Calls for an inquiry into low voter participation rates in the Top End

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The speaker of the Northern Territory Parliament is calling for an inquiry into low voter participation in the Northern Territory. It comes after a dismal turnout during last month's local government elections, particularly in the Northern Territory outback.

Transcript

00:00The state of democracy under scrutiny in the Northern Territory.

00:07It's time to bite the bullet and have a close look at this.

00:12The Speaker of Parliament describing voter participation at recent local government elections as...

00:18Pathetic.

00:20The cash strapped anti electoral commission also disappointed.

00:24Participation, not where we'd like it to be.

00:27Across the Territory's municipal councils, just 58% of people on the electoral roll voted, down from 65% in 2021.

00:38We have seen an increase to the electoral roll, but we are seeing a decline in participation.

00:42The highest turnout in Litchfield, followed by Darwin, Palmerston, Alice Springs and Catherine.

00:50You know, we are told it's compulsory voting, we don't go and vote, and there is no consequence.

00:57Participation in the bush, even lower.

01:01Over the last decade, it's been reduced to as much as 10% in some parts of the bush in the Northern Territory.

01:09The Speaker now calling for an inquiry.

01:13I think the Northern Territory government is in a position to make a change, to at least get some expert advice as to how we move forward,

01:22because we cannot continue down this trajectory.

01:26The government did not answer questions about the call for an inquiry, leaving doubts over whether a broken system can ever be fixed.

01:36The Republican are working as a professional, especially with regard for tranquility in the Mr. Muijan University.

01:39The American Pronunciation Guide to�� a

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