ACT Legislative Assembly Casual Vacancy Announced

Published 19 Feb 2016

The name of the candidate elected to replace Ms Mary Porter AM MLA in the ACT Legislative Assembly should be known by 3 March 2016, the ACT Electoral Commissioner, Mr Phillip Green, announced today.

The Electoral Commissioner has received official notification of the casual vacancy from the Speaker of the Assembly, Mrs Vicki Dunne MLA. Ms Porter formally resigned from the Assembly today, Friday 19 February 2016.

“I am now able to outline the official timetable for filling the vacancy,” Mr Green said.

Legislative Assembly vacancies are filled by conducting a ‘count-back’ of those ballot papers that elected the vacating member. In effect, those electors who voted for Ms Porter determine her replacement.

“To begin the count-back process, an advertisement will appear on Monday 22 February 2016 in the Canberra Times, inviting candidates who unsuccessfully stood in the Ginninderra electorate at the 2012 election to contest the vacancy. Where practicable the Commission will also notify all those unsuccessful candidates directly,” Mr Green said.

Those candidates then have ten days to indicate if they wish to contest the vacancy. Applications from candidates must be received by 12.00 noon on Thursday 3 March 2016.

“At 12.30 pm on Thursday 3 March 2016, the names of the candidates contesting the vacancy will be officially declared. A computer counting program will then be used to determine which candidate will be elected to the Assembly to replace Ms Porter,” Mr Green said.

It is expected that the official declaration of the result will take place the following Monday 7 March 2016, at 3.00 pm.

Members of the media are invited to attend these two events. They will take place in the Kiribati Room at the ACT Legislative Assembly, Civic Square, London Circuit, Canberra City.