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Key Points
- Christmas Island falls within the electorate of Lingiari in the Northern Territory.
- Some locals are concerned their voices are not being heard in Canberra.
- Experts say islander votes could determine the fate of the marginal seat.
The same applies to Cocos (Keeling) Islands, which is also included in Lingiari, and Norfolk Island, which falls under the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
Christmas Islanders’ votes are counted in the federal seat of Lingiari which also takes in Alice Springs, 3,300km from the island. Credit: Google Maps
Dr Rob Manwaring, Associate Professor in the College of Business, Government, and Law at Flinders University, describes this arrangement as “unusual”, pointing to a potential “strong representation gap” for the island’s residents.
“Certainly, they would have a sympathetic ear in the Member (for) Lingiari,” Williams said.
Until 1992, the laws of Christmas Island remained largely based on the laws of colonial Singapore. Source: SBS / Nicole Gong
Despite its small voter base, Christmas Island’s electoral significance should not be underestimated, experts say.
“So, a large block of votes from Christmas Island could actually determine the actual outcome of the election there.”
Christmas Island local workers went on strike in late February, demanding “same job, same pay, same conditions” as mainland Australia. Source: SBS / Nicole Gong
Both Manwaring and Williams agree that as a marginal seat, Lingiari will attract attention from both major parties. However, whether party leaders will visit the island remains uncertain.
“It’s not really realistic for a federal leader to take time out of a campaign to go visit those small number of voters on Christmas Island, but it certainly would be a magnanimous act if they ever did it,” Williams said.
‘A little dot in the ocean’
Lifelong Christmas Island resident Koon Yong Ho said she believed the island had been overlooked by the Australian government for years.
Christmas Islander Koon Yong Ho’s family migrated from Hainan, China, in the 1940s. Source: SBS / Nicole Gong
“The Australian government isn’t investing a cent in the island,” she said. “Look at the roads — everywhere you see is not good because we don’t have the funding.”
SBS Chinese contacted both the Lingiari Country Liberal Party candidate Lisa Siebert and the sitting Labor MP Marion Scrymgour for comment but had not received a response by the time of publication.
