 22 August 2012 2pm to 4pm Fong Lim *Darwin Correction Centre Tuesday 21 August 2012 8.30am to 4pm Greatorex Ewyenper-Atwatye Saturday 25 August 2012 9.30am - 11.30am Katherine Binjari - Admin Building Wednesday 15 August 2012 12.30pm - 2pm

111 Division & Location Date Polling times *Katherine - Hospital Thursday 16 August 2012 1.30pm - 3.30pm *Katherine – Hostel (formerly Red Cross Aged Care) Thursday 16 August 2012 11am - 12 noon *Rocky Ridge Aged Care Facility Thursday 16 August 2012 8.30am - 9.30am Rockhole - Office Wednesday 15 August 2012 3.30pm - 4.30pm Namatjira *Alice Springs - Prison Monday 20 August 2012 10am - 4pm Amengernterneah - Clinic Wednesday 22 August 2012 1.30pm - 2.30pm Amoonguna - Community Hall Wednesday 15 August 2012 2.15pm - 5.15pm Ampilatwatja - Shire Service Centre Monday 20 August 2012 8am - 12pm Ankerrapw - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 10.45am - 11.45am Arawerr - Community Friday 24 August 2012 11am - 12pm Areyonga - Shire Service Centre Wednesday 22 August 2012 1.30pm - 4pm Arlparra - Store Thursday 23 August 2012 8am - 12pm Artekerr - Community Monday 20 August 2012 11.15am - 11.30am Atheley - Clinic Wednesday 22 August 2012 3.15pm - 4.15pm Atitjere - Council Office Friday 17 August 2012 8am - 10am Atneltyey - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 2.30pm - 3.30pm Atnwengerrpe - Community Monday 20 August 2012 1.45pm - 2.30pm Burt Creek - Community Monday 20 August 2012 9.15am - 9.45am Camel Camp - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 8.45am - 9.45am Curtin Springs - Roadhouse Verandah Thursday 16 August 2012 1.45pm - 2.15pm Erldunda - Roadhouse Verandah Wednesday 15 August 2012 3pm - 4pm Engawala - Community Hall Friday 17 August 2012 12.15pm - 2.15pm Finke - Community Thursday 16 August 2012 9am - 12.30pm Haasts Bluff - Shire Service Centre Thursday 23 August 2012 10am - 11.30am Hermannsburg - Pre-School Saturday 25 August 2012 8am - 6pm Imanpa - Council Office Thursday 16 August 2012 9am - 11.30am Indaringinya - School Verandah Wednesday 22 August 2012 9.15am - 10.15am Inkawenyerre - Community Wednesday 22 August 2012 11.30am - 12.30pm Inkwelaye - Community Friday 24 August 2012 9am - 10am Intjartnama - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 10.45am - 11am Irrerlirre - Community Wednesday 15 August 2012 12.30pm - 1.15pm Irrultja - Community Monday 20 August 2012 4pm - 5pm Iylentye - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 1pm - 2pm Kaltukatjara - Community Friday 17 August 2012 8.30am - 1pm Kaporilya - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 2.30pm - 2.45pm Kings Canyon - Resort Saturday 18 August 2012 8am - 9.30am Kings Creek Stn - Homestead Friday 17 August 2012 2.30pm - 3pm Kintore - Community Friday 17 August 2012 2.45pm - 5.30pm Kulgera - Roadhouse verandah Wednesday 15 August 2012 12pm - 1pm Kulpitharra - Community Wednesday 22 August 2012 9am - 9:30am Mbunghara - Bough Shed Thursday 16 August 2012 10.30am - 11.15am Mutitjulu - Anangu Jobs Complex Friday 17 August 2012 8am - 10.30am Mt Eaglebeak - Community Wednesday 15 August 2012 10. 30am - 11am Mt Liebig - Community Thursday 16 August 2012 2.15pm - 5pm Mt Liebig - Community Saturday 25 August 2012 10.30am - 2.30pm

112 Division & Location Date Polling times Ntakarra - Community Friday 24 August 2012 9.30am - 9.45am Orrtipa-Thurra - Community Thursday 16 August 2012 12.30pm - 1.30pm Papunya - Youth Recreation Hall Saturday 25 August 2012 8am - 6pm Pungalindum - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 4.30pm - 5.30pm Red Sandhill - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 12.30pm - 12.45pm Santa Teresa - Council Office Wednesday 15 August 2012 9.15am - 12.15pm Soakage Bore - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 3pm - 4pm Titjikala - Council Office Wednesday 15 August 2012 10am - 1pm Tjuwanpa - Resource Centre Thursday 23 August 2012 1.45pm - 3.45pm Tommyhawk Swamp - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 12.45pm - 1.15pm Ukaka - School Saturday 18 August 2012 11.30am - 12pm Ulpanyali - Community Friday 17 August 2012 4.30pm - 5pm Undurana - Community Wednesday 22 August 2012 11am - 11.15am Wallace Rockhole - Council Office Friday 24 August 2012 12pm - 2pm Werre-Therre - Community Monday 20 August 2012 1.15pm - 1.45pm Nelson *Robertson Barracks Wednesday 22 August 2012 11am to 2pm Nhulunbuy Baniyala - Community Wednesday 22 August 2012 1.15pm - 2:15pm Banthula - Community Friday 24 August 2012 9.30am - 10am Barrkira - Community Monday 20 August 2012 9am - 9.45am Birany Birany - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 12.45pm - 1.45pm Buymarr - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 9am - 9.30am Dhalinybuy - Community Monday 20 August 2012 1.15pm - 2.15pm Dhuruputjpi - Community Wednesday 22 August 2012 11.30am - 12pm Galiwinku - Training Centre Saturday 25 August 2012 8am - 6pm Gan Gan - Community Wednesday 22 August 2012 9.30am - 10.15am Garrthalala - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 11am - 11.30am Gawa - Community Friday 24 August 2012 11.30am - 12pm Gutjangan Thursday 23 August 2012 5.15pm - 5.45pm *Gove Hospital Friday 24 August 2012 4pm - 4.45pm Gutjangan - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 5.15pm - 5.45pm Gunyangara - Council Office Friday 24 August 2012 8.30am - 12.30pm Gurrumuru - Community Monday 20 August 2012 3.30pm - 4pm Mapuru - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 9:30am - 10am Mata Mata - Community Monday 20 August 2012 11.15am - 11.45am Rorruwuy - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 1.45pm - 2.15pm Rurrangala - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 11.45am - 12.15pm Wallaby Beach Friday 24 August 2012 2pm - 2.30pm Wandawuy - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 3pm - 4pm Yinyikay - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 3.30pm - 4pm Yirrkala - Church Hall Saturday 25 August 2012 8am - 6pm Nightcliff *Juninga Nursing home Thursday 23 August 2012 9.30am to 10.45am Port Darwin *Tracey Aged Care Wednesday 22 August 2012 9.30am to 11am

113 Division & Location Date Polling times Stuart Alyuen - Community Monday 20 August 2012 3.30pm - 4pm Amanbidji - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 11.30am - 12.30pm Barunga - Council Meeting Room Thursday 16 August 2012 9.30am - 12.30pm Beswick - Council Meeting Room Friday 17 August 2012 9.30am - 2pm Bulla - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 2pm - 3.30pm Daguragu - Recreation Hall Thursday 23 August 2012 8.30am - 12.30pm Gilwi - Community Monday 20 August 2012 3.30pm - 4pm Kalkarindji - Centrelink Office Thursday 23 August 2012 2pm - 4:30pm Kalkarindji - Centrelink Office Saturday 25 August 2012 10.15am - 2.15am Kybrook - Farm Council Office Wednesday 15 August 2012 9.30am - 12.30pm Lajamanu - Shire Service Centre Saturday 25 August 2012 8am - 6pm Laramba - Council Office Friday 24 August 2012 9.15am - 11.15am Lingara - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 1pm - 1.30pm Manyallaluk - Council Meeting Room Thursday 16 August 2012 2.30pm - 3.30pm Mataranka - Community Hall Thursday 23 August 2012 12.15pm - 2.15pm Menngen - Community Monday 20 August 2012 11.30am - 12pm Mistake Creek - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 9.30am - 10am Mulga Bore - Community Monday 20 August 2012 10.15am - 11.15am Mulggan - Community Thursday 23 August 2012 9.45am - 10.45am Myatt - Community Wednesday 22 August 2012 8.30am - 9.30am Nturiya - Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 11.45am - 1.15pm Nyirripi - Night Patrol Complex Thursday 16 August 2012 2.30pm - 5pm Pigeon Hole - School Verandah Wednesday 22 August 2012 11.30am - 1.30pm Pine Creek - Community Hall Saturday 25 August 2012 8am - 6pm Pmara - Jutunta Community Tuesday 21 August 2012 2.45pm - 5pm Timber Creek - Council Office Wednesday 22 August 2012 11am - 12pm Ti Tree - Council Office Thursday 23 August 2012 8.45am - 12.45pm Top Springs Monday 20 August 2012 6pm - 6.30pm Werenbun - Office Wednesday 15 August 2012 2.30pm - 3.30pm Willowra - Council Office Wednesday 22 August 2012 10am - 2pm Wilora - Council Office Tuesday 21 August 2012 8.15am - 9.45am Yuelamu - Council Office Friday 24 August 2012 1.30pm - 3.45pm Yuendumu - Shire Service Centre Saturday 25 August 2012 8am - 6pm Yarralin - Council Office Tuesday 21 August 2012 9.30am - 11.30am * Mobile polling location limited to class of voter e.g. an inpatient of a hospital or a prisoner in a correctional facility

114 APPENDIX L Static Polling Place Locations on Polling Day (8am-6pm)

Polling Place Polling Place Address Division Name

Adelaide River Adelaide River Primary School, Memorial Terrace, Adelaide River Daly Ali Curung * Shire Service Centre, Ali Curung Barkly Alyangula Alyangula Area School, Alyangula Arnhem Anula Anula Primary School, Yanyula Drive, Anula Sanderson Bakewell *Bakewell Primary School, 5 Hutchison Terrace, Bakewell Brennan Batchelor * Batchelor Area School, 71 Kirra Cres, Batchelor Daly Bayview Bayview Marina Office, Bayview Drive, Bayview Fong Lim Bees Creek * Bees Creek Primary School, Lot 3940 Sattlers Crescent, Bees Creek Goyder Berrimah (Fong Lim) * Kormilda College, Berrimah Road, Berrimah Fong Lim Berrimah (Nelson) * Kormilda College, Berrimah Road, Berrimah Nelson Berry Springs * Berry Springs Primary School, 1150 Cox Peninsula Road, Berry Springs Daly Borroloola * Shire Service Centre, Borroloola Barkly Braitling * Braitling Primary School, Head Street, Braitling Braitling Darwin City * St Mary's Catholic School, Lindsey Street, Darwin Port Darwin Driver Driver Primary School, Driver Avenue, Driver Drysdale Durack ! Durack Primary School, 50 Woodlake Blvd, Durack Drysdale Elliott Shire Service Centre, Elliott Browne Street, Elliott Barkly Farrar ! Palmerston Community Care Centre, Cnr Roystonea & Temple Terrace, Farrar Brennan Galiwinku * Training Centre, Galiwinku Nhulunbuy Gillen ! Gillen Primary School, Milner Road, Gillen Araluen Girraween Girraween Primary School, 25 Carruth Road Nelson Gray Gray Primary School, Victoria Drive, Gray Drysdale Gunbalanya Gunbalanya Community School, Gunbalanya Arafura Hermannsburg ! Hermannsburg Pre School, Hermannsburg (Ntaria) Namatjira Howard Springs ! Howard Springs Hall, Whitewood Road, Howard Springs Nelson Humpty Doo * Taminmin College, Challoner Circuit, Humpty Doo Goyder Jabiru !Jabiru Youth Centre 10 Gregory Place, Jabiru Arafura Karama * O'Loughlin Catholic College, Mueller Road, Karama Karama Katherine * Katherine Civic Centre, Stuart Highway, Katherine Katherine Katherine East * MacFarlane Pre-School, Grevillea Road, Katherine East Katherine Lajamanu * Central Desert Shire Learning Centre, Lajamanu Stuart Larapinta * Living Waters Lutheran School, Albrecht Drive, Larapinta Braitling Larrakeyah * Larrakeyah Pre-School, 3 Packard Street, Larrakeyah Port Darwin Leanyer * Leanyer Pre School, Leanyer Drive, Leanyer Wanguri Ludmilla * Ludmilla Primary School, Bagot Road, Ludmilla Fong Lim

