“Ms Deanne Booth 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, Ms Leah House,” the Electoral Commissioner, Damian Cantwell AM CSC, said today.

Ms House resigned as a member of the Elected Body on 4 April 2023.

“All candidates who stood unsuccessfully at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body 2021 election were invited to contest the vacancy. Six applications were received prior to the close of applications at 12 noon, Friday 21 April 2023,” 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 Ms House determined her replacement,” Mr Cantwell said.

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

“Following the distribution of preferences Ms Deanne Booth was declared 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 10:30 am on Monday 24 April 2023.