Photo: ABC News: Isabella Tolhurst
It’s approaching 35 degrees on Tuesday morning in Pirlangimpi on Melville Island, north of Darwin, as people begin to wander down to the local council building.
A line winds out the door, and Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) staff offer instructions as they pass out ballot papers.
It’s the first day of early voting for the federal election, and this small, remote community on the Tiwi Islands is the AEC’s first stop.
Home to about 250 registered voters, Pirlangimpi is one of the northernmost communities in the massive Northern Territory electorate of Lingiari.
The seat is currently held by Labor’s Marion Scrymgour, but it is expected to go to a close race this election with Country Liberal Party (CLP) candidate Lisa Siebert looking to clinch it for her party for the first time.