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National

NT voters go to the polls in remote electorate of Arafura as parties differ over Voice to Parliament

Tiwi Islands locals have started to vote in the Arafura by-election. (ABC News: Jano Gibson)

In the remote community of Wurrumiyanga, Tiwi Islanders are filtering into a makeshift polling centre at the local sports and recreation hall. 

In their hands are how-to-vote cards featuring three candidates: Labor's Manuel Brown, the CLP's Leslie Tungutalum and the Federation Party's Alan Middleton.

It's a scene that's been played out in remote communities across the Top End over the past week, as constituents cast their ballots in a by-election for the Northern Territory seat of Arafura.

While improved housing, health and roads have been promised by the main candidates, Labor has been keen to highlight a key difference with the CLP — an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

"The voters in Arafura have a choice, and their choice is very clear," Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said earlier this week.

"At the moment we see a party that is very supportive of the Voice and another party that is sitting on the fence."

The by-election was triggered by the sudden passing of the long-serving former local member. (ABC News: Jano Gibson)

Her comments came after deep divisions were exposed within the CLP when its president quit after describing his party's opposition to the Voice as "offensive".

But despite Labor's focus on the Voice, some locals on the Tiwi Islands say they haven't been given enough detail about it.

"We hear a lot of talk about the Voice," Melville Island elder John Anthony Wilson said.

Mr Wilson in Wurrumiyanga on Bathurst Island. (ABC News: Jano Gibson)

"[But] nobody even came here and explained to the people [who] are sitting here."

Another senior man said he was aware of the Voice but believed the community needed more information.

"The Voice [to] Parliament is a very good thing," traditional owner Wesley Kerinaiua said.

"But we need them to get around to the community and get more feedback."

Mr Kerinaiua supports the concept of a Voice to Parliament. (ABC News: Jano Gibson)

Several other young people that spoke with the ABC said they were not familiar with the Voice to Parliament.

Instead, they spoke about the need for better employment opportunities, increased housing, sealed roads and more activities for children.

"I think people in remote communities aren't concerned with the debate around the Voice," NT CLP Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said.

"They are concerned with the matters at hand that they are dealing with on a day-to-day basis.

"Whether it's about employment, whether it's about dealing with substance abuse, or tackling domestic and family violence and those sorts of issues."

Labor MP Marion Scrymgour, who represents the federal seat of Lingiari, acknowledged the many issues on people's minds, but said the Voice was still relevant in the bush.

"People have asked about the Voice, people are interested as to how is this going to affect change," she said.

"And we need to articulate that, and we need to make it clear to people just how it's going to make a difference to people's lives.

"Aboriginal people on the ground and communities know that it's not going to be an immediate change. But there will be a change."

Arafura takes in the Tiwi Islands as well as much of west Arnhem Land. (ABC News: Jano Gibson)

The Arafura by-election was triggered following the sudden death of former Labor member, Lawrence Costa, who held the seat for more than six years.

The CLP candidate told the ABC he wanted to be a voice for the people of Arafura.

"We all want the same thing, the same goal of trying to help our people," Mr Tungutalum said.

Leslie Tungatalum, Tiwi Islands Regional Council deputy mayor, is the CLP's candidate. (ABC News: Jano Gibson)

"We took a chance of standing here and trying to make a difference for our people.

"And regardless of what happens between Labor [and the CLP], the goal is the people, and people are the voice of this campaign."

Labor's candidate, Mr Brown, was campaigning in another community when the ABC visited Wurrumiyanga, and did not respond to a request for an interview.

Manuel Brown, a local community service worker, is Labor's candidate. (ABC News: Jano Gibson)

The NT Electoral Commission will begin counting votes in the Arafura by-election on Saturday evening.

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