Last ditch pleas have failed - Tindal splits from Katherine electorate

The new NT electoral boundaries have been released today with Tindal moving into the Arnhem electorate.

The changes will be applied at next year's NT election scheduled for August 22, 2020.

Former Katherine MLA Mike Reed was among those who objected to the planned Tindal move.

Mr Reed said the proposal could "result in a negative outcome for RAAF Base Tindal personnel and their families should they no longer feel to be part of the Katherine community".

The NT Electoral Commission originally planned to shift 500 people from Florina Road, Binjari and Rockhole and place them in Selena Uibo's Arnhem electorate.

Katherine Town Council suggested Tindal move out instead.

Katherine is currently about 500-600 electors over its enrolment quota and Arnhem is about the same number down.

The division of Arnhem is to gain the entire suburbs of Tindal (including the RAAF Base) and Venn from the division of Katherine, the electoral commission announced today.

"Any electors moved out of the division of Katherine to the division of Arnhem will still be part of the Katherine community, remain within the Katherine Town Council boundary and still have access to their Legislative Assembly representative in the town centre," the commission said.

Like Sandra Nelson, Selena Uibo has an office in Katherine.

"In deciding which portion of Katherine electors needed to move to Arnhem, the committee determined that the strong desires of the permanent residents in Cossack, Binjari and Rockhole to remain in the division of Katherine were significant.

"The submission from the Binjari Community Aboriginal Corporation stated that they were long-term residents of the Katherine region with established social, economic and cultural links with the town.

"Whilst noting the concerns about moving Tindal electors to Arnhem, the committee did not agree that relationships between Defence and local businesses would be negatively impacted by the boundary change."

The commission did attempt to question the RAAF about the proposed switch but the air force said it was not allowed to comment on electoral issues.

The CLP had also objected to the Tindal switch in two submissions to the commission.

The CLP's head office said Tindal's residents and voters "continue to contribute to the very social and economic fabric of Katherine".

The CLP said it did not support the town council's proposal.

The main changes to the boundaries for the 2020 election affect the divisions of Katherine, Stuart and Namatjira.

The division of Stuart also has a new name. It will be called Gwoja, following a suggestion offered to the redistribution committee.

The division of Nhulunbuy has also been renamed, it will be known as Mulka for the 2020 Territory election.

The report and maps are available at www.ntec.nt.gov.au

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