30 June 2006

The report detailing the proposed new federal electoral boundaries in New South Wales was published today by the Redistribution Committee for New South Wales.

The redistribution report outlines the Committee’s redrawing of the State’s electoral boundaries into 49 federal divisions. The State’s current entitlement of 50 House of Representative seats was reduced by one division due to population changes announced on 17 November 2005. This announcement triggered the redistribution – or redrawing – of electoral boundaries in New South Wales.

The Electoral Commissioner and Chair of the Committee, Mr Ian Campbell, said that the Committee was directed by legislation to draw new boundaries which as at 31 May 2010 ensured that the number of electors in each division did not deviate by more than 3.5% below or above the State’s quota of 93,508 electors.

The Committee’s proposed NSW boundaries show a reconfiguration of divisions located in the western inland region and the rearrangement of boundaries in the metropolitan areas and throughout the remainder of the State, which occurred as a result.

In particular, Mr Campbell said that the Committee noted the decline in relative enrolments in the electoral divisions west of the Great Dividing Range with neighbouring divisions of Parkes and Gwydir having the lowest projected enrolment and the greatest variations from the State enrolment.

“As significant change to this region was inevitable,” Mr Campbell said, “the Committee decided to reconfigure these divisions, so substantial areas of Gwydir and Parkes were amalgamated into the proposed new division of Parkes as a result but, of course, there were consequential changes to many other divisions in the State.”

The full details of the New South Wales Committee’s proposal are in their report available on the AEC website at www.aec.gov.au.

Mr Campbell said that the consultative nature of the redistribution process continues with individuals and organisations now able to lodge objections to the Committee’s proposed redistribution.

Written objections must be lodged with the Australian Electoral Commission no later than 6.00pm on Friday 28 July 2006 at:

Redistribution Committee for New South Wales Level 1, Roden Cutler House 24 Campbell Street Haymarket NSW 2000

OR

PO Box 20014 World Square NSW 2002

All objections received will be available for public inspection and comment at the AEC State Office and on the AEC website from Monday 31 July 2006.

Media contacts: David Farrell Australian Electoral Officer for New South Wales (Sydney) Ph: 02 9375 6303

Brien Hallett Assistant Commissioner Communication Branch (Canberra) Ph: 02 6271 4477

Similarly, other individuals and orginisations/lobby groups (third parties) who take part in an elction campaign may also be rquired to disclose details of gifts made.