115 Polling Place Polling Place Address Division Name

Maningrida Youth Centre Maningrida Arafura Manunda Terrace !Manunda Terrace Primary School, 31 Manunda Terrace, Karama Karama Marlow Lagoon Palmerston Christian School, 50 Whaler Road, Marlow Lagoon Fong Lim Millner * Millner Primary School, Sabine Road, Millner Johnston Moil * Moil Primary School, Moil Crescent, Moil Johnston Moulden Park Moulden Park Primary School, 103 Bonson Terrace, Moulden Blain Nakara * Nakara Primary School, Goodman Street, Nakara Casuarina Nguiu * Sport and Recreation Hall, Nguiu (Wurrumiyanga) Arafura Ngukurr Shire Service Centre Ngukurr Arnhem Nhulunbuy Nhulunbuy Primary School, Chesterfield Circuit, Nhulunbuy Nhulunbuy Nightcliff !Nightcliff Middle School, Aralia Street, Nightcliff Nightcliff Papunya * Papunya Recreation Hall, Papunya Namatjira Parap * Parap Primary School, Cnr Urqhart Street & Ross Smith Avenue, Parap Fannie Bay Pine Creek Pine Creek Community Hall, 55 Moule Street, Pine Creek Stuart Pioneer Park ! Alice Springs Pioneer Park Pioneer Park Racecourse, South Stuart Highway, Alice Springs Araluen (Araluen) Pioneer Park ! Alice Springs Pioneer Park Pioneer Park Racecourse, South Stuart Highway, Alice Springs Greatorex (Greatorex) Ramingining * Ramingining School, Ramingining Arnhem Rosebery (Blain) ! Rosebery Middle School, Cnr Belyuen Road & Forrest Parade, Rosebery Blain Rosebery (Brennan) ! Rosebery Middle School, Cnr Belyuen Road & Forrest Parade, Rosebery Brennan Sadadeen * Centralian Senior College, Grevillea Drive, Sadadeen Greatorex Stuart Park Stuart Park Primary School, Cnr Nudl & Ashley Streets, Stuart Park Fannie Bay Tennant Creek !Tennant Creek Civic Hall, Peko Road, Tennant Creek Barkly Tindal *Tindal Community Hall, Tindal RAAF Katherine Tiwi Dripstone Middle School, Delamere Street Tiwi Casuarina Wadeye * Sport and Recreation Hall, Wadeye Daly Wagaman Wagaman Primary School, Wagaman Terrace, Wagaman Sanderson Wanguri *Wanguri Primary School Wanguri Terrace, Wanguri Wanguri Woodroffe * Sacred Heart Primary School, 34 Emery Ave, Woodroffe Blain Wulagi Wulagi Primary School Brolga Street, Wulagi Sanderson Yirrkala Yirrkala Community Church, Yirrkala Nhulunbuy Yuendumu * Central Desert Shire Council, Yuendumu Stuart Yulara * Yulara Primary School Winmati Street, Yulara Namatjira Wheelchair Access: * Partial ! Full

116 APPENDIX M Declaration Votes by Type

Declaration Votes Declaration Total Absent Early Division (Unenrolled) No. % No. % No. % No. Arafura 281 64.7 137 31.6 16 3.7 434 Araluen 348 26.3 966 73.1 8 0.6 1 322 Arnhem 271 76.1 73 20.5 12 3.4 356 Barkly 290 30.2 658 68.6 11 1.1 959 Blain 557 53.6 475 45.7 7 0.7 1 039 Braitling 462 36.2 810 63.5 3 0.2 1 275 Brennan 528 52.6 470 46.8 6 0.6 1 004 Casuarina 600 50.4 584 49.1 6 0.5 1 190 Daly 554 67.9 256 31.4 6 0.7 816 Drysdale 755 60.8 482 38.8 4 0.3 1 241 Fannie Bay 384 42.3 512 56.4 12 1.3 908 Fong Lim 920 67.8 434 32.0 2 0.1 1 356 Goyder 494 52.4 440 46.7 9 1.0 943 Greatorex 329 24.4 1 017 75.6 0 0.0 1 346 Johnston 520 53.1 450 45.9 10 1.0 980 Karama 354 45.4 416 53.3 10 1.3 780 Katherine 211 12.3 1 483 86.5 20 1.2 1 714 Namatjira 250 34.7 458 63.6 12 1.7 720 Nelson 524 54.7 428 44.7 6 0.6 958 Nhulunbuy 159 28.9 372 67.6 19 3.5 550 Nightcliff 422 51.0 402 48.6 4 0.5 828 Port Darwin 570 50.1 561 49.3 6 0.5 1 137 Sanderson 529 50.9 503 48.4 7 0.7 1 039 Stuart 393 52.3 339 45.1 19 2.5 751 Wanguri 290 34.6 542 64.7 6 0.7 838 Total 10 995 38.9 13268 54.2 221 0.9 24 484

117 APPENDIX N Unenrolled Declaration Envelope Details by Division

No. Envelopes No. Envelopes Rejected at Preliminary Scrutiny

Division Admitted to Not Found Enrolled Other No Elector Total Lodged Scrutiny on Roll Divisions Signature Rejected

Arafura 71 16 51 0 4 55 Araluen 41 8 29 4 0 33 Arnhem 51 12 37 1 1 39 Barkly 29 11 18 0 0 18 Blain 96 7 87 0 2 89 Braitling 50 3 40 4 3 47 Brennan 88 6 80 2 0 82 Casuarina 69 6 60 2 1 63 Daly 50 6 42 2 0 44 Drysdale 90 4 82 4 0 86 Fannie Bay 81 12 66 2 1 69 Fong Lim 81 2 79 0 0 79 Goyder 61 9 52 0 0 52 Greatorex 28 0 28 0 0 28 Johnston 62 10 50 2 0 52 Karama 78 10 60 6 2 68 Katherine 98 20 70 5 3 78 Namatjira 92 12 77 3 0 80 Nelson 96 6 86 2 2 90 Nhulunbuy 81 19 56 5 1 62 Nightcliff 74 4 68 2 0 70 Port Darwin 58 6 51 0 1 52 Sanderson 62 7 54 1 0 55 Stuart 79 19 53 6 1 60 Wanguri 66 6 52 8 0 60

Total 1 732 221 1 428 61 22 1 511

118 APPENDIX O Elector Turnout by Ballot Papers Counted

Formal Ballot Papers Informal Ballot Papers Electors Voting Division Name On Roll No. % No. % No. % on Roll Arafura 5 477 3 032 95.3 148 4.7 3 180 58.1 Araluen 4 817 3 620 96.4 137 3.6 3 757 78.0 Arnhem 4 902 2 468 97.0 76 3.0 2 544 51.9 Barkly 5 137 3 210 96.3 122 3.7 3 332 64.9 Blain 4 980 3 999 96.6 142 3.4 4 141 83.2 Braitling 4 687 3 510 97.6 88 2.4 3 598 76.8 Brennan 5 061 4 176 97.7 99 2.3 4 275 84.5 Casuarina 5 031 4 236 97.9 89 2.1 4 325 86.0 Daly 5 329 3 701 94.5 214 5.5 3 915 73.5 Drysdale 5 178 4 135 96.8 137 3.2 4 272 82.5 Fannie Bay 4 879 3 987 97.3 109 2.7 4 096 84.0 Fong Lim 4 883 3 761 97.0 116 3.0 3 877 79.4 Goyder 5 323 4 391 96.9 142 3.1 4 533 85.2 Greatorex 4 606 3 514 97.3 99 2.7 3 613 78.4 Johnston 4 879 3 998 96.2 160 3.8 4 158 85.2 Karama 4 713 3 935 96.4 145 3.6 4 080 86.6 Katherine 5 174 4 130 98.2 77 1.8 4 207 81.3 Namatjira 5 127 2 924 95.3 143 4.7 3 067 59.8 Nelson 4 715 3 679 98.1 72 1.9 3 751 79.6 Nhulunbuy 4 719 2 824 95.4 136 4.6 2 960 62.7 Nightcliff! 4 797 3 894 96.7 131 3.3 4 025 83.9 Port Darwin 4 730 3 646 97.4 96 2.6 3 742 79.1 Sanderson 5 100 4 352 97.1 132 2.9 4 484 87.9 Stuart 4 706 2 782 94.1 176 5.9 2 958 62.9 Wanguri 4 855 4 239 98.0 86 2.0 4 325 89.1 Total 123 805 92 143 96.8 3 072 3.2 95 215 76.9

119 APPENDIX P (i) Informal Ballot Papers at LA Elections 2008 – 2012

2008 2012*

Assumed Assumed Assumed Assumed Division Intentional Unintentional Intentional Unintentional Type Informality Informality Informality Informality

No. % No. % Total No. % No. % Total No. Candidates No. Candidates

Rural/Remote 23 357 37.8 588 62.2 945 30 430 35.0 799 65.0 1 220

Urban 43 1 568 63.7 895 36.3 2 463 56 1 195 64.8 648 35.2 1 843

Total 66 1 925 56.5 1 483 43.5 3 408 86 1 625 52.9 1 447 47.1 3 072

* Savings device introduced. or  could be taken as formal provided other formality criteria met.

(ii) Informal Ballot Papers at LA Elections 2008 - 2012: Rural/Remote Divisions

2008 2012*

Assumed Assumed Assumed Assumed Divisions Intentional Unintentional Intentional Unintentional Informality Informality Informality Informality

No. % No. % Total No. % No. % Total No. Candidates No. Candidates Arafura 4 38 21.2 141 78.8 179 4 38 25.7 110 74.3 148

Arnhem 1 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 2 59 77.6 17 22.4 76

Barkly 4 46 31.9 98 68.1 144 4 34 27.9 88 72.1 122

Daly 4 52 32.1 110 67.9 162 5 52 24.3 162 75.7 214

Goyder 2 94 55.6 75 44.4 169 3 100 70.4 42 29.6 142

Macdonnell/Namatjira 1 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 3 40 28.0 103 72.0 143

Nelson 3 45 54.9 37 45.1 82 3 44 62.0 27 38.0 71

Nhulunbuy 2 44 42.7 59 57.3 103 3 31 22.1 106 77.9 136

Stuart 2 38 35.8 68 64.2 106 3 32 18.2 144 81.8 176

Total 23 357 37.8 588 62.2 945 30 430 35.0 799 65.0 1 220

* Savings device introduced. or  could be taken as formal provided other formality criteria met.

120 (iii) Informal Ballot Papers at LA Elections 2008 - 2012: Urban Divisions

2008 2012*

Apparent Assumed Assumed Assumed Divisions Intentional Unintentional Intentional Unintentional Informality Informality Informality Informality

No. Candidates No. % No. % Total No. Candidates No. % No. % Total Araluen 3 60 66.7 30 33.3 90 3 99 72.3 38 27.7 137 Blain 2 119 60.1 79 39.9 198 3 82 57.7 60 42.3 142 Braitling 4 78 75.7 25 24.3 103 4 63 71.6 25 28.4 88 Brennan 2 107 62.9 63 37.1 170 2 90 90.9 9 9.1 99 Casuarina 2 119 59.8 80 37.1 199 2 85 95.5 4 4.5 89 Drysdale 3 100 74.1 35 25.9 135 3 77 56.2 60 43.8 137 Fannie Bay 2 126 62.1 77 37.9 203 3 68 62.4 41 37.6 109 Fong Lim 2 100 52.4 91 47.6 191 4 57 49.1 59 50.9 116 Greatorex 3 61 68.5 28 31.5 89 4 77 77.8 22 22.2 99 Johnston 2 109 52.9 97 47.1 206 5 100 62.5 60 37.5 160 Karama 4 110 65.9 57 34.1 167 3 91 62.8 54 37.2 145 Katherine 3 95 75.4 31 24.6 126 3 49 63.6 28 36.4 77 Nightcliff 3 69 54.9 50 42.0 119 7 67 51.1 64 48.9 131 Port Darwin 2 76 72.4 29 27.6 105 4 44 45.8 52 54.2 96 Sanderson 2 154 62.3 93 37.7 247 4 69 52.3 63 47.7 132 Wanguri 4 85 73.9 30 26.1 115 2 77 89.5 9 10.5 86

Total 43 1 568 63.7 895 36.3 2 463 56 1 195 64.8 648 35.2 1 843

* Savings device introduced. or  could be taken as formal provided other formality criteria met.

