Voters cast ballots at Old Parliament House in Canberra

Constituents are casting their votes at Old Parliament House in Canberra.

Transcript

00:00This is probably one of the few polling places around the country where enthusiasm for democracy

00:07sausages is actually matched by the excitement for the democratic process.

00:11This was the home of the Australian Parliament from 1927 to 1988 and is now the Museum of

00:18Australian Democracy.

00:19Many in Canberra see it as making a bit of a political pilgrimage to come here and vote

00:23today.

00:24Among them was the Australian Electoral Commissioner this morning who is here reflecting not just

00:28on the millions that will vote today in the some 7,000 polling centres right around the

00:33country but the millions who have already cast a vote.

00:37What a wonderful day it is for elections in Australia and for democracy in Australia and

00:40it's great to see people out enjoying this beautiful day in Canberra grabbing a democracy

00:46sausage and casting their ballot.

00:49About 47% of Australians have voted early either directly at pre-poll or through our postal

00:55votes.

00:56It's an increase of about 22% on early voting from the last election.

01:03Part of a global trend so you know it's not unexpected.

01:06For the pundits they consider the seats in Canberra either being safe labour or very safe

01:12labour but that doesn't mean that there's not seats to be watched here in the ACT.

01:17Those cost of living pressures and housing issues that we have seen right around the country,

01:21Canberra is not immune to those.

01:23Also the coalition's policy of reducing the size of the public service in Canberra by some

01:2841,000 jobs has also been a key point of contention throughout the campaign.

01:32At the last election we saw Independent David Pocock unseat then Liberal Senator Zed Soselja,

01:38the first time that the Liberal Party hasn't held one of the ACT's two Senate seats in its entire history.

01:44When it comes to the lower house well we've seen a number of Greens and Independent candidates who are hoping to jump onto the momentum

01:50that we saw at the last ACT election where two Independent members were elected to the Legislative Assembly.

01:56So plenty of seats to watch here in the ACT, plenty to happen when it comes to counting after six o'clock.