Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

At the outset I want to say that I fully respect the retiring member for Lingiari. I acknowledge the contribution that he has just made. I acknowledge moreover his contributions to debates and his knowledge of the Northern Territory. He knows the Northern Territory better than anybody else in the House of Representatives, and I recognise that fact. I know that the member for Solomon also has an intimate knowledge of the inner workings of the Top End and the Northern Territory more generally. I acknowledge that. I disagree with him that this bill before the House, the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Voter Integrity) Bill 2021, is intending to just ensure that the ALP loses the seat of Lingiari and that it goes a CLP candidate, Damien Ryan. I have to say that the member for Lingiari knows full well the efforts to which I went to ensure that there were two seats in the Northern Territory, because as a regional member I understand how important it is to have representation and not to have to drive thousands of kilometres to see your local member, whether it is Warren Snowdon, Luke Gosling OAM or whoever, around and across this wide brown land. I acknowledge the fearless representation that Mr Snowdon has provided to not just—

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