“Paula McGrady 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, Mr Ross Fowler,” the Electoral Commissioner, Damian Cantwell, said today.

The Chair of the Elected Body formally notified the Electoral Commissioner on 13 October 2017 that Mr Ross Fowler had resigned his position on the Elected Body, resulting in a casual vacancy.

“All candidates who stood unsuccessfully at the 2017 election were invited to contest the vacancy. Five applications were received prior to the close of applications at 12 noon, Monday 6 November 2017,” Mr Cantwell said.

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

After the formal declaration of candidates, a distribution of the votes received by Mr Fowler took place today, conducted by Elections ACT.

“Following the distribution of preferences Paula McGrady was elected to fill the casual vacancy on the Elected Body,” Mr Cantwell said.

The official declaration of the poll is scheduled to take place at 10:30am on Tuesday 7 November 2017 at the office of the ACT Electoral Commission.