Media Release 2005: ACT Redistribution Decided

15 August 2005

Deliberations on the names and boundaries for the federal electoral divisions for the ACT have concluded.

The Hon James Burchett QC, Presiding Member of the augmented Electoral Commission, announced the Commission's unanimous adoption, without alteration, of the proposed redistribution as published by the Redistribution Committee on 24 June 2005.

"Before making their determination, the Commission considered the 2005 proposed redistribution of the ACT and one lodged objection, and were of the unanimous opinion that no public inquiry should be held into the objection," said Mr Burchett.

The objection to the proposed redistribution was on the ground that the ACT should be entitled to three federal electoral divisions. However that was not a ground that could be considered in making a redistribution of electoral boundaries because the ACT remains entitled to two seats in the House of Representatives as determined by the Electoral Commission in February 2003.

The next determination will be made in November 2005 as required by the Commonwealth Electoral Act. The numbers of electoral divisions in each State and Territory are determined strictly in accordance with their relevant proportions of population as required by the Australian Constitution and the Electoral Act.

"The redistribution process has been concluded without the need for further objections or hearings, as no objection on a ground that the Constitution and legislation authorised has been received," Mr Burchett said.

The formal determination of the ACT redistribution will be gazetted in due course and the augmented Electoral Commission's final report, including a map of the divisional boundaries, will be made available to the public.

The new divisional boundaries will be those on which the next federal election will be held. Any by-election that may occur before then will be held on the current boundaries – as determined by the 1997 redistribution of federal electoral boundaries for the ACT.

Further information about the ACT redistribution process, including copies of written suggestions to the Redistribution Committee and the objection received are available on the AEC website. No written comments on the suggestions or on the objection were received.

Media contact:

Shawn O'Brien
Redistribution Secretariat
Ph: (02) 6271 4678
shawn.o'brien@aec.gov.au