Proclaimed Northern Territory and Tasmanian Senators Takes Role
The Australian Electoral Commission announced on Sept 25, Wednesday, the count of two Senators at the Northern Territory. The two Northern Senators were proclaimed at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept 25, in AEC headquarters in Darwin.
The winning candidates were Country Liberals (NT) Nigel Scullion and Australian Labor Party (NT) Branch Nova Peris.
AEC Officer for the Northern Territory, Robert Pugsley, reported that the counts were tallied through the keying-in of votes into a computerised system. An automated process was also used to distribute preferences and determine the two victorious senators.
"As with all aspects of the count, the automated distribution of preferences undertaken today was open to scrutineers appointed by the candidates. Approximately 92 per cent of voters cast their ballot above-the-line on the Senate ballot paper while eight per cent voted below the line," Mr Pugsley stated.
Mr Scullion was previously elected to the Senate for the Northern Territory back in 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010 (Territory Senators serve for the same term as the House of Representatives.)
He was also appointed as Minister for Community Service from Jan 30, 2007 until Dec 3, 2007 and as Minister for Indigenous Affairs on Sept 18, 2013.
Meanwhile, Ms Peris is the first indigenous woman in the federal parliament.
"It was an honour to be asked to serve by the then-prime minister Julia Gillard, who said, 'would you serve for the people of the territory?' And I accepted that. I hope I can serve the people of the territory as well as I have the people of Australia in my sporting career," Ms Peris told reporters in Darwin during the official proclamation at the AEC headquarters.
Consequently, AEC also announced that the count for the election of six Senators for Tasmania was completed. They will be proclaimed at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, Sept 26, in an AEC headquarter in Hobart.
The winning candidates were Liberals Richard Colbeck and David Bushby, Australian Labor Party Carol Brown and Catryna Bilyk, Australian Greens Peter Whish-Wilson and Palmer United Jacqui Lambie.
"As with all aspects of the count, the automated distribution of preferences undertaken today was open to scrutineers appointed by the candidates. Approximately 90 per cent of voters cast their ballot above-the-line on the Senate ballot paper while 10 per cent voted below the line," State Manager for Tasmania, Sandra Riordan, explained how the counts were tallied.