121 Informal Ballot Papers Rural/Remote Divisions (9)

Assumed intentional informality Assumed unintentional informality Division Only Numbering   or or

  Preferences+ No. No. Candidates Blank Scribble the same All Other Sub-Total preference1st Duplicated Non-sequential Incomplete Illegible Signed used Alpha errorAdmin Sub-Total Total Arafura 4 11 2 23 2 38 21 18 8 13 21 25 4 0 0 0 110 148 % 7.4 1.4 15.5 1.4 25.7 14.2 12.2 5.4 8.8 14.2 16.9 2.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 74.3 Arnhem 2 5 4 25 25 59 0 1 0 0 8 6 0 0 0 2 17 76 % 6.6 5.3 32.9 32.9 77.6 0.0 1.3 0.0 0.0 10.5 7.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.6 22.4 Barkly 4 20 4 7 3 34 6 13 4 5 40 20 0 0 0 0 88 122 % 16.4 3.3 5.7 2.5 27.9 4.9 10.7 3.3 4.1 32.8 16.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 72.1 Daly 5 28 9 15 0 52 32 19 6 15 62 25 1 0 0 2 162 214 % 13.1 4.2 7.0 0.0 24.3 15.0 8.9 2.8 7.0 29.0 11.7 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.9 75.7 Goyder 3 59 8 29 4 100 14 12 4 1 9 1 0 0 0 1 42 142 % 41.5 5.6 20.4 2.8 70.4 9.9 8.5 2.8 0.7 6.3 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 29.6 Namatjira 3 16 0 24 0 40 54 10 0 0 37 1 0 0 0 1 103 143 % 11.2 0.0 16.8 0.0 28.0 37.8 7.0 0.0 0.0 25.9 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 72.0 Nelson 3 22 8 14 1 45 4 15 4 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 27 72 % 30.6 11.1 19.4 1.4 62.5 5.6 20.8 5.6 2.8 2.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 37.5 Nhulunbuy 3 5 6 19 0 30 62 12 0 6 14 12 0 0 0 0 106 136 % 3.7 4.4 14.0 0.0 22.1 45.6 8.8 0.0 4.4 10.3 8.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 77.9 Stuart 3 8 2 22 0 32 71 25 5 15 19 9 0 0 0 0 144 176 % 4.5 1.1 12.5 0.0 18.2 40.3 14.2 2.8 8.5 10.8 5.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 81.8 TOTAL 174 43 178 35 430 264 125 31 57 212 99 5 0 0 6 799 1229 % 14.2 3.5 14.5 2.8 35.0 21.5 10.2 2.5 4.6 17.2 8.1 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.5 65.0 APPENDIX Q(i)

122 Informal Ballot Papers Urban Divisions (16)

Assumed intentional informality Assumed unintentional informality Division Only Numbering   or or

  Preferences+ No. No. Candidates Blank Scribble the same All Other Sub-Total preference1st Duplicated Non-sequential Incomplete Illegible Signed used Alpha errorAdmin Sub-Total Total Araluen 3 57 0 41 1 99 6 2 8 0 10 9 3 0 0 0 38 137 % 41.6 0.0 29.9 0.7 72.3 4.4 1.5 5.8 0.0 7.3 6.6 2.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 27.7 Blain 3 45 7 23 7 82 12 22 1 1 8 11 0 0 1 4 60 142 % 31.7 4.9 16.2 4.9 57.7 8.5 15.5 0.7 0.7 5.6 7.7 0.0 0.0 0.7 2.8 42.3 Braitling 0 30 0 31 2 63 8 2 4 0 10 1 0 0 0 0 25 88 % 34.1 0.0 35.2 2.3 71.6 9.1 2.3 4.5 0.0 11.4 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 28.4 Brennan 2 52 11 20 7 90 0 1 0 0 2 6 0 0 0 0 9 99 % 52.5 11.1 20.2 7.1 90.9 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 6.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 9.1 Casuarina 2 40 11 32 2 85 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 1 4 89 % 44.9 12.4 36.0 2.2 95.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.2 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.1 4.5 Drysdale 3 47 7 21 2 77 15 37 0 2 3 0 0 1 0 2 60 137 % 34.3 5.1 15.3 1.5 56.2 10.9 27.0 0.0 1.5 2.2 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.0 1.5 43.8 Fannie Bay 3 35 11 20 2 68 12 22 0 2 3 2 0 0 0 0 41 109 % 32.1 10.1 18.3 1.8 62.4 11.0 20.2 0.0 1.8 2.8 1.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 37.6 Fong Lim 4 29 12 15 1 57 9 13 4 1 8 16 2 0 0 6 59 116 % 25.0 10.3 12.9 0.9 49.1 7.8 11.2 3.4 0.9 6.9 13.8 1.7 0.0 0.0 5.2 50.9 Greatorex 0 46 1 29 1 77 7 5 0 2 8 0 0 0 0 22 99 % 46.5 1.0 29.3 1.0 77.8 7.1 5.1 0.0 0.0 2.0 8.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 22.2 Johnston 5 51 20 27 2 100 8 12 8 8 13 9 1 0 0 1 60 160 % 31.9 12.5 16.9 1.3 62.5 5.0 7.5 5.0 5.0 8.1 5.6 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.6 37.5

Karama 3 43 11 35 2 91 20 26 1 1 4 1 0 0 1 0 54 145 APPENDIX Q(ii) % 29.7 7.6 24.1 1.4 62.8 13.8 17.9 0.7 0.7 2.8 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.0 37.2

123 Assumed intentional informality Assumed unintentional informality Division Only Numbering   or or

+ Preferences+   No. No. Candidates Blank Scribble the same All Other Sub-Total preference1st Duplicated Non-sequential Incomplete Illegible Signed used Alpha errorAdmin Sub-Total Total Katherine 3 22 10 16 1 49 8 8 0 0 8 0 0 0 1 3 28 77 % 28.6 13.0 20.8 1.3 63.6 10.4 10.4 0.0 0.0 10.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.3 3.9 36.4 Nightcliff 7 39 13 15 0 67 24 6 4 7 5 14 1 0 0 3 64 131 % 29.8 9.9 11.5 0.0 51.1 18.3 4.6 3.1 5.3 3.8 10.7 0.8 0.0 0.0 2.3 48.9 Port Darwin 4 31 4 9 0 44 14 16 2 2 8 8 0 0 0 2 52 96 % 32.3 4.2 9.4 0.0 45.8 14.6 16.7 2.1 2.1 8.3 8.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.1 54.2 Sanderson 4 30 11 27 1 69 10 19 1 5 10 14 0 0 0 4 63 132 % 22.7 8.3 20.5 0.8 52.3 7.6 14.4 0.8 3.8 7.6 10.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.0 47.7 Wanguri 2 46 6 20 5 77 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 4 9 86 % 53.5 7.0 23.3 5.8 89.5 2.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.3 1.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.7 10.5 TOTAL 643 135 381 36 1195 155 191 33 29 98 101 7 1 3 30 648 1843 % 34.9 7.3 20.7 2.0 64.8 8.4 10.4 1.8 1.6 5.3 5.5 0.4 0.1 0.2 1.6 35.2

124 APPENDIX R Informal Rate per Division by Vote Type

Ordinary Votes Absent Declaration Early Postal All Vote Division Static Mobiles Votes Votes Votes Votes Types % % % % % % % Arafura 4.4 4.0 7.5 11.5 11.8 4.2 4.7 Araluen 3.5 5.5 5.2 0.0 3.9 0.9 3.6 Arnhem 2.5 3.1 4.1 0.0 6.7 0.0 3.0 Barkly 3.9 3.3 5.5 3.4 4.7 1.7 3.7 Blain 3.2 0.0 4.8 0.0 3.8 2.2 3.4 Braitling 2.2 6.8 2.4 0.0 3.3 0.0 2.4 Brennan 2.4 0.0 2.7 8.3 5.5 1.9 2.3 Casuarina 2.2 0.0 2.5 0.0 4.7 1.8 2.1 Daly 6.1 5.6 6.0 8.7 4.2 1.2 5.5 Drysdale 2.9 0.0 5.0 4.5 6.6 0.6 3.2 Fannie Bay 2.8 11.1 1.6 9.7 3.0 1.0 2.7 Fong Lim 3.3 0.0 3.0 4.5 2.5 0.0 3.0 Goyder 3.5 0.0 2.8 0.0 9.6 1.0 3.1 Greatorex 2.4 11.1 2.7 0.0 6.3 0.0 2.7 Johnston 3.9 0.0 5.0 6.1 1.6 5.8 3.8 Karama 3.9 0.0 2.8 4.5 2.3 1.4 3.6 Katherine 2.2 3.0 2.4 0.0 1.0 3.3 1.8 Namatjira 7.3 4.0 5.2 3.4 4.7 1.9 4.7 Nelson 1.9 1.7 1.3 4.8 7.0 3.7 1.9 Nhulunbuy 4.0 10.1 6.9 8.8 4.4 0.0 4.6 Nightcliff 3.4 0.0 4.5 0.0 1.8 1.1 3.3 Port Darwin 3.2 0.0 4.2 0.0 1.7 2.9 2.6 Sanderson 2.9 0.0 5.1 0.0 1.8 1.3 2.9 Stuart 7.2 6.2 4.8 9.0 18.4 1.3 5.9 Wanguri 1.6 0.0 3.1 0.0 12.2 1.9 2.0

125 APPENDIX S Two Candidate Preferred (2CP) Full Distribution Margin

% of 2CP Votes

Division Name CLP ALP IND Margin

Arafura 51.0 49.0 1.0

Araluen 72.2 27.8 22.2

Arnhem 55.3 44.7 5.3

Barkly 42.4 57.6 7.6

Blain 63.2 36.8 13.2

Braitling 73.6 26.4 23.6

Brennan 64.2 35.8 14.2

Casuarina 40.7 59.3 9.3

Daly 54.7 45.3 4.7

Drysdale 65.3 34.7 15.3

Fannie Bay 43.2 56.8 6.8

Fong Lim 57.3 42.7 7.3

Goyder 66.7 33.3 16.7

Greatorex 64.8 35.2 14.8

Johnston 44.3 55.7 5.7

Karama 43.6 56.4 6.4

Katherine 72.3 27.7 22.3

Namatjira 68.6 31.4 18.6

Nelson 40.8 59.2 9.2

Nhulunbuy 31.0 69.0 19.0

Nightcliff 40.8 59.2 9.2

Port Darwin 59.6 40.4 9.6

Sanderson 53.1 46.9 3.1

Stuart 53.5 46.5 3.5

Wanguri 43.0 57.0 7.0

126 APPENDIX T Swing-to Lose (%) after 2012 Election

CLP (16) Non-CLP [ALP & IND] (9)

Braitling 23.7

Katherine 22.4

Araluen 22.3

20%

19.1 Nhulunbuy

Namatjira 18.7

Goyder 16.8

Drysdale 15.4 15%

Greatorex 14.9

Brennan 14.3

Blain 13.3

10%

Safe > Safe 10%

Port Darwin 9.7 9.4 Casuarina

9.3 Nightcliff

9.3 Nelson

10% 10% 7.7 Barkly - Fong Lim 7.4 7.1 Wanguri

6.9 Fannie Bay

Fairly safe 6 safe Fairly 6.5 Karama

Arnhem 5.4 5% 5.8 Johnston

Daly 4.8

Stuart 3.6

Sanderson 3.2

5.99% -

Arafura 1.1

Marginal 0 Marginal 0%

127 APPENDIX U Two Party Preferred Count by Division

ALP CLP Division Candidate Votes % Candidate Votes % Arafura Rioli 1 488 49.0 Xavier 1 548 51.0 Araluen Findlay 1 008 27.8 Lambley 2 612 72.2 Arnhem McCarthy M 1 102 44.7 Lee 1 366 55.3 Barkly McCarthy G 1 849 57.6 Healy 1 361 42.4 Blain Bahnert 1 470 36.8 Mills 2 529 63.2 Braitling Rock 918 26.2 Giles 2 592 73.8 Brennan Jeffrey 1 493 35.8 Chandler 2 683 64.2 Casuarina Vatskalis 2 512 59.3 Johnson 1 724 40.7 Daly Knight 1 679 45.4 Higgins 2 022 54.6 Drysdale Burke 1 431 34.6 Finocchiaro 2 704 65.3 Fannie Bay Gunner 2 263 56.8 Clementson 1 724 43.2 Fong Lim Marsh 1 607 42.7 Tollner 2 154 57.3 Goyder Smith 1 462 33.3 Purick 2 929 66.7 Greatorex Foley 1 236 35.2 Conlan 2 278 64.8 Johnston Vowles 2 224 55.6 Sangster 1 774 44.4 Karama Lawrie 2 219 56.4 Kelly 1 716 43.6 Katherine King 1 146 27.7 Westra van Holthe 2 984 72.3 Namatjira Rogers 918 31.4 Anderson 2 006 68.6 Nelson* McAlear 1 203 32.7 Cole 2 477 67.3 Nhulunbuy Walker 1 948 69.0 Fanning 876 31.0 Nightcliff Fyles 2 301 59.1 Loveday 1 592 40.9 Port Darwin James 1 471 40.3 Elferink 2 175 59.7 Sanderson Green 2 041 46.9 Styles 2 311 53.1 Stuart Hampton 1 297 46.6 Price 1 484 53.4 Wanguri Henderson 2 416 57.0 Harker 1 823 43.0 * Not final result

