Name: Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters
Uploaded: 2026-09-22T23:15:00+00:00
Duration: 21600 s
Description: Official Recording of Joint Committee Proceedings from the Australian Parliament

Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters

22 September 2026

Contents updated on 23 Sept 2026

The Chair opens the hearing on electoral matters and Northern Territory representation, then questions Dr Franklin on the NT’s constitutional status, geographic scale, and current under-representation, including whether Senate numbers and vast electorates adequately serve remote and Indigenous communities. Members probe options for increasing NT seats, constitutional and quota constraints, and practical barriers to voting access in remote areas, linking institutional design to turnout, legitimacy and territory–state equity.

Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters Wed, 23 Sept 2026 Australian Parliament

20:56 - 21:42

Speaker 1

Good to go? Morning everyone. I declare open this public hearing of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters for the inquiry into the 2025 federal election. I'd like to start by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land and paying respects to elders past, present, and emerging. In accordance with the committee's resolutions of the 4th of August 2025, this hearing will be broadcast on the Parliament's website and the proof and official transcripts of proceedings will be published on the Parliament's website.

I remind members of the media who may be present or listening on the web of the need to fairly and accurately report proceedings of the committee. I now welcome Dr. Nathan Franklin to give evidence today. For the Hansard record, would you please state your full name and the capacity in which you appear before the committee?

21:42 - 21:48

Speaker 2

My name is Nathan Franklin and I'm here as a citizen of the Northern Territory, born and raised in Darwin.

21:48 - 22:15

Speaker 1

Excellent. Thank you, Dr. Franklin. Although the committee does not require you to give evidence under oath, I shall advise you that this is this hearing is a legal proceeding of the Parliament and therefore has the same standing as proceedings of the respective houses. The giving of false or misleading evidence is a serious matter and may be regarded as a contempt of Parliament. The evidence given today will be recorded by Hansard and attracts parliamentary privilege.

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