The Redistribution Process
The redistribution is carried out in accordance with the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918. The following steps briefly outline the various stages of the redistribution process.
Step 1 - Public suggestions
Any interested person or organisation who wishes to make suggestions regarding changes to boundaries or names of Electoral Divisions in the ACT, have until 6.00 pm on Friday 18 March 2005 to lodge them in writing with the Redistribution Committee for the ACT at 1st Floor, 8-10 Hobart Place, Canberra City ACT 2601 or GPO Box 1807 Canberra ACT 2601. Newspaper advertisements calling for public suggestions will be placed in the South Coast Register (18 February 2005), the Canberra Times (19 February 2005), and the Chronicle (22 February 2005).
Step 2 - Comments on the public suggestions
The suggestions received will be made available for public inspection at the Office of the Senior Divisional Returning Officer for the ACT, 1st Floor, 8-10 Hobart Place, Canberra City ACT 2601, from 9.00 am on Tuesday 22 March 2005. Any comments on the suggestions must be lodged in writing with the Redistribution Committee by 6.00 pm on Friday 1 April 2005.
Step 3 - Redistribution proposal
After considering the written suggestions and comments, the Redistribution Committee will propose a redistribution of federal electoral boundaries for the ACT. Maps showing the proposed boundaries and names of divisions will then be published in the Canberra Times, the Chronicle and the South Coast Register.
Step 4 - Objections to the proposed redistribution
Objections to the proposed redistribution can then be lodged within 28 days. This is followed by a further 14-day period for lodgement of written comments on any objections.
Step 5 - Objections considered by the augmented Electoral Commission
The augmented Electoral Commission for the ACT considers all objections. The augmented Electoral Commission comprises the members of the Redistribution Committee plus the Chairman of the Australian Electoral Commission and the non-judicial Commissioner.
Step 6 - The second redistribution proposal
After it has considered all the objections lodged, the augmented Electoral Commission makes its own proposed redistribution.
Step 7 - Further objections
If the augmented Electoral Commission's proposed redistribution is significantly different from the Redistribution Committee's proposal, the augmented Electoral Commission will invite further objections.
Step 8 - Final determination
After considering all submissions the augmented Electoral Commission will make a final determination of boundaries and names of the Electoral Divisions for the ACT.