128 First Preference Votes by Division and Affiliation

Affiliation Ballot Papers Counted Division No No. on Roll Region ALP ASX CLP FNPP GRN IND Formal Informal Total Affiliation Arafura 1 104 1 308 194 426 3 032 148 3 180 5 477 Remote 0 0 Araluen 848 2 487 285 3 620 137 3 757 4 817 Urban 0 0 Arnhem 1 102 1 366 2 468 76 2 544 4 902 Remote 0 0 Barkly 1 450 1 162 467 3 210 122 3 332 5 137 Remote 131 0 Blain 1 343 2 462 194 3 999 142 4 141 4 980 Urban 0 0 Braitling 613 2 372 321 3 510 88 3 598 4 687 Urban 204 0 Brennan 1 493 2 683 4 176 99 4 275 5 061 Urban 0 0 Casuarina 2 512 1 724 4 236 89 4 325 5 031 Urban 0 0 Daly 1 445 1 892 109 187 3 701 214 3 915 5 329 Remote 0 68 Drysdale 1 142 2 336 4 135 137 4 272 4 272 Urban 657 0 Fannie Bay 1 945 1 639 403 3 987 109 4 096 4 879 Urban 0 0 Fong Lim 1 348 113 2 050 250 3 761 116 3 877 3 877 Urban 0 0 Goyder 1 291 2 731 4 391 142 4 533 5 323 Rural 0 369 Greatorex 673 1 991 338 3 514 99 3 613 4 606 Urban 512 0 Johnston 1 799 169 1 552 389 3 998 160 4 158 4 879 Urban 0 89 Karama 2 072 1 634 229 3 935 145 4 080 4 713 Urban 0 0 Katherine 864 2 729 4 130 77 4 207 5 174 Urban 537 0 Namatjira 824 1 847 253 2 924 143 3 067 5 127 Remote 0 0 Nelson 255 1 436 3 679 72 3 751 4 715 Rural 1 988 0 Nhulunbuy 1 554 641 2 824 136 2 960 4 719 Remote 629 0 Nightcliff 1 389 74 1 260 263 3 894 131 4 025 4 797 Urban 908 0 Port Darwin 1 205 185 2 023 233 3 646 96 3 742 4 730 Urban 0 0

Sanderson 1 872 176 2 214 90 4 352 132 4 484 5 100 Urban APPENDIX V 0 0 Stuart 1 035 1 291 456 2 782 176 2 958 4 706 Remote 0 0 Wanguri 2 416 1 823 4 239 86 4 325 4 855 Urban 0 0 Total 33 594 717 46 653 2 048 3 039 5 566 526 92 143 3072 95 215 121 893

% 36.5 0.8 50.6 2.2 3.3 6.0% 0.6%

129 First Preference Votes by Affiliation, Seats Won – General Elections 1990 to 2012

General ALP ASX CL/CLP FNPP GRN OTHER* Election Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats

1990 24 028 36.9 9 30 479 46.9 14 10 529 16.2 2

1994 30 507 41.4 7 38 266 51.9 17 325 0.4 0 4 623 6.3 1

1997 29 365 38.5 7 41 722 54.7 18 420 0.6 0 4 811 6.3 0

2001 33 038 40.6 13 36 926 45.4 10 11 403 14.0 2

2005** 44 822 51.9 19 30 827 35.8 4 3 594 4.2 0 7 045 8.2 2

2008*** 35 065 43.8 13 35 826 44.8 11 3 442 4.3 0 5 696 7.1 1

2012 33 594 36.5 8 717 0.8 0 46 653 50.6 16 2 048 2.2 0 3 039 3.3 0 6 092 6.6 1 * Other 1990 Independent, 1994 Independent, 1997 Australian Democrats and Independent 2001 Australian Democrats, One Nation Party, Socialist Alliance, Territory Alliance Party, 2005 Independent and No Affiliation, 2008 Independent, 2012 Independent and No Affiliation ** First election after party registration introduced *** Elections in Arnhem and Macdonnell were not contested

APPENDIX W

APPENDIX APPENDIX APPENDIX APPENDIX

130 Q(i) Q(i)

APPENDIX X Summary of Public Awareness Activities

Medium Key Messages No.

 Enrol/update enrolment details  Issue of Writ and nominations  Close of rolls  Early voting and postal voting services Newspaper Placements 136  Mobile polling  Static polling place locations/new division boundaries following the redistribution (including special lift out features)  Polling day Radio Placements 3 advertisements over  Remote mobile polling services 13 stations  Remote mobile polling locations 614  English  Polling day  Language*  Enrolment stimulation  Meet the Vote Family  Remote enrolment Television Placements -  Close of roll 9 advertisements over  Early/postal voting 2 209 10 stations  Mobile polling  Polling day this weekend  Mark ballot paper  Polling day  Issue of writ; electoral roll closing/closing today; close of roll statistics  Nominations open/nominations closing; invitation for declaration of nominations; nominations closed/draw for positions on ballot papers Media Releases 14  Mobile polling; postal voting; early voting starts/ closing today; static polling place locations  Authorisation of electoral material  Declaration of the poll  Key dates; legislative amendments; registered political parties; pre-election activities; nomination processes; postal voting, early voting  Election timetable; close of rolls; enrolment forms  Nominations; candidate information; declaration of nominations/draw for ballot paper positions; financial disclosure; campaign workers Election Bulletins  Authorisation of campaign material, including how-to-vote materials; recycling how-to-vote 22 material; campaign signage; media blackout  Polling places; mobile polling schedules; early voting; postal vote applications  Early voting, call centre, postal voting and website hit statistics  Tally room; election night counts; appointment of scrutineers; post polling day count timetable; declaration of results  Inviting nominations  Close of roll, enrolment  Declaration of nominations  Early/postal voting Posters Distributed by  Mobile polling 437 Email/Fax  Regional  Candidate  Polling places/day  Declaration of poll Website Page Views Enrolment; voting services; candidate/party information; election results (1 July to 30 August) 165 014

131 Medium Key Messages No.

Website Page Links NT News, Channel 9, AFLNT, NT Government 4

Call Centre Enquiries Enrolment; voting services; general enquiries 8 293

DefGram Enrolment and voting services for defence personnel 1 Enrolment Stalls Shopping centres, markets, show circuit and other stalls 1 177 (forms received) AFLNT Partnership Enrolment stall at major game 2

Election timetable, enrol/update enrolment details prior to roll close and voting services Direct Mail (Emails) (Cattlemen’s Association, mining companies, special needs groups and schools for inclusion in N/A newsletters)

Public Events Declaration of nominations; tally room – election night results; declaration of the poll 3

Election Specific Print advertising, electronic advertising; media releases; election bulletins; public events; N/A Branding website, tally room * Note: Radio advertisements relating to mobile polling were produced in fifteen Aboriginal languages: Anmatyerr (AS, TC), Murrinh-Patha (Wadeye), Kalkaringi (Daly), Yarralin (Daly), Nauiyu (Daly), Peppimanati (Daly), Warlpiri (Kath, TC, AS), Kriol (Top End, Kath), Pitjantjatjara (AS), Yolngu Matha (Top End), Alyawarr (AS/TC), Kunwinjku (Top End), Luritja (AS), Pintubi (AS), Eastern Arrernte (AS)

132 PART 2 NT and Division Snapshots

133

134 DIVISION SNAPSHOTS AND RESULTS

NT LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ELECTORAL DIVISIONS AND ELECTORS ON ROLL 2012  Arafura 5477  Greatorex 4606

 Araluen 4817  Johnston 4879

 Arnhem 4902  Karama 4713

 Barkly 5137  Katherine 5174

 Blain 4980  Namatjira 5127

 Braitling 4687  Nelson 4715

 Brennan 5061  Nhulunbuy 4719

 Casuarina 5031  Nightcliff 4797

 Daly 5329  Port Darwin 4730

 Drysdale 5178  Sanderson 5100

 Fannie Bay 4879  Stuart 4706

 Fong Lim 4883  Wanguri 4855

 Goyder 5323 Total 123 805

Geographic Classification: Northern Territory Area: 1 620 197 sq km

Number of Static and Mobile Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Places 67 Mobile Polling Places  217

NT Elector Age Profile NT Electors by Gender at Roll Close

Gender No. % 25% Female 62 225 <50.0 20% Male 61 580 >50.0 Total 123 805 15%

10% Candidate Affiliations 5% ALP Australian Labor Party NT 0% ASX Australian Sex Party NT 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+ CLP Country Liberals Age Range FNPP First Nations Political Party GRNS The Greens IND Independent

135 Division of Arafura

Geographic Classification: Remote Area: 156 087 sq km

Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place Mobile Polling Team 2 Kabulwarnamyo Mobile Polling Team 3 Gunbalanya Bolkdjam Kolorbidahdah Black Point Jabiru Buluhkaduru Malgawa Milikapiti Maningrida Gamardi Mamadawerre Minjilang Nguiu Gamargawan Maningrida Pirlangimpi Mobile Polling Team 1 Gochan Jiny-Jirra Manmoyi Warruwi Border Store Gumarrirnbang Marrkolidjban Wurankuwu Cannon Hill Ji-Balbal Mumeka Wurrumiyanga Cooinda Ji-Bena Wurdeja Gunbalanya Ji-Malawa Yikarrakkal Kakadu National Park HQ Ji-Marda Kapalga Mamukala Mudginberri Patonga (Airstrip) South Alligator Spring Peak

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

30% Gender No. % 25% Female 2746 50.1

20% Male 2731 49.9 15% Total 5477

10% 5%

0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+ Northern Territory Arafura Age Range

136 Division of Arafura Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 5477 Informal Ballot Papers 4.7% Turnout 58.1% Margin 62 First Preference Votes for each Candidate Ballot Papers Counted Polling Place / Declaration Type XAVIER PASCOE RIOLI GADAMBUA CLP GRN ALP FNPP Formal Informal Total Gunbalanya 111 92 209 14 426 40 466 Jabiru 87 15 111 7 220 12 232 Maningrida 28 177 68 123 396 9 405 Nguiu 520 8 114 5 647 16 663

Mobile Polling Team 1 12 4 28 5 49 4 53 Mobile Polling Team 2 31 41 73 3 148 18 166 Mobile Polling Team 3 354 19 328 10 711 16 727

Jabiru EVC 31 12 54 1 98 6 104

Absent Votes 96 44 101 19 260 21 281

Declaration Votes 6 7 6 4 23 3 26 (incl 10 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other regions) 22 0 7 2 31 2 33 (incl 16 EVC ballot papers)

Postal Votes 10 7 5 1 23 1 24

Division Total 1308 426 1104 194 3032 148 3180 43.1% 14.1% 36.4% 6.4% 95.3% 4.7%

Distribution of Preferences XAVIER PASCOE RIOLI GADAMBUA CLP GRN ALP FNPP Formal First Preference Votes 1308 426 1104 194 3032 GADAMBUA excluded 30 130 34 -194 0 Progressive Total 1338 556 1138 0 3032 PASCOE excluded 209 -556 347 0 0 Total 1547 0 1485 0 3032 51.0% 49.0%

Two Candidate Result Result RIOLI ALP 49.0% Francis XAVIER - Country Liberals elected, following a distribution of preferences, as the member for the Division of Arafura

Previous Members Affiliation Period F M Xavier CL 2012 - XAVIER M R Scrymgour ALP 2001 - 2012 CLP 51.0% M J Rioli ALP 1992 - 2001 S G Tipiloura ALP 1987 - 1992 B Collins ALP 1983 - 1987

137 Division of Araluen

Geographic Classification: Urban Area: 192 sq km

Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place Mobile Polling Team 4 Mobile Polling Team 22 Gillen Karnte Alice Springs Hospital Pioneer Park (Araluen) Larapinta Valley Old Timers Hostel and Nursing Home (Alice Springs)

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

25% Gender No. %

Female 2493 51.8 20% Male 2324 48.2 15% Total 4817 10%

5% 0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+ Northern Territory Araluen Age Range

138 Division of Araluen Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 4817 Informal Ballot Papers 3.65% Turnout 78.0% Margin 1604 First Preference Votes for each Candidate Ballot Papers Counted Polling Place / Declaration BAXTER LAMBLEY FINDLAY Type FNPP CLP ALP Formal Informal Total Gillen 133 1286 447 1866 67 1933 Pioneer Park (Araluen) 18 226 67 311 12 323

