Media Release 1999: Augmented Electoral Commission Decides Federal Electoral Boundaries and Names for New South Wales

Updated: 6 September 2010

5 November 1999

The augmented Electoral Commission for New South Wales has concluded its deliberations on the new boundaries for the 50 Divisions for New South Wales.

The Chairman of the Australian Electoral Commission and presiding member of the augmented Electoral Commission, the Hon. Trevor Morling QC, said "The augmented Electoral Commission for New South Wales has reviewed the proposed Redistribution of the State and considered all objections to the Redistribution Committee's proposal, as well as comments on objections and the material placed before it at a public hearing held in Sydney on 7 October 1999.

"Following these deliberations the augmented Electoral Commission has determined to adopt the proposal of the Redistribution Committee for New South Wales which was published on 16 July 1999, save for the changes detailed below:

Divisions of Berowra and Mitchell

The locality of Castle Hill, including the Anglican Retirement Villages, is moved to Mitchell. As a consequence, an area of Baulkham Hills Local Government Area, from Middle Dural to Wisemans Ferry, is moved from Mitchell to Berowra.

Divisions of Gilmore and Hume

The locality of New Berrima is united with the remainder of Berrima in Hume.

Divisions of Lyne and Paterson

Great Lakes Local Government Area is united in Paterson.

Divisions of Lindsay and Macquarie

Whilst no objection was lodged, it was brought to the augmented Electoral Commission's attention that a small number of electors in the proposed Macquarie were isolated from the rest of the Division, and so these electors have been moved to Lindsay.

Names of proposed Divisions

The augmented Electoral Commission confirmed the Redistribution Committee's assessment that the proposed Divisions can be readily identified with the existing 50 Divisions and determined to retain the names of the existing Divisions, while removing the hyphen from the spelling of the name 'Kingsford Smith'.

In addition, the augmented Electoral Commission decided that the name of the Division of Macarthur should be considered to honour Elizabeth Macarthur (1769-1850) as well as John Macarthur (1767-1834), in recognition of both of their contributions to the development of New South Wales. The Division of Macarthur was named after Captain Macarthur when first proclaimed in 1949.

"While considering the merit of other changes proposed in the objections, the augmented Electoral Commission reached the conclusion that the criteria of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 were met more completely by retaining the proposals made by the Redistribution Committee.

"The augmented Electoral Commission resolved that the agreed changes were not significant and, therefore, the redistribution process has been concluded without the need for further objections or hearings.

"The new boundaries will come into effect at the next federal election; however, any by-election which may occur before the next federal election will be held on the current boundaries.

"The formal determination of the Redistribution will be gazetted as soon as practicable and the augmented Electoral Commission for New South Wales' full Report, including maps of Divisional boundaries, will be available in due course."

Background:

The members of the augmented Electoral Commission for New South Wales are:

Chairman of the Australian Electoral Commission Hon Trevor Morling QC
Electoral Commissioner Mr Bill Gray AM
Australian Statistician Mr Bill McLennan AM
Australian Electoral Officer for New South Wales Ms Frances Howat
Surveyor-General of New South Wales Mr Don Grant AM
Auditor-General of New South Wales Mr Bob Sendt

A statistical summary of the final Divisions is attached and outline maps of the changed areas are available on request.

Further Information:

Ms Frances Howat
Tel: (02) 9375 6300
Australian Electoral Officer for New South Wales

  26 February 1999 30 June 2003  
Number of Electors Variation
From Quota (%)		 Projected Number of Electors Variation from Average Divisional Enrolment (%) Area
(square
kilometres)
1 Banks 83335 1.38 86364 -1.68 54.48
2 Barton 85591 4.12 87167 -0.77 42.15
3 Bennelong 85422 3.92 88920 1.22 53.15
4 Berowra 83332 1.37 88868 1.17 711.91
5 Blaxland 82392 0.23 86347 -1.70 54.09
6 Bradfield 88134 7.22 89796 2.22 96.59
7 Calare 83454 1.52 86370 -1.68 21621.37
8 Charlton 81112 -1.33 85200 -3.01 567.53
9 Chifley 82119 -0.10 89560 1.95 109.95
10 Cook 81530 -0.82 85538 -2.63 188.76
11 Cowper 77392 -5.85 85598 -2.56 7699.59
12 Cunningham 80989 -1.48 86891 -1.08 489.80
13 Dobell 77409 -5.83 85492 -2.68 951.89
14 Eden-Monaro 79594 -3.17 87600 -0.28 30945.90
15 Farrer 84047 2.24 87392 -0.51 96844.04
16 Fowler 83098 1.09 88821 1.11 47.41
17 Gilmore 78993 -3.90 86640 -1.37 5612.41
18 Grayndler 85175 3.62 87070 -0.88 29.30
19 Greenway 81710 -0.60 86963 -1.00 119.73
20 Gwydir 85002 3.41 85043 -3.19 185604.20
21 Hughes 83004 0.98 89586 1.98 265.09
22 Hume 81561 -0.78 88115 0.31 25948.11
23 Hunter 82561 0.44 86983 -0.98 10593.50
24 Kingsford Smith 86641 5.40 90237 2.72 62.32
25 Lindsay 78157 -4.92 85492 -2.68 350.82
26 Lowe 81518 -0.83 86010 -2.09 40.97
27 Lyne 83188 1.20 89608 2.01 9291.11
28 Macarthur 74115 -9.84 89829 2.26 572.77
29 Mackellar 84716 3.06 88008 0.19 229.21
30 Macquarie 83849 2.00 90777 3.34 4196.69
31 Mitchell 78465 -4.55 90353 2.86 182.12
32 Newcastle 87803 6.81 89466 1.85 198.51
33 New England 84028 2.22 85167 -3.05 53857.99
34 North Sydney 86185 4.85 90387 2.89 38.61
35 Page 81866 -0.41 86865 -1.11 16682.25
36 Parkes 83286 1.32 85685 -2.46 268674.30
37 Parramatta 86696 5.47 90618 3.16 61.35
38 Paterson 78355 -4.68 85538 -2.63 9632.36
39 Prospect 85694 4.25 90786 3.35 158.74
40 Reid 76022 -7.52 90227 2.71 61.79
41 Richmond 75686 -7.93 87840 -0.01 2137.17
42 Riverina 86494 5.22 89392 1.76 44970.51
43 Robertson 81480 -0.88 88778 1.06 785.07
44 Shortland 83460 1.53 89364 1.73 303.68
45 Sydney 76978 -6.36 86274 -1.79 49.92
46 Throsby 80697 -1.83 86505 -1.52 387.45
47 Warringah 84641 2.97 87657 -0.21 55.71
48 Watson 82939 0.90 85680 -2.46 33.08
49 Wentworth 86046 4.68 89784 2.21 26.12
50 Werriwa 74139 -9.81 89572 1.97 168.40
  Total 4110100   4392223