19 February 2009

The Electoral Commissioner, Mr Ed Killesteyn, announced today that redistributions of federal electoral boundaries in Queensland and New South Wales have begun.

Mr Killesteyn and other members of the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) met today to officially direct the commencement of redistribution processes to redraw divisional boundaries in the two States.

“Redistribution Committees in Queensland and New South Wales will be formed to begin the task of creating electoral boundaries which contain a similar number of electors in their States,” Mr Killesteyn said.

“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.”

In the coming months the AEC will place advertisements in newspapers in Queensland and New South Wales to invite suggestions and comments about the redistributions.

The Electoral Commission has determined that the enrolment projection times for the purposes of the redistributions will be 9 July 2012 for Queensland and 16 July 2012 for New South Wales. 

The redistributions were triggered following the 17 February 2009 determination by Mr Killesteyn 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.”

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 that state’s Surveyor-General and Auditor-General.

A redistribution is a redrawing of electoral boundaries to ensure that, as near as is practicable, each State