Mobile Polling Team 4 14 9 6 29 2 31 Mobile Polling Team 22 1 14 8 23 1 24

Alice Springs Airport EVC 1 9 2 12 0 12 Alice Springs EVC 67 620 199 886 36 922

Absent Votes 40 200 90 330 18 348

Declaration Votes 4 17 3 24 0 24 (incl 16 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other regions) 1 21 10 32 0 32

Postal Votes 6 85 16 107 1 108

Division Total 285 2487 848 3620 137 3757 7.9% 68.7% 23.4% 96.4% 3.6%

Distribution of Preferences BAXTER LAMBLEY FINDLAY FNPP CLP ALP Formal First Preference Votes 285 2487 848 3620 BAXTER excluded -285 125 160 0 Total 0 2612 1008 3620 72.2% 27.8%

Two Candidate Result Result FINDLAY ALP 27.8% Robyn LAMBLEY - Country Liberals elected, by an absolute majority on primary votes, as the member for the Division of Araluen

Previous Members Affiliation Period LAMBLEY R J Lambley CL 2010 - CLP 72.2% J T Carney CL/CLP 2001 - 2010 E H Poole CLP 1986 - 2001 J R Robertson CLP 1983 - 1986

139 Division of Arnhem

Geographic Classification: Remote Area: 99 269 sq km

Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place Mobile Polling Team 5 Mobile Polling Team 6 Mobile Polling Team 7 Alyangula Angurugu Balma Bulman Ngukurr Malkala Donydji Ngukurr Ramingining Milyakburra Gapuwiyak Nulawan Numbulwar Milingimbi Rittarangu Umbakumba Mirrnatja Weemol Ngangalala Ramingining Raymangirr Yathalamarra

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

35% Gender No. % 30% Female 2524 51.5 25% Male 2378 48.5 20% Total 4902 15% 10%

5%

0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+

Northern Territory Arnhem Age Range

140 Division of Arnhem Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 4902 Informal Ballot Papers 3.0% Turnout 51.9% Margin 264 First Preference Votes for each Ballot Papers Counted Candidate Polling Place / Declaration MCCARTHY LEE Type ALP CLP Formal Informal Total Alyangula 121 139 260 8 268 Ngukurr 225 95 320 7 327 Ramingining 81 145 226 6 232

Mobile Polling Team 5 200 402 602 13 615 Mobile Polling Team 6 255 329 584 27 611 Mobile Polling Team 7 66 45 111 2 113

Katherine EVC 29 22 51 1 52

Absent Votes 100 160 260 11 271

Declaration Votes 4 11 15 0 15 (incl 3 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other regions) 12 8 20 1 21

Postal Votes 9 10 19 0 19

Division Total 1102 1366 2468 76 2544 44.7% 55.3% 97.0% 3.0%

Two Candidate Result McCARTHY Result ALP 44.7% Larisa LEE - Country Liberals elected, by an absolute majority on primary votes, as the member for the Division of Arnhem

Previous Members Affiliation Period L A L Lee CL 2012 - LEE CLP 55.3% M McCarthy ALP 2005 - 2012 J L Ah Kit ALP 1995 - 2005 W W Lanhupuy ALP 1983 - 1995

141 Division of Barkly

Geographic Classification: Remote Area: 448 576 sq km

Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place King Ash Bay Imangara Mungalawurru Ali Curung Mara Tara Mungkarta Borroloola Minyerri Wauchope Pulka Pulkka Kari Nursing Elliott Munyalini Wutunugurra Home (Tennant Creek) Tennant Creek Robinson River Mobile Polling Team 20 Tennant Creek Hospital Mobile Polling Team 8 Tanumbirini Stn Barkly Homestead Tennant Creek Work Camp Cape Crawford Wandangula Connells Lagoon Threeways Daly Waters Mobile Polling Team 19 Corella Creek Jilkminggan Alpurrurulam Kalinjarri Kiana Canteen Creek Marlinja

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

30% Gender No. %

25% Female 2571 50.0

Male 2566 50.0 20% 15% Total 5137 10%

5%

0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+ Northern Territory Barkly Age Range

142 Division of Barkly Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 5137 Informal Ballot Papers 3.7% Turnout 64.9% Margin 488 First Preference Votes for each Candidate Ballot Papers Counted Polling Place / Declaration Type WILLEY SHANNON MCCARTHY HEALY IND FNPP ALP CLP Formal Informal Total Ali Curung 6 24 62 24 116 4 120 Borroloola 2 2 162 47 213 12 225 Elliott 9 10 57 65 141 4 145 Tennant Creek 33 154 328 258 773 30 803

Mobile Polling Team 8 19 16 340 133 508 12 520 Mobile Polling Team 19 8 58 78 184 328 16 344 Mobile Polling Team 20 8 21 33 44 106 4 110

Alice Springs EVC 2 1 10 7 20 1 21 Tennant Creek EVC 21 88 228 198 535 19 554

Absent Votes 17 77 97 83 274 16 290

Declaration Votes 2 3 15 37 57 2 59 (incl 48 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other regions) 3 10 35 34 82 1 83 (incl 3 EVC ballot papers)

Postal Votes 1 3 5 48 57 1 58

Division Total 131 467 1450 1162 3210 122 3332 4.1% 14.5% 45.2% 36.2% 96.3% 3.7%

Distribution of Preferences Polling Place / Declaration Type WILLEY SHANNON MCCARTHY HEALY IND FNPP ALP CLP Formal First Preference Votes 131 467 1450 1162 3210 WILLEY excluded -131 76 37 18 0 Progressive Total 0 543 1487 1180 3210 SHANNON excluded 0 -543 362 181 0 Total 0 0 1849 1361 3210 57.6% 42.4%

Two Candidate Result Result McCARTHY ALP 57.6% Gerry McCARTHY - Australian Labor Party elected, following a distribution of preferences, as the member for the Division of Barkly

Previous Members Affiliation Period G F McCarthy ALP 2008 - E McAdam ALP 2001 - 2008 HEALY CLP 42.4% M A Hickey ALP 1990 - 2001 I L Tuxworth CLP 1983 - 1990

143 Division of Blain

Geographic Classification: Urban Area: 18 sq km

Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place Moulden Park Rosebery (Blain) Woodroffe

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

30% Gender No. %

25% Female 2556 51.3 20% Male 2424 48.7 15% Total 4980

10%

5% 0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+

Northern Territory Blain Age Range

144 Division of Blain Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 4980 Informal Ballot Papers 3.4% Turnout 83.2% Margin 1059 First Preference Votes for each Candidate Ballot Papers Counted Polling Place / Declaration FEJO BAHNERT MILLS Type FNPP ALP CLP Formal Informal Total Moulden Park 47 314 462 823 29 852 Rosebery (Blain) 27 246 447 720 20 740 Woodroffe 77 411 827 1315 45 1360

Casuarina EVC 3 6 13 22 0 22 Darwin Airport EVC 0 6 3 9 1 10 Darwin EVC 2 24 30 56 0 56 Palmerston EVC 10 118 235 363 17 380

Absent Votes 26 160 344 530 27 557

Declaration Votes 0 11 11 22 0 22 (incl 15 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other regions) 1 3 3 7 0 7

Postal Votes 1 44 87 132 3 135

Division Total 194 1343 2462 3999 142 4141 4.9% 33.6% 61.6% 96.6% 3.4%

Distribution of Preferences FEJO BAHNERT MILLS FNPP ALP CLP Formal First Preference Votes 194 1343 2462 3999 FEJO excluded -194 127 67 0 Total 0 1470 2529 3999 36.8% 63.2%

Two Candidate Result Result BAHNERT ALP 36.8% Terry MILLS - Country Liberals elected, by an absolute majority on primary votes, as the member for the Division of Blain

Previous Members Affiliation Period MILLS T K Mills* CL/CLP 1999 - CLP 63.2% B F Coulter CLP 1997 - 1999

* Mr Mills resigned in February 2014 and a by-election was held on 12 April 2014 with the seat retained by the CL.

145 Division of Braitling

Geographic Classification: Urban Area: 60 sq km

Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place Mobile Polling Team 18 Mobile Polling Team 21 Braitling Nyewente Anthelk-Ewlpaye Larapinta Mt Nancy

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

30% Gender No. %

25% Female 2456 52.4

20% Male 2231 47.6

15% Total 4687

10%

5%

0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+

Northern Territory Braitling

Age Range

146 Division of Braitling Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 4687 Informal Ballot Papers 2.4% Turnout 76.8% Margin 1660 First Preference Votes for each Candidate Ballot Papers Counted Polling Place / Declaration FURPHY ROCK GILES SHAW Type IND ALP CLP GRN Formal Informal Total Braitling 62 248 829 89 1228 23 1251 Larapinta 48 138 654 67 907 26 933

Mobile Polling Team 18 0 2 3 6 11 0 11 Mobile Polling Team 21 1 1 1 27 30 3 33

Alice Springs Airport EVC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Alice Springs EVC 47 126 525 46 744 25 769

Absent Votes 41 76 266 68 451 11 462

Declaration Votes 0 3 19 3 25 0 25 (incl 22 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other regions) 1 6 27 7 41 0 41 (incl 9 EVC ballot papers)

Postal Votes 4 13 48 8 73 0 73

Division Total 204 613 2372 321 3510 88 3598 5.8% 17.5% 67.6% 9.1% 97.6% 2.4%

Distribution of Preferences FURPHY ROCK GILES SHAW IND ALP CLP GRN Formal First Preference Votes 204 613 2372 321 3510 FURPHY excluded -204 80 77 47 0 Progressive Total 0 693 2449 368 3510 SHAW excluded 0 232 136 -368 0 Total 0 925 2585 0 3510 26.4% 73.6%

Two Candidate Result Result Adam GILES - Country Liberals ROCK ALP 26.4% elected, by an absolute majority on primary votes, as the member for the Division of Braitling

Previous Members Affiliation Period A G Giles CL/CLP 2008 - GILES L M Braham IND 2001 - 2008 CLP 73.6% L M Braham CLP 1994 - 2001 R W S Vale CLP 1983 - 1994

147 Division of Brennan

Geographic Classification: Urban Area: 8 sq km

Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place Mobile Polling Team 23 Bakewell Terrace Gardens Nursing Farrar Home (Palmerston) Rosebery (Brennan)

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

35% Gender No. %

30% Female 2592 51.2

25% Male 2469 48.8 20% Total 5061 15%

10%

5% 0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+ Northern Territory Brennan Age Range

148 Division of Brennan Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 5061 Informal Ballot Papers 2.3% Turnout 84.5% Margin 1190 First Preference Votes for each Ballot Papers Counted Candidate Polling Place / Declaration CHANDLER JEFFREY Type CLP ALP Formal Informal Total Bakewell 1332 790 2122 53 2175 Farrar 289 178 467 9 476 Rosebery (Brennan) 281 148 429 11 440

Casuarina EVC 24 10 34 0 34 Darwin EVC 58 29 87 0 87 Palmerston EVC 227 92 319 6 325

Absent Votes 330 184 514 14 528

Declaration Votes 12 10 22 2 24 (incl 18 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other regions) 10 13 23 1 24 (incl 7 EVC ballot papers)

Postal Votes 120 39 159 3 162

Division Total 2683 1493 4176 99 4275 64.2% 35.8% 97.7% 2.3%

Two Candidate Result Result JEFFREY ALP 35.8% Peter CHANDLER - Country Liberals elected, by an absolute majority on primary votes, as the member for the Division of Brennan

Previous Members Affiliation Period P G Chandler CL/CLP 2008 - CHANDLER J P Burke ALP 2005 - 2008 CLP 64.2% D G Burke CLP 1994 - 2005 M H Ortmann CLP 1990 - 1994

149 Division of Casuarina

Geographic Classification: Urban Area: 18 sq km

Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place Mobile Polling Team 23 Nakara Darwin Private Hospital Tiwi Royal Darwin Hospital Tiwi Gardens Aged Care (Darwin)

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

25% Gender No. %

20% Female 2548 50.6 Male 2483 49.4 15% Total 5031 10%

5%

0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+ Northern Territory Casuarina Age Range

150 Division of Casuarina Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 5031 Informal Ballot Papers 2.1% Turnout 86.0% Margin 788 First Preference Votes for each Ballot Papers Counted Candidate Polling Place / Declaration VATSKALIS JOHNSON Type ALP CLP Formal Informal Total Nakara 1261 741 2002 41 2043 Tiwi 502 355 857 23 880

