16 March 2009

The Electoral Commissioner, Mr Ed Killesteyn has announced the first step in the process of redistributing federal electoral boundaries in Queensland and New South Wales by setting enrolment quotas for both states.

“I have calculated the enrolment quota for Queensland as 88,343 and the enrolment quota for New South Wales as 94,353,” Mr Killesteyn said.

The enrolment quota was determined by dividing the number of electors enrolled in each state as at 19 February 2009 by the number of House of Representative seats that the state will be entitled to at the next federal election.

“Redistribution Committees in Queensland and New South Wales will soon be formed to begin the task of creating electoral boundaries within the state that each contain a similar number of electors.”

The Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 requires the Redistribution Committee for each state to comprise the Electoral Commissioner, the Australian Electoral Officer for the state, as well as two senior state officials, usually the state’s Surveyor-General and Auditor-General or equivalent positions.

“The committees will undertake an extensive process of consultation and provide opportunities for individuals and organisations to make suggestions and comments on matters affecting the drawing of federal electoral boundaries and the naming of divisions.”

Advertisements will be placed by the AEC in the coming weeks in Queensland and New South Wales newspapers to invite suggestions and comments.

The redistributions were triggered following the 17 February 2009 determination of the number of federal members of the House of Representatives that each state and territory will be entitled to at the next federal election.

“Based on population changes, it was determined that Queensland would gain one seat and so would be entitled to 30 House of Representatives seats at the next federal election,” Mr Killesteyn said.

“At the same time it was determined that New South Wales would lose a seat, reducing their entitlement to 48 in the House of Representatives at the next federal election.”

Redistribution processes usually take a number of months, and new boundaries for Queensland and New South Wales are not expected to be finalised until late 2009.

Further information

• Queensland enrolment figures used to determine the quota
• New South Wales enrolment figures used to determine the quota
• Information about redistributions
  

Media contact

Phil Diak
Director Media
Australian Electoral Commission
02 6271 4415
0413 452 539