Torres Strait Regional Authority elections

Updated: 29 April 2016

Statement from TSRA

The Australian Government Minister for Indigenous Affairs, the Honourable Nigel Scullion has announced Saturday 30 July 2016 as polling day for the 2016 Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) election.

The TSRA Board consists of 20 elected members who are Torres Strait Islander or Aboriginal people living within a ward in the region. TSRA Members serve a term of four years. The previous TSRA elections occurred in 2012. The TSRA wards are Badu, Bamaga, Boigu, Dauan, Erub, Hammond, Iama, Kubin, Masig, Mabuiag, Mer, Ngurapi and Muralag, Port Kennedy, Poruma, Saibai, Seisia, St Pauls, TRAWQ, Ugar, Warraber.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) will call for nominations of candidates who wish to contest the TSRA election from Tuesday 31 May 2016 to Wednesday 29 June 2016.

To be eligible, prospective candidates must:

  • be a Torres Strait Islander or Aboriginal person
  • 18 years of age or over
  • be on the Commonwealth Electoral Roll at an address within the ward they wish to represent as well as live in the ward they want to represent
  • not be a TSRA staff member or consultant to the TSRA
  • not be bankrupt and there be no personal insolvency agreement in operation with their creditors under the law relating to bankruptcy
  • not have been sentenced to imprisonment for one year or longer
  • not have been in prison for dishonesty for three months or longer

Nominations can be made by post, fax or in person, with forms available from the AEC and the TSRA (see contact details below). An Election Guide is also available from the AEC and the TSRA to assist nominees and voters.

All Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people living within these wards who are 18 years of age and over, enrolled on the Commonwealth Electoral Roll by 5pm on Friday 15 July 2016; and enrolled at an address in these wards are encouraged to vote.

On polling day, voting will occur at a polling place in the wards of Bamaga, Ngurapai and Muralag, Port Kennedy and TRAWQ. Venues will be advised in the near future.

For electors outside the above mentioned wards, mobile polling teams will visit each ward. A mobile polling schedule with dates, times and locations will be available shortly.

Should a voter be unable to attend polling day, an absent vote, early vote or postal vote can be arranged. Further details can be obtained by contacting the AEC on the number below.