Mobile Polling Team 23 9 11 20 0 20

Casuarina EVC 231 197 428 4 432 Darwin Airport EVC 0 0 0 0 0 Darwin EVC 59 50 109 2 111 Palmerston EVC 5 8 13 0 13

Absent Votes 316 269 585 15 600

Declaration Votes 18 9 27 0 27 (incl 21 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other regions) 15 12 27 1 28 (incl 4 EVC ballot papers)

Postal Votes 96 72 168 3 171

Division Total 2512 1724 4236 89 4325 59.3% 40.7% 97.9% 2.1%

Two Candidate Result Result VATSKALIS Kon VATSKALIS - Australian Labor Party ALP 59.3% elected, by an absolute majority on primary votes, as the member for the Division of Casuarina

Previous Members Affiliation Period K Vatskalis ALP 2001 - JOHNSON P Adamson CLP 1994 - 2001 CLP 40.7% N M Dondas CLP 1983 - 1994

151 Division of Daly

Geographic Classification: Remote Area: 81 818 sq km

Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place Mobile Polling Team 9 Palumpa Mobile Polling Team 10 Adelaide River Bark Hut Inn Peppimenarti Acacia Larrakia Batchelor Bulgul Sand Palms Roadhouse Belyuen Berry Springs Daly River Woodycupaldiya Wagait Beach Wadeye Dundee Beach Woolaning Emu Point Woolianna Lake Bennett Wudapuli Marrakai Nauiyu

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

25% Gender No. % Female 2609 49.0 20% Male 2720 51.0 15% Total 5329 10% 5%

0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+ Northern Territory Daly Age Range

152 Division of Daly Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 5329 Informal Ballot Papers 5.5% Turnout 73.5% Margin 2025 First Preference Votes for each Candidate Ballot Papers Counted Polling Place / Declaration HIGGINS POLLOCK JENKINS KNIGHT RISK Type CLP GRN ALP FNPP Formal Informal Total Adelaide River 86 9 4 47 3 149 8 157 Batchelor 88 36 4 94 5 227 10 237 Berry Springs 463 57 13 321 20 874 33 907 Wadeye 342 4 3 246 18 613 71 684

Mobile Polling Team 9 362 11 6 246 16 641 38 679 Mobile Polling Team 10 78 12 8 119 16 233 14 247

Casuarina EVC 17 2 0 11 0 30 0 30 Darwin EVC 26 3 1 33 3 66 0 66 Palmerston EVC 80 2 1 42 3 128 2 130

Absent Votes 230 42 22 206 21 521 33 554

Declaration Votes 7 4 2 8 0 21 2 23 (incl 17 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other regions) 13 2 0 10 4 29 1 30 (incl 5 EVC ballot papers)

Postal Votes 100 3 4 62 0 169 2 171

Division Total 1892 187 68 1445 109 3701 214 3915 51.1% 5.1% 1.8% 39.0% 2.9% 94.5% 5.5%

Distribution of Preferences Polling Place / Declaration HIGGINS POLLOCK JENKINS KNIGHT RISK Type CLP GRN ALP FNPP Formal First Preference Votes 1892 187 68 1445 109 3701 JENKINS excluded 12 18 -68 13 25 0 Progressive Total 1904 205 0 1458 134 3701 RISK excluded 45 42 0 47 -134 0 Progressive Total 1949 247 0 1505 0 3701 POLLOCK excluded 76 -247 0 171 0 0 Total 2025 0 0 1676 0 3701 54.7% 45.3%

Two Candidate Result Result KNIGHT ALP 45.3% Gary HIGGINS - Country Liberals elected, by an absolute majority on primary votes, as the member for the Division of Daly

Previous Members Affiliation Period HIGGINS G J Higgins CL 2012 - CLP 54.7% D R Knight ALP 2005 - 2012 T D Baldwin CLP 2001 - 2005

153 Division of Drysdale

Geographic Classification: Urban Area: 12 sq km

Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place Driver Durack Gray

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

30% Gender No. %

25% Female 2625 50.7 20% Male 2553 49.3

15% Total 5178 10%

5% 0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+ Northern Territory Drysdale Age Range

154 Division of Drysdale Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 5178 Informal Ballot Papers 3.2% Turnout 82.5% Margin 1263 First Preference Votes for each Candidate Ballot Papers Counted Polling Place / Declaration BURKE BOHLIN FINOCCHIARO Type ALP IND CLP Formal Informal Total Driver 156 142 320 618 17 635 Durack 321 205 833 1359 43 1402 Gray 261 107 426 794 24 818

Casuarina EVC 12 4 7 23 2 25 Darwin EVC 15 7 37 59 2 61 Palmerston EVC 102 59 202 363 8 371

Absent Votes 214 107 396 717 38 755

Declaration Votes 8 3 10 21 1 22 (incl 18 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other regions) 7 1 16 24 1 25 (incl 3 EVC ballot papers)

Postal Votes 46 22 89 157 1 158

Division Total 1142 657 2336 4135 137 4272 27.6% 15.9% 56.5% 96.8% 3.2%

Distribution of Preferences Polling Place / Declaration BURKE BOHLIN FINOCCHIARO Type ALP IND CLP Formal First Preference Votes 1142 657 2336 4135 BOHLIN excluded 294 -657 363 0 Total 1436 0 2699 4135 34.7% 65.3%

Two Candidate Result Result BURKE Lia FINOCCHIARO - Country Liberals ALP 34.7% elected, by an absolute majority on primary votes, as the member for the Division of Drysdale

Previous Members Affiliation Period L E Finocchiaro CL 2012 - R O C Bohlin CLP 2008 - 2012 FINOCCHIARO CLP 65.3% C W Natt ALP 2005 - 2008 S Dunham CLP 1997 - 2005

155 Division of Fannie Bay

Geographic Classification: Urban Area: 14 sq km

Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place Mobile Polling Team 23 Parap Pearl Retirement Resort Stuart Park

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

Gender No. % 25% Female 2363 48.4 20% Male 2516 51.6 15% Total 4879

10% 5%

0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+ Northern Territory Fannie Bay Age Range

156 Division of Fannie Bay Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 4879 Informal Ballot Papers 2.7% Turnout 84.0% Margin 539 First Preference Votes for each Candidate Ballot Papers Counted Polling Place / Declaration GUNNER BIRD CLEMENTSON Type ALP GRN CLP Formal Informal Total Parap 920 168 714 1802 47 1849 Stuart Park 520 120 425 1065 35 1100

Mobile polling Team 23 7 1 8 16 2 18

Casuarina EVC 36 12 28 76 0 76 Darwin Airport EVC 4 2 5 11 1 12 Darwin EVC 152 28 193 373 13 386

Absent Votes 186 46 146 378 6 384

Declaration Votes 16 2 10 28 3 31 (incl 19 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other regions) 13 6 19 38 0 38 (incl 7 EVC ballot papers)

Postal Votes 91 18 91 200 2 202

Division Total 1945 403 1639 3987 109 4096 48.8% 10.1% 41.1% 97.3% 2.7%

Distribution of Preferences Polling Place / Declaration GUNNER BIRD CLEMENTSON Type ALP GRN CLP Formal First Preference Votes 1945 403 1639 3987 BIRD excluded 318 -403 85 0 Total 2263 0 1724 3987 56.8% 43.2%

Two Candidate Result Result GUNNER ALP 56.8% Michael GUNNER - Australian Labor Party

elected, following a distribution of preferences, as the member for the Division of Fannie Bay

Previous Members Affiliation Period M P F Gunner ALP 2008 - C M Martin ALP 1995 - 2008 CLEMENTSON CLP 43.2% M B Perron CLP 1983 - 1995

157 Division of Fong Lim

Geographic Classification: Urban Area: 127 sq km

Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place Mobile Polling Team 23 Bayview Darwin Prison Berrimah (Fong Lim) Ludmilla Marlow Lagoon

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

25% Gender No. %

Female 2363 48.4 20% Male 2520 51.6 15% Total 4883 10%

5% 0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+ Northern Territory Fong Lim Age Range

158 Division of Fong Lim Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 4883 Informal Ballot Papers 3.0% Turnout 79.4% Margin 547 First Preference Votes for each Candidate Ballot Papers Counted Polling Place / Declaration MARSH BURNHEIM TOLLNER HAUBRICK Type ALP ASX CLP GRN Formal Informal Total Bayview 164 6 310 30 510 12 522 Berrimah (Fong Lim) 52 14 206 6 278 9 287 Ludmilla 559 41 527 82 1209 44 1253 Marlow Lagoon 46 3 186 19 254 12 266

Mobile Polling Team 23 3 0 0 1 4 0 4

Casuarina EVC 38 2 40 2 82 1 83 Darwin EVC 79 7 139 17 242 5 247 Palmerston EVC 20 2 44 6 72 4 76

Absent Votes 329 32 463 68 892 28 920

Declaration Votes 3 2 15 1 21 1 22 (incl 20 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other regions) 12 1 11 4 28 0 28 (incl 6 EVC ballot papers)

Postal Votes 43 3 109 14 169 0 169

Division Total 1348 113 2050 250 3761 116 3877 35.8% 3.0% 54.5% 6.6% 97.0% 3.0%

Distribution of Preferences Polling Place / Declaration MARSH BURNHEIM TOLLNER HAUBRICK Type ALP ASX CLP GRN Formal First Preference Votes 1348 113 2050 250 3761 BURNHEIM excluded 31 -113 40 42 0 Progressive Total 1379 0 2090 292 3761 HAUBRICK excluded 228 0 64 -292 0 Total 1607 0 2154 0 3761 42.7% 57.3%

Two Candidate Result Result MARSH ALP 42.7% David TOLLNER - Country Liberals

elected, by an absolute majority on primary votes, as the member for the Division of Fong Lim

Previous Member* Affiliation Period D Tollner CL/CLP 2008 - TOLLNER CLP 57.3% * New Division 2008 Redistribution

159 Division of Goyder

Geographic Classification: Rural Area: 615 sq km

Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place Bees Creek Humpty Doo

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

30% Gender No. %

25% Female 2626 49.3

20% Male 2697 50.7 15% Total 5323

10%

5% 0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+ Northern Territory Goyder Age Range

160 Division of Goyder Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 5323 Informal Ballot Papers 3.1% Turnout 85.2% Margin 1467 First Preference Votes for each Candidate Ballot Papers Counted Polling Place / Declaration PURICK KEARNEY SMITH Type CLP ALP Formal Informal Total Bees Creek 818 47 329 1194 36 1230 Humpty Doo 1175 243 630 2048 80 2128

Casuarina EVC 29 6 13 48 0 48 Darwin EVC 50 7 24 81 2 83 Palmerston EVC 196 16 65 277 6 283

Absent Votes 284 40 156 480 14 494

Declaration Votes 22 1 8 31 0 31 (incl 22 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other regions) 13 3 8 24 2 26 (incl 9 Early Voting Centre ballot papers)

Postal Votes 144 6 58 208 2 210

Division Total 2731 369 1291 4391 142 4533 62.2% 8.4% 29.4% 96.9% 3.1%

Distribution of Preferences Polling Place / Declaration PURICK KEARNEY SMITH Type CLP ALP Formal First Preference Votes 2731 369 1291 4391 KEARNEY excluded 198 -369 171 0 Total 2929 0 1462 4391 66.7% 33.3%

Two Candidate Result Result SMITH ALP 33.3% Kezia PURICK - Country Liberals

elected, by an absolute majority on primary votes, as the member for the Division of Goyder

Previous Members Affiliation Period PURICK K D T Purick CL/CLP 2008 - CLP 66.7 E J Warren ALP 2005 - 2008 P J Maley CLP 2001 - 2005 T R McCarthy CLP 1990 - 2001

161 Division of Greatorex

Geographic Classification: Urban Area: 76 sq km

Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place Mobile Polling Team 18 Pioneer Park (Greatorex) Ewyenper-Atwatye Sadadeen

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

25% Gender No. %

Female 2430 52.8 20% Male 2176 47.2 15% Total 4606 10%

5% 0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+ Northern Territory Greatorex Age Range

162 Division of Greatorex Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 4606 Informal Ballot Papers 2.7% Turnout 78.4% Margin 1042 First Preference Votes for each Candidate Ballot Papers Counted Polling Place / Declaration FOLEY ROULLET WALCOTT CONLAN Type ALP GRN IND CLP Formal Informal Total Pioneer Park (Greatorex) 23 12 17 131 183 3 186 Sadadeen 374 228 315 1020 1937 49 1986

Mobile Polling Team 18 6 0 0 2 8 1 9

Alice Springs Airport EVC 5 4 3 13 25 1 26 Alice Springs EVC 166 59 116 577 918 35 953

Absent Votes 73 26 50 171 320 9 329

Declaration Votes 9 2 3 12 26 0 26 (incl 26 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other regions) 8 5 2 22 37 1 38

