The name of the candidate elected to replace Mrs Giulia Jones, member for Murrumbidgee, in the ACT Legislative Assembly should be known by Monday 20 June 2022, the ACT Electoral Commissioner, Mr Damian Cantwell AM CSC, announced today.

The Electoral Commissioner has received official notification of the casual vacancy from the Speaker of the Assembly, Ms Joy Burch MLA. Mrs Giulia Jones formally resigned from the Assembly on Thursday 2 June 2022.

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

Legislative Assembly vacancies are filled by conducting a ‘countback’ of those ballots that elected the vacating member.  In effect, those electors who voted for Mrs Jones determine her replacement.

“To begin the countback process, an advertisement will appear today, Friday 10 June 2022, in The Canberra Times, inviting candidates who unsuccessfully stood in the Murrumbidgee electorate at the 2020 election to contest the vacancy.  Where practicable the Commission will also notify all those unsuccessful candidates directly,” Mr Cantwell said.

Those candidates now have ten days to indicate if they wish to contest the vacancy. Applications from candidates must be received by 12:00 noon on Monday 20 June 2022.

“At 12:30 pm on 20 June 2022, 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 Mrs Jones,” Mr Cantwell said.

It is expected that the official declaration of the result will take place the following Wednesday 22 June, at 3:00 pm.

Media and the public are invited to attend these two events however attendance is subject to Covid Safe provisions. These events will take place at the ACT Legislative Assembly, 196 London Circuit, Civic Square, Canberra City.