The federal government has vowed to guarantee the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory will be guaranteed at least two seats in the lower house.
The Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory will be guaranteed at least two seats in the lower house of Parliament after the federal government vowed to protect their political representation.
The electoral commission in July ruled the Northern Territory's seat of Lingiari should be axed due to declining population growth. Fears Indigenous Australians will lose their voice if one of two NT seats in parliament is axed However, the federal government announced on Friday it had agreed with the finding of a bipartisan inquiry that both territories should get legal protection to ensure their proper representation.
"Government legislation will be introduced into the Parliament with the intention of having it passed by the end of the year," he said. The government will also consider greater resourcing for members with large electorates.
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