The latest election for the ACT’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body (ATSIEB) commenced this week (Monday, 17 May) with members of Canberra’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community encouraged to nominate candidates.
ACT Electoral Commissioner Damian Cantwell said the ATSIEB election, last held in July 2017, was originally scheduled to be conducted in July 2020.
“However, due to public health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the election was formally postponed by the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs,” Mr Cantwell said.
“ATSIEB was established by the ACT Legislative Assembly to enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the ACT to have a strong democratically elected voice and is comprised of seven members who are elected every three years,” he said.
“Its members represent the interests and aspirations of the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.”
Mr Cantwell said ATSIEB provided direct advice to the ACT Government and aimed to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Canberrans.
He said voting in the election would coincide with NAIDOC week celebrations in the ACT.
“Voting will commence on Saturday 3 July and continue until Saturday 10 July 2021 at a number of venues across Canberra,” the Commissioner said.
He said locations and times for voting would be published on the Elections ACT website.
Further information on the 2021 ATSIEB election, including how to nominate a candidate, can be accessed at this PS News link.
