Mr Maurice Walker elected to fill the casual vacancy in the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body

Published 13 Sep 2012

“Mr Maurice Walker has been elected to fill the casual vacancy on the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, resulting from the resignation of one of its members,” the ACT Electoral Commissioner, Mr Phillip Green, said today.

The Chair of the Elected Body formally notified the Electoral Commissioner on 22 August 2012 that Mr William Hodges had resigned his position on the Elected Body, resulting in a casual vacancy.

“All candidates who stood unsuccessfully at the 2011 election were invited to contest the vacancy and five applications were received prior to the close of applications at 12 noon yesterday, Monday 10 September 2012,” Mr Green said.

Vacancies on the Elected Body are filled by distributing the votes of the former member. “In effect, those voters who voted for Mr Hodges determine his replacement,” Mr Green said.

After the formal declaration of candidates, a distribution of the votes received by Mr Hodges took place yesterday at the ACT Electoral Commission office in Rae Street Belconnen.

“Following the distribution of preferences Mr Maurice Walker was declared elected to fill the casual vacancy on the Elected Body,” Mr Green said.

The official declaration of the poll is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 12 September 2012.