Postal Votes 9 2 6 43 60 0 60

Division Total 673 338 512 1991 3514 99 3613 19.2% 9.6% 14.6% 56.7% 97.3% 2.7%

Distribution of Preferences Polling Place / Declaration FOLEY ROULLET WALCOTT CONLAN Type ALP GRN IND CLP Formal First Preference Votes 673 338 512 1991 3514 ROULLET excluded 183 -338 125 30 0 Progressive Total 856 0 637 2021 3514 WALCOTT excluded 380 0 -637 257 0 Total 1236 0 0 2278 3514 35.2% 64.8%

Two Candidate Result Result FOLEY ALP 35.2% Matt CONLAN - Country Liberals elected, by an absolute majority on primary votes, as the member for the Division of Greatorex

Previous Members Affiliation Period M E Conlan CL/CLP 2007 - CONLAN CLP 64.8% R S H Lim CLP 1994 - 2007 D W Collins IND 1990 - 1994

163 Division of Johnston

Geographic Classification: Urban Area: 4 sq km

Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place Millner Moil

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

25% Gender No. %

Female 2466 50.5 20% Male 2413 49.5 15% Total 4879

10%

5%

0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+ Northern Territory Johnston Age Range

164 Division of Johnston Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 4879 Informal Ballot Papers 3.8% Turnout 85.2% Margin 452 First Preference Votes for each Candidate Ballot Papers Counted Polling Place / Declaration PARROTT- BUSSA METCALF SANGSTER VOWLES Type JOLLY ASX GRN CLP ALP Formal Informal Total Millner 30 54 146 570 706 1506 62 1568 Moil 27 53 137 543 634 1394 55 1449

Casuarina EVC 4 8 13 118 94 237 4 241 Darwin Airport EVC 0 0 2 8 3 13 0 13 Darwin EVC 3 6 19 63 71 162 3 165 Palmerston EVC 1 0 1 8 5 15 0 15

Absent Votes 21 39 55 158 221 494 26 520

Declaration Votes 1 0 3 11 16 31 2 33 (incl 23 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other regions) 0 1 2 6 7 16 0 16

Postal Votes 2 8 11 67 42 130 8 138

Division Total 89 169 389 1552 1799 3998 160 4158 2.2% 4.2% 9.7% 38.8% 45.0% 96.2% 3.8%

Distribution of Preferences Polling Place / Declaration PARROTT- BUSSA METCALF SANGSTER VOWLES Type JOLLY ASX GRN CLP ALP Formal First Preference Votes 89 169 389 1552 1799 3998 BUSSA excluded -89 35 17 20 17 0 Progressive Total 0 204 406 1572 1816 3998 METCALF excluded 0 -204 106 46 52 0 Progressive Total 0 0 512 1618 1868 3998 PARROTT-JOLLY excluded 0 0 -512 155 357 0 Total 0 0 0 1773 2225 3998 44.3% 55.7%

Two Candidate Result Result VOWLES Ken VOWLES - Australian Labor Party ALP 55.7% elected, following a distribution of preferences, as the member for the Division of Johnston

Previous Members Affiliation Period K E Vowles ALP 2012 - SANGSTER C B Burns ALP 2001 - 2012 CLP 44.3%

165 Division of Karama

Geographic Classification: Urban Area: 4 sq km

Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place Karama Manunda Terrace

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

25% Gender No. %

Female 2482 52.7 20% Male 2231 47.3 15% Total 4713 10%

5%

0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+ Northern Territory Karama Age Range

166 Division of Karama Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 4713 Informal Ballot Papers 3.6% Turnout 86.6% Margin 503 First Preference Votes for each Candidate Ballot Papers Counted Polling Place / Declaration LAWRIE KELLY ELCOATE Type ALP CLP GRN Formal Informal Total Karama 1169 924 116 2209 80 2289 Manunda Terrace 470 292 50 812 43 855

Casuarina EVC 124 132 11 267 5 272 Darwin EVC 39 60 5 104 4 108 Palmerston EVC 5 5 2 12 0 12

Absent Votes 191 126 27 344 10 354

Declaration Votes 8 10 3 21 1 22 (incl 12 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other regions) 10 10 4 24 0 24 (incl 8 EVC ballot papers)

Postal Votes 56 75 11 142 2 144

Division Total 2072 1634 229 3935 145 4080 52.7% 41.5% 5.8% 96.4% 3.6%

Distribution of Preferences Polling Place / Declaration LAWRIE KELLY ELCOATE Type ALP CLP GRN Formal First Preference Votes 2072 1634 229 3935 ELCOATE excluded 147 82 -229 0 Total 2219 1716 0 3935 56.4% 43.6%

Two Candidate Result Result LAWRIE Delia LAWRIE - Australian Labor Party ALP 56.4% elected, by an absolute majority on primary votes, as the member for the Division of Karama

Previous Members Affiliation Period D P Lawrie ALP 2001 - KELLY CLP 43.6% M J Palmer CLP 1987 - 2001

167 Division of Katherine

Geographic Classification: Urban Area: 7 428 sq km

Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place Mobile Polling Team 8 Katherine Binjari Katherine East Katherine Hospital Tindal Katherine Hostel (formerly Red Cross Aged Care) Rockhole Rocky Ridge Aged Care Facilities

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

25% Gender No. %

Female 2611 50.5 20% Male 2563 49.5 15% Total 5174 10%

5%

0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+ Northern Territory Katherine Age Range

168 Division of Katherine Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 5174 Informal Ballot Papers 1.8% Turnout 81.3% Margin 1838 First Preference Votes for each Candidate Ballot Papers Counted Polling Place / Declaration WESTRA KING CUMMINGS Type VAN HOLTHE ALP CLP IND Formal Informal Total Katherine 226 770 158 1154 25 1179 Katherine East 176 497 89 762 9 771 Tindal 19 207 34 260 15 275

Mobile Polling Team 8 29 31 37 97 3 100

Katherine EVC 295 964 177 1436 15 1451

Absent Votes 84 100 22 206 5 211

Declaration Votes 5 28 2 35 0 35 (incl 15 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other regions) 10 20 2 32 0 32

Postal Votes 20 112 16 148 5 153

Division Total 864 2729 537 4130 77 4207 20.9% 66.1% 13.0% 98.2% 1.8%

Distribution of Preferences Polling Place / Declaration WESTRA KING CUMMINGS Type VAN HOLTHE ALP CLP IND Formal First Preference Votes 864 2729 537 4130 CUMMINGS excluded 282 255 -537 0 Total 1146 2984 0 4130 27.7% 72.3%

Two Candidate Result Result KING ALP 27.7% Willem WESTRA VAN HOLTHE - Country Liberals elected, by an absolute majority on primary votes, as the member for the Division of Katherine

Previous Members Affiliation Period W R Westra Van Holthe CL/CLP 2008 - WESTRA C F Miller CLP 2003 - 2008 VAN HOLTHE CLP 72.3% M A Reed CLP 1987- 2003

169 Division of Namatjira

Geographic Classification: Remote Area: 351 294 sq km Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place Mt Eaglebeak Atneltyey Mobile Polling Team 19 Hermannsburg Ntakarra Atnwengerrpe Mt Liebig Papunya Orrtipa-Thurra Camel Camp Mobile Polling Team 20 Yulara Red Sandhill Finke Curtin Springs Mobile Polling Team 11 Tjuwanpa Resource Centre Indaringinya Erldunda Areyonga Undurana Inkawenyerre Imanpa Artekerr Wallace Rockhole Inkwelaye Kings Canyon Atitjere Werre-Therre Irrultja Kings Creek Stn Burt Creek Mobile Polling Team 12 Iylentye Kulgera Engawala Amengernterneah Kaltukatjara Mutitjulu Haasts Bluff Amoonguna Kintore Ukaka Intjartnama Ampilatwatja Pungalindum Ulpanyali Irrerlirre Ankerrapw Santa Teresa Kaporilya Arawerr Soakage Bore Kulpitharra Arlparra Tommyhawk Swamp Atheley

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

35% Gender No. %

30% Female 2702 52.7 25% Male 2425 47.3 20% Total 5127 15% 10%

5%

0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+ Northern Territory Namatjira Age Range

170 Division of Namatjira Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 5127 Informal Ballot Papers 4.7% Turnout 59.8% Margin 1088 First Preference Votes for each Candidate Ballot Papers Counted Polling Place / Declaration ROGERS ANDERSON WILLIAMS Type ALP CLP FNPP Formal Informal Total Hermannsburg 27 82 44 153 3 156 Papunya 22 95 2 119 8 127 Yulara 104 71 13 188 25 213

Mobile Polling Team 11 160 233 23 416 14 430 Mobile Polling Team 12 189 652 45 886 41 927 Mobile Polling Team 19 57 153 16 226 8 234 Mobile Polling Team 20 36 90 5 131 7 138

Alice Springs EVC 131 259 36 426 21 447

Absent Votes 78 105 54 237 13 250

Declaration Votes 5 18 5 28 1 29 (incl 17 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other regions) 4 3 4 11 0 11 (incl 3 EVC ballot papers)

Postal Votes 11 86 6 103 2 105

Division Total 824 1847 253 2924 143 3067 28.2% 63.2% 8.7% 95.3% 4.7%

Distribution of Preferences Polling Place / Declaration ROGERS ANDERSON WILLIAMS Type ALP CLP FNPP Formal First Preference Votes 824 1847 253 2924 WILLIAMS excluded 94 159 -253 0 Total 918 2006 0 2924 31.4% 68.6%

Two Candidate Result Result ROGERS ALP 31.4% Alison ANDERSON - Country Liberals elected, by an absolute majority on primary votes, as the member for the Division of Namatjira

Previous Member* Affiliation Period 2012 - ANDERSON A N Anderson CL CLP 68.6% * New Division 2012 Redistribution. Ms Anderson was previously the member for Macdonnell from 2005 to 2012.

171 Division of Nelson

Geographic Classification: Rural Area: 2 289 sq km

Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place Mobile Polling Team 24 Berrimah (Nelson) Robertson Barracks Girraween Howard Springs

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

25% Gender No. % Female 1957 41.5 20% Male 2758 58.5 15% Total 4715 10% 5%

0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+ Northern Territory Nelson Age Range

172 Division of Nelson Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 4715 Informal Ballot Papers 1.9% Turnout 79.6% Margin 675 First Preference Votes for each Candidate Ballot Papers Counted Polling Place / Declaration McALEAR WOOD COLE Type ALP IND CLP Formal Informal Total Berrimah (Nelson) 20 78 121 219 6 225 Girraween 21 309 169 499 4 503 Howard Springs 111 1041 522 1674 36 1710

Mobile Polling Team 24 10 37 127 174 3 177

Casuarina EVC 10 16 12 38 0 38 Darwin EVC 1 47 45 93 1 94 Palmerston EVC 14 150 105 269 7 276

Absent Votes 59 204 254 517 7 524

Declaration Votes 2 10 8 20 1 21 (incl 15 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other regions) 2 12 5 19 1 20 (incl 3 EVC ballot papers)

Postal Votes 5 84 68 157 6 163

Division Total 255 1988 1436 3679 72 3751 6.9% 54.0% 39.0% 98.1% 1.9%

Distribution of Preferences Polling Place / Declaration McALEAR WOOD COLE Type ALP IND CLP Formal First Preference Votes 255 1988 1436 3679 McALEAR excluded -255 189 66 0 Total 0 2177 1502 3679 59.2% 40.8%

Two Candidate Result Result WOOD IND 59.2% Gerry WOOD – Independent elected, by an absolute majority on primary votes, as the member for the Division of Nelson

Previous Members Affiliation Period G V Wood IND 2001 - COLE C D Lugg CLP 1997 - 2001 CLP 40.8% C N Padgham-Purich IND 1983 - 1997

173 Division of Nhulunbuy

Geographic Classification: Remote Area: 83 358 sq km

Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place Birany Birany Gunyangara Wallaby Beach Galiwinku Buymarr Gurrumuru Wandawuy Nhulunbuy Dhalinybuy Gutjangan Yinyikay Yirrkala Dhuruputjpi Mapuru Mobile Polling Team 14 Mobile Polling Team 13 Gan Gan Mata Mata Banthula Baniyala Garrthalala Rorruwuy Gawa Barrkira Gove Hospital Rurrangala

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

30% Gender No. % 25% Female 2381 50.5

20% Male 2338 49.5

Total 4719 15% 10%

5%

0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+ Northern Territory Nhulunbuy Age Range

