14 August 2000

The augmented Electoral Commission for the Northern Territory has concluded its deliberations on the boundaries for the two federal electoral Divisions for the Northern Territory.

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 the Northern Territory has reviewed the proposed Redistribution of the Territory and considered all objections to the Redistribution Committee’s proposal, as well as material placed before it at a public inquiry held in Darwin on 27 July 2000."

"Following these deliberations the augmented Electoral Commission has determined to adopt the proposal of the Redistribution Committee for the Northern Territory which was published on 28 April 2000, and which provided for two federal electoral divisions, one centred on the urban area of Darwin to be named SOLOMON, and one to cover the remainder of the Northern Territory including the territories of Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island to be named LINGIARI".

"While considering the merit of 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 new boundaries for the Northern Territory will be shown on maps to be included with the Report of the augmented Electoral Commission for the Northern Territory which will be released in due course, and then tabled in Parliament. The report will contain a full explanation of the augmented Electoral Commission’s decision.

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

The members of the augmented Electoral Commission for the Northern Territory are:

The Chairman of the Australian Hon Trevor Morling QC
Electoral Commission
The Electoral Commissioner Mr Andy Becker
The Australian Statistician Mr Bill McLennan AM
The Australian Electoral Officer for Mr Bill Shepheard
The NT
The Surveyor-General for the NT Mr Garry West
The Auditor-General for the NT Mr Iain Summers

Further Information:

Mr Bill Shepheard Darwin, Tel: (08) 8982 8001
Mr Wayne Seymour Canberra, Tel: (02) 6271 4688