Incoming Northern Territory federal MP Marion Scrymgour has flagged a potential review of the Australian Electoral Commission by the new Labor government.
Ms Scrymgour, who narrowly won the remote Northern Territory seat of Lingiari, said there were 7000 informal votes cast in the poll, and that voter turnout was less than 70 per cent.
“We have to do better,” she told NITV’s current affairs program The Point.
“We have to look at why are Aboriginal people or people through the Lingiari electorate [were] disengaged from the electoral process.
“There were many people who came to the voting booth who said that they had voted in the last federal election, but their names were taken off the roll.
“So there's a number of things I think that need to be looked at as part of an AEC review.”
Another issue was the lack of First Nations interpreters on hand to assist the AEC staff in remote booths.
Incoming member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour says there was a high number of informal votes and low voter turnout in the recent Federal Election. Source: AEC
Historic first caucus
Ms Scrymgour attended her first Labor caucus meeting in Canberra today, which includes a historic six First Nations representatives.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese’s new ministry will be sworn in tomorrow, and will include Linda Burney’s elevation as the first Indigenous woman to hold the Aboriginal Affairs portfolio.
Labor also claimed victory in the NSW seat of Gilmore, expanding its majority in parliament to 77 seats.
Ms Scrymgour said there was a real “buzz” to the caucus room at today’s meeting.
“I have a very diverse, not just remote, but regional electorate,” she said.
“There are many issues across the diversity of that electorate, and I'm going to make sure that their voices aren't lost in the noise of Canberra.”