174 Division of Nhulunbuy Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 4719 Informal Ballot Papers 4.6% Turnout 62.7% Margin 1072 First Preference Votes for each Candidate Ballot Papers Counted Polling Place / Declaration FANNING TRUDGEN WALKER Type CLP IND ALP Formal Informal Total Galiwinku 20 250 159 429 34 463 Nhulunbuy 304 108 667 1079 24 1103 Yirrkala 77 85 163 325 18 343

Mobile Polling Team 13 57 79 200 336 40 376 Mobile Polling Team 14 1 27 1 29 1 30

Nhulunbuy EVC 107 19 211 337 4 341

Absent Votes 34 32 82 148 11 159

Declaration Votes 9 10 12 31 3 34 (incl 15 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other regions) 8 4 18 30 1 31

Postal Votes 24 15 41 80 0 80

Division Total 641 629 1554 2824 136 2960 22.7% 22.3% 55.0% 95.4% 4.6%

Distribution of Preferences FANNING TRUDGEN WALKER CLP IND ALP Formal First Preference Votes 641 629 1554 2824 TRUDGEN excluded 235 -629 394 0 Total 876 0 1948 2824 31.0% 69.0%

Two Candidate Result Result FANNING Lynne WALKER - Australian Labor Party CLP 31.0% elected, by an absolute majority on primary votes, as the member for the Division of Nhulunbuy

Previous Members Affiliation Period L M Walker ALP 2008 - WALKER S J Stirling ALP 1990 - 2008 ALP 69.0% D M Leo ALP 1983 - 1990

175 Division of Nightcliff

Geographic Classification: Urban Area: 14 sq km

Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place Mobile Polling Team 23 Nightcliff Juninga Nursing Home (Darwin)

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

25% Gender No. %

Female 2496 52.0 20% Male 2301 48.0 15% Total 4797 10%

5% 0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+ Northern Territory Nightcliff Age Range

176 Division of Nightcliff Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 4797 Informal Ballot Papers 3.3% Turnout 83.9% Margin 714 First Preference Votes for each Candidate Ballot Papers Counted Polling Place / Declaration FYLES GALE BLANCH ARTHUR WARDLE RUDGE LOVEDAY Type ALP GRN IND IND ASX IND CLP Formal Informal Total Nightcliff 1029 188 573 12 57 128 902 2889 103 2992

Mobile Polling Team 23 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 2

Casuarina EVC 69 10 29 0 3 11 59 181 5 186 Darwin Airport EVC 6 2 2 0 1 0 5 16 0 16 Darwin EVC 57 9 27 1 1 4 64 163 2 165 Palmerston EVC 6 0 2 0 0 0 4 12 0 12

Absent Votes 143 41 51 2 10 16 140 403 19 422

Declaration Votes 8 3 0 0 0 0 6 17 0 17 (incl 13 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other regions) 10 0 0 0 0 4 9 23 0 23

Postal Votes 61 9 38 1 2 6 71 188 2 190

Division Total 1389 263 722 16 74 170 1260 3894 131 4025 35.7% 6.8% 18.5% 0.4% 1.9% 4.4% 32.4% 96.7% 3.3%

Distribution of Preferences FYLES GALE BLANCH ARTHUR WARDLE RUDGE LOVEDAY ALP GRN IND IND ASX IND CLP Formal First Preference Votes 1389 263 722 16 74 170 1260 3894 ARTHUR excluded 2 7 1 -16 2 4 0 0 Progressive Total 1391 270 723 0 76 174 1260 3894 WARDLE excluded 10 14 26 0 -76 12 14 0 Progressive Total 1401 284 749 0 0 186 1274 3894 RUDGE excluded 34 35 78 0 0 -186 39 0 Progressive Total 1435 319 827 0 0 0 1313 3894 GALE excluded 131 -319 169 0 0 0 19 0 Progressive Total 1566 0 996 0 0 0 1332 3894 BLANCH excluded 738 0 -996 0 0 0 258 0 Total 2304 0 0 0 0 0 1590 3894 59.2% 40.8%

Two Candidate Result Result

LOVEDAY Natasha FYLES - Australian Labor Party CLP 40.8% elected, following a distribution of preferences, as the

member for the Division of Nightcliff

Previous Members Affiliation Period FYLES N K Fyles ALP 2012 - ALP 59.2% J L Aagaard ALP 2001 - 2012 S P Hatton CLP 1983 - 2001

177 Division of Port Darwin

Geographic Classification: Urban Area: 11 sq km

Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place Mobile Polling Team 23 Darwin City Tracy Aged Care Larrakeyah

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

30% Gender No. %

25% Female 2157 45.6 20% Male 2573 54.4

15% Total 4730

10% 5% 0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+ Northern Territory Port Darwin Age Range

178 Division of Port Darwin Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 4730 Informal Ballot Papers 2.6% Turnout 79.1% Margin 700 First Preference Votes for each Candidate Ballot Papers Counted Polling Place / Declaration LEUNIG ELFERINK ANDREWS JAMES Type ASX CLP GRN ALP Formal Informal Total Darwin City 69 623 93 444 1229 26 1255 Larrakeyah 46 622 59 349 1076 35 1111

Mobile Polling Team 23 2 2 3 7 14 0 14

Casuarina EVC 0 16 0 10 26 1 27 Darwin Airport EVC 0 11 1 6 18 0 18 Darwin EVC 14 296 20 140 470 4 474 Palmerston EVC 1 11 0 3 15 0 15

Absent Votes 37 289 37 183 546 24 570

Declaration Votes 1 14 3 8 26 0 26 (incl 20 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other regions) 0 21 1 5 27 0 27

Postal Votes 15 118 16 50 199 6 205

Division Total 185 2023 233 1205 3646 96 3742 5.1% 55.5% 6.4% 33.0% 97.4% 2.6%

Distribution of Preferences LEUNIG ELFERINK ANDREWS JAMES ASX CLP GRN ALP Formal First Preference Votes 185 2023 233 1205 3646 LEUNIG excluded -185 74 68 43 0 Progressive Total 0 2097 301 1248 3646 ANDREWS excluded 0 76 -301 225 0 Total 0 2173 0 1473 3646 59.6% 40.4%

Two Candidate Result Result John ELFERINK - Country Liberals JAMES elected, by an absolute majority on primary votes, as the ALP 40.4% member for the Division of Port Darwin

Previous Members Affiliation Period J W Elferink CL/CLP 2008 - K D Sacilotto ALP 2005- 2008 ELFERINK CLP 59.6% S J Carter CLP 2000 - 2005 S L Stone CLP 1990 - 2000 T Harris CLP 1983 - 1990

179 Division of Sanderson

Geographic Classification: Urban Area: 6 sq km

Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place Anula Wagaman Wulagi

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

25% Gender No. %

Female 2556 50.1 20% Male 2544 49.9 15% Total 5100 10%

5%

0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+ Northern Territory Sanderson Age Range

180 Division of Sanderson Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 5100 Informal Ballot Papers 2.9% Turnout 87.9% Margin 272 First Preference Votes for each Candidate Ballot Papers Counted Polling Place / Declaration GREEN STYLES MAGRIPLIS BRIGGS Type ALP CLP FNPP ASX Formal Informal Total Anula 673 746 20 46 1485 39 1524 Wagaman 294 304 30 31 659 27 686 Wulagi 439 548 13 40 1040 28 1068

Casuarina EVC 153 174 4 8 339 8 347 Darwin Airport EVC 4 5 1 0 10 0 10 Darwin EVC 33 72 2 7 114 1 115 Palmerston EVC 6 12 0 1 19 0 19

Absent Votes 202 245 19 36 502 27 529

Declaration Votes 6 11 0 4 21 0 21 (incl 14 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other regions) 3 9 0 0 12 0 12

Postal Votes 59 88 1 3 151 2 153

Division Total 1872 2214 90 176 4352 132 4484 43.0% 50.9% 2.1% 4.0% 97.1% 2.9%

Distribution of Preferences GREEN STYLES MAGRIPLIS BRIGGS ALP CLP FNPP ASX Formal First Preference Votes 1872 2214 90 176 4352 MAGRIPLIS excluded 44 21 -90 25 0 Progressive Total 1916 2235 0 201 4352 BRIGGS excluded 124 77 0 -201 0 Total 2040 2312 0 0 4352 46.9% 53.1%

Two Candidate Result Result GREEN Peter STYLES - Country Liberals ALP 46.9% elected, by an absolute majority on primary votes, as the member for the Division of Sanderson

Previous Members Affiliation Period P D Styles CL/CLP 2008 - STYLES L F Kiely ALP 2001- 2008 CLP 53.1% D W Manzie CLP 1983 - 2001

181 Division of Stuart

Geographic Classification: Remote Area: 383 859 sq km

Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place Pmara Jutunta Top Springs Mataranka Lajamanu Ti Tree Yarralin Menngen Pine Creek Willowra Mobile Polling Team 17 Mistake Creek Yuendumu Wilora Amanbidji Mulggan Mobile Polling Team 15 Yuelamu Barunga Myatt Alyuen Mobile Polling Team 16 Beswick Timber Creek Laramba Daguragu Bulla Werenbun Mulga Bore Kalkarindji Gilwi Nturiya Lingara Kybrook Farm Nyirripi Pigeon Hole Manyallaluk

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

30% Gender No. %

25% Female 2421 51.4 20% Male 2285 48.6

15% Total 4706 10%

5% 0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+ Northern Territory Stuart Age Range

182 Division of Stuart Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 4706 Informal Ballot Papers 5.9% Turnout 62.9% Margin 196 First Preference Votes for each Candidate Ballot Papers Counted Polling Place / Declaration PRICE HAMPTON RYAN Type CLP ALP FNPP Formal Informal Total Lajamanu 38 35 86 159 21 180 Pine Creek 60 22 11 93 3 96 Yuendumu 55 101 58 214 8 222

Mobile Polling Team 15 219 263 74 556 41 597 Mobile Polling Team 16 109 120 131 360 25 385 Mobile Polling Team 17 351 209 9 569 32 601

Alice Springs EVC 38 65 8 111 4 115 Katherine EVC 98 74 16 188 13 201

Absent Votes 201 121 52 374 19 393

Declaration Votes 45 11 5 61 6 67 (incl 48 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other regions) 7 7 6 20 3 23

Postal Votes 70 7 0 77 1 78 (incl 2 EVC ballot papers)

Division Total 1291 1035 456 2782 176 2958 46.4% 37.2% 16.4% 94.1% 5.9%

Distribution of Preferences PRICE HAMPTON RYAN CLP ALP FNPP Formal First Preference Votes 1291 1035 456 2782 RYAN excluded 198 258 -456 0 Total 1489 1293 0 2782 53.5% 46.5%

Two Candidate Result Result HAMPTON Bess PRICE - Country Liberals ALP 46.5% elected, following a distribution of preferences, as the member for the Division of Stuart

Previous Members Affiliation Period B N Price CL 2012 - PRICE CLP 53.5% K R Hampton ALP 2006 - 2012 P H Toyne ALP 1996 - 2006 B R Ede ALP 1983 - 1996

183 Division of Wanguri

Geographic Classification: Urban Area: 40 sq km

Polling Locations 2012

Static Polling Place Leanyer Wanguri

Elector Age Profile Electors by Gender at Roll Close

25% Gender No. %

Female 2494 51.4 20% Male 2361 48.6 15% Total 4855

10%

5%

0% 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+ Northern Territory Wanguri Age Range

184 Division of Wanguri Result of Poll 25 August 2012 Electors on Roll 4855 Informal Ballot Papers 2.0% Turnout 89.1% Margin 593 First Preference Votes for each Candidate Ballot Papers Counted Polling Place / Declaration HENDERSON HARKER Type ALP CLP Formal Informal Total Leanyer 1057 783 1840 33 1873 Wanguri 841 571 1412 21 1433

Casuarina EVC 191 192 383 14 397 Darwin EVC 59 43 102 4 106 Palmerston EVC 6 10 16 0 16

Absent Votes 153 128 281 9 290

Declaration Votes 20 8 28 0 28 (incl 22 Postal ballot papers)

Early Votes (Other 13 8 21 2 23 regions) (incl 3 EVC ballot papers)

Postal Votes 76 80 156 3 159

Division Total 2416 1823 4239 86 4325 57.0% 43.0% 98.0% 2.0%

Two Candidate Result Result HENDERSON ALP 57.0% Paul HENDERSON - Australian Labor Party elected, by an absolute majority on primary votes, as the member for the Division of Wanguri

Previous Members Affiliation Period

HARKER P R Henderson* ALP 1999 - CLP 43.0% J D Bailey ALP 1989 - 1999 D F Dale CLP 1983 - 1989

* Mr Henderson resigned in January 2013 and a by-election was held on 16 February 2013 with the seat retained by the ALP.

185