7 October 2004

On Saturday 9 October 2004, the AEC will have in place all the services required for electors to cast their votes - along with a number of services to meet the election needs of the media.

The following is a summary of 2004 election day and election night information for media.

• 2004 Election day (8am to 6pm, Saturday 9 October 2004)

Access to polling places

Any media representatives wishing to film voting in a particular polling place are required to obtain prior permission from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) in that State or Territory.

Please contact the relevant AEC Public Awareness Officer:
NSW	Susan Gibb	phone (02) 9375 6318
QLD	Rosemary Matheson	phone (07) 3834 3428
VIC	Debbie Rizidis	phone (03) 9285 7131
SA	Paul Langtry	phone (08) 8237 6582
WA	Lynette Chester	phone (08) 6363 8026
TAS	Michael Horwood	phone (03) 6235 0509
NT	Iain Loganathan	phone (08) 8982 8005

To discuss any filming/photographic requirements in polling places in the ACT, contact the Divisional Returning Officer directly on:

Lynette London, DRO Canberra	phone 6257 6018
Debbie Govan, DRO Fraser	phone 6249 1876

Media liaison contacts

Throughout 2004 election day, the following AEC officers will be available to assist with media requests:

NATIONAL
Brien Hallett
Assistant Commissioner
Public Awareness, Media and Research
Mobile: 0413 274 798

Phil Diak
Director
Media and Communication
Mobile: 0413 452 539

ACT
Jeff Howarth
Australian Electoral Officer for the ACT
Mobile: 0401 140 672

• Election night (post 6pm, Saturday 9 October 2004)

Virtual Tally Room

For the majority of media wherever they are in Australia, the best place to receive comprehensive and timely election results is via the virtual tally room (VTR) on the AEC website at www.aec.gov.au.

The VTR will provide over 55 screens of election results and analysis, a massive increase from the four screens available at the 2001 election.

On election night, the first results are expected to be available on the VTR from about 5.30pm EST. (These will be Tasmanian results available early due to daylight saving).

On election night, results will be available at a national, State/Territory and divisional level. On the Sunday following election day, results will also be available at a polling place level.

The VTR will continue operating until all election 2004 results are finalised.

National Tally Room in Canberra

On election night, the AEC hosts the National Tally Room, which is probably Australia’s largest media centre.

More than 300 press, television and radio journalists have already been allocated their access to the tally room, and the AEC will have in place a media liaison team to assist these journalists.

Unfortunately no further media access can be granted to the tally room.

Media liaison contacts

On election night 2004, the following AEC officers will be available to assist with media requests:

NATIONAL
Brien Hallett
Assistant Commissioner
Public Awareness, Media and Research
Phone: (02) 6271 8546 (at the National Tally Room)
Mobile: 0413 274 798

Phil Diak
Director Media and Communication
Phone: (02) 6271 8551 (at the National Tally Room)
Mobile: 0413 452 539

ACT
Jeff Howarth
Australian Electoral Officer for the ACT
Mobile: 0401 140 672