Anniversary of the ACT’s First Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body Results

Date: 2 July 2008

The date being marked

On 2 July 2008, the ACT Electoral Commissioner publicly declared the successful candidates in the first election for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body. The declaration identified the seven people elected to represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community interests through the new body.

This entry marks the public declaration of results, rather than a single polling day. Voting had taken place from 16 to 21 June, counting was conducted on 1 July, and formal notification on the Legislation Register followed on 4 July. These stages are recorded in the Electoral Commission’s annual report.

A local voice in government decisions

The Assembly had passed the legislation establishing the body on 6 May 2008. It created a representative mechanism through which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT could put their views to government and participate in decisions affecting their lives.

The first election drew 13 candidates for seven positions, with 227 votes admitted to the count. These figures describe the inaugural election, rather than current membership or present-day voting arrangements.

Why include this anniversary

Canberra is often discussed as the location of national political events. This anniversary instead concerns Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community representation within the ACT itself. That distinction helps make a national calendar more geographically and politically balanced.

For schools and workplaces, the date can support discussion about the different roles of Traditional Custodians, community organisations, elected representatives and governments. They are not interchangeable forms of authority. Read the founding record alongside the Elected Body’s own information to consider why meaningful participation requires more than inviting people to comment after decisions have already been made.

Sources and further reading

• ACT Electoral Commission Annual Report 2007–08 — Elections ACT
• First Australians and the Assembly — ACT Legislative Assembly
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body — ATSIEB

Our related products and resources

We do not currently offer products or learning resources specifically for this date. The reading links above are provided for background and further learning. Suitable items from our range will be added here as they become available.