Media Release 2001: All Eyes on the National Tally Room

8 November 2001

It's a political junkie's dream: packed into one room, more than 300 press, television and radio journalists, four purpose-built television studios with 400 presenters, operators and computer staff, 100 political party workers, a host of Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) staff and cutting edge technology.

Add an air of political fervour and what do you get?

The National Tally Room at Exhibition Park in Canberra.

Following many months of detailed planning the National Tally Room takes about two weeks to build but only three days to dismantle.

National Tally Room Manager, Paul Anderson, said that organising the Tally Room was one of his most challenging and rewarding roles as a senior officer with the AEC.

"It is a massive job of logistics to make sure that everything happens in the right order and on time. We have to transform an empty hall into what is probably Australia's largest media centre."

"We accessed the building on 29 October when we began laying the floor and building the tally board. Then there was the electricity supply, air-conditioning, telecommunication lines, cabling, planning for the television broadcast facilities and the allocation of space for the journalists."

Mr Anderson said public access to the Tally Room was limited because of space restrictions and it was difficult for some people in the public viewing area to see what was happening.

"However, this isn't the only Tally Room that the AEC provides. As soon as the counting starts, people can access the virtual tally room from the AEC website at www.aec.gov.au or they can watch the results unfold on network television," he said.

"The best place to see what goes on in the Tally Room is undoubtedly in the comfort of your own lounge room," Mr Anderson said.

Further information:

Paul Anderson
National Tally Room Manager
Ph. (02) 6271 4460
Mobile 0412 269 720

Anthea Wilson
Director Information
Ph. (02) 6271 4415
Mobile 0413 452 539