Voters in Remote Tiwi Islands Community Cast Ballots as Early Voting Opens
On a hot Tuesday morning in Pirlangimpi on Melville Island, just north of Darwin, residents made their way to the local council building to cast their votes as early voting for the federal election officially began.
As the mercury approached 35 degrees, a line formed outside, with Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) staff handing out ballot papers and offering guidance to voters.
This small, remote community — home to around 250 registered voters — marks the AEC’s first stop in the Northern Territory’s vast Lingiari electorate, which stretches from the Tiwi Islands down to the South Australian border.
A closely contested seat
Labor’s Marion Scrymgour currently holds the seat, but with Country Liberal Party (CLP) candidate Lisa Siebert mounting a strong challenge, this election is expected to be one of the closest contests in the NT.
The diverse electorate encompasses hundreds of remote Indigenous communities, each with its own unique challenges and priorities.
Local issues take centre stage
For Pirlangimpi residents, one of the biggest concerns is the limited opportunities available for young people.
Ningle Galarla said his vote was cast with the younger generation in mind.
“They’re looking for jobs,” he said.
Paulina Jedda Puruntatameri echoed his sentiments, highlighting high youth unemployment and a shortage of mental health services.
“We’ve got a huge suicide rate,” she said. “We need counselling, workshops for our young people, a women’s refuge, and a cooling-off centre for the men — but none of it has happened.”
Dennis Murphy Tipakalippa emphasised the importance of seeing government funding put to use in essential infrastructure.
“Our roads between here, Milikapiti and Wurrumiyanga are still terrible,” he said. “We’re hoping something gets done about it.”
Shared national concerns
While local issues dominated conversation, residents also voiced frustrations shared by voters nationwide — namely the soaring cost of groceries and fuel.
“We’ve only got one shop here,” Ms Puruntatameri said. “If we want to do proper shopping, we have to take a ferry to Darwin.”
