Redistributions Overview
For the House of Representatives each State and Territory is divided into electoral divisions. The number of these divisions is determined by population. To ensure equal representation, the boundaries of these divisions have to be redrawn or redistributed periodically.
In deciding where the boundaries should be drawn, many factors are taken into consideration such as means of communication and community interest.
Timing of redistributions
A redistribution is necessary when:
- the number of parliamentary representatives to which a State or Territory is entitled has changed (see population quota);
- the number of electors in more than one third of the divisions in a State or one of the divisions in the ACT deviates from the average divisional enrolment by over 10% in three consecutive months; or
- a period of 7 years has elapsed since the previous redistribution.
The redistribution process
Redistributions aim to achieve equal representation in the divisions of any one State or Territory. At the time of the redistribution the number of people enrolled in each electoral division may not vary from the 'quota' (average) by more than 10%.
A redistribution is undertaken by a committee consisting of the Electoral Commissioner, the Australian Electoral Officer for the State concerned (in the ACT, the senior Divisional Returning Officer), the State Surveyor-General and the State Auditor-General.
As soon as possible after the redistribution process commences, the Electoral Commissioner invites public suggestions on the redistribution which must be lodged within 30 days. A further period of 14 days is then allowed for comments on the suggestions lodged.
At the commencement of the process, a 'quota' is calculated by dividing the number of electors in the State or Territory by the number of Members of the House of Representatives to be chosen for that State or Territory. The Redistribution Committee then divides the State or Territory into divisions according to the quota (see enrolment quotas). The Redistribution Committee then publishes its proposed redistribution.
A period of 28 days is then allowed after publication of the proposed redistribution for written objections. A further period of 14 days is provided for comments on the objections lodged. These objections are heard by an augmented Electoral Commission consisting of the four members of the Redistribution Committee and the two part-time members of the Electoral Commission.
At the time of the redistribution the number of electors in the divisions may vary up to 10% from the 'quota' or average divisional figure but at a point 3.5 years after the expected completion of the redistribution, the figures should not vary from the average by more or less than 3.5%. Thus the most rapidly growing divisions are started with enrolments well below the quota while those that are losing population are started well above the quota.
The Parliament has no power to reject or amend the final determination of the augmented Electoral Commission.
Quotas
The term 'quota' is used in two contexts in the redistribution process.
1. Population quota
This term is used when calculating the number of House of Representatives Members a State or Territory is entitled to (ie the number of divisions).
During the thirteenth month after the first meeting of the newly elected House of Representatives, the Electoral Commissioner is required to ascertain the population of the Commonwealth (excluding the Territories) according to the latest official statistics available from the Australian Statistician. These figures are then used to determine how many Members of the House of Representatives (divisions) each State is entitled to. A similar exercise is used to calculate the entitlements of the Territories.
The determination of Representation entitlements 19 February 2003.
Step One
The calculation is as follows:
| Total population of the six States (2 x number of Senators for the States = 144) | = Quota |
The population of the six States divided by twice the number of Senators for the States.
| 19 205 190 72 x 2 = 144 | = 133 369.375 (as at 19 February 2003) |
Step two
| Total population of individual State or Territory Quota | = Number of Members |
| STATE | NUMBER OF PEOPLE |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | 6 657 478 |
| Victoria | 4 888 243 |
| Queensland | 3 729 123 |
| Western Australia | 1 934 508 |
| South Australia | 1 522 467 |
| Tasmania | 473 371 |
| The Commonwealth | 19 205 190 |
| (excluding the Territories)1 | |
| Australian Capital Territory2 | 322 871 |
| Northern Territory | 199 760 |
| State | Population | Quota | Entitlement | Divisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 6 657 478 | ÷ | 133 369.375 | =49.9176 | =50 |
| VIC | 4 888 243 | ÷ | 133 369.375 | =36.6519 | =37 |
| QLD | 3 729 123 | ÷ | 133 369.375 | =27.9609 | =28 |
| WA | 1 934 508 | ÷ | 133 369.375 | =14.5049 | =15 |
| SA | 1 522 467 | ÷ | 133 369.375 | =11.4154 | =11 |
| TAS | 473 371 | ÷ | 133 369.375 | =3.5493 | =5* |
| ACT | 322 871 | ÷ | 133 369.375 | =2.4209 | =2 |
| NT | 199 760 | ÷ | 133 369.375 | =1.4978 | =1 |
| TOTAL | 149 |
* The Constitution (s.24) states that at least five Members shall be chosen from each of the original six States and Tasmania is guaranteed a minimum of five Members.
Note: In calculating step two, if the remainder is more than 0.5, the figure for the number of Members is rounded up. If the remainder is less than or equal to 0.5, the figure is rounded down (ie 2.5 = 2 Members, and 2.52 = 3 Members).
- Under Section 38A of the CEA, the Territory of Norfolk Island is not taken to be a Territory for this determination, but certain Norfolk Island residents are included in the State and ACT population figures.
- The population figures for the Australian Capital Territory includes Jervis Bay (section 4 of the CEA), and that for the Northern Territory includes Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island (section 48(2C) of the CEA).
2. Enrolment quotas
There are actually two enrolment quotas calculated during the redistribution process:
- the current quota or average divisional enrolment; and
- the projected quota or average divisional enrolment three and half years' after the expected completion of the redistribution.
In each case, the quota is calculated by dividing the number of people enrolled by the number of members to which the State or Territory is entitled.
The current quota uses the number of electors on the roll when the redistribution commences and is permitted to vary by up to 10% in each division. The projected quota, on the other hand, is based on a projected enrolment figure three and a half years after the expected completion of the redistribution and may vary by no more than 3.5% in each division. In aiming for this quota, the Redistribution Committee is able to allow for growth or contraction in particular areas (eg new suburban developments).
For example, the quota in VIC was calculated at the beginning of the redistribution process as follows:
| Number of electors enrolled in VIC (3 259 454) Number of divisions into which VIC is to be distributed (37) | = 88 093 |
Therefore at the time of the redistribution the number of electors in the divisions could vary up to 10% from 88 093, ie the permissible maximum (+10%) would be 96 902 and the permissible minimum (-10%) would be 79 284.
The projected quota for VIC was calculated as follows:
| Projected enrolment in VIC at 31.03.2006 (3 473 637) Number of Members VIC is entitled to (37) | = 93 882 |
Therefore, the quota, or projected average enrolment at March 2006 (ie in three and a half years time), on which the Redistribution Committee based its initial proposal, was 93 882 electors for each division in Victoria. Enrolments should not vary from this by more or less than 3.5% (ie 103.5% = 97 168 or 96.5% = 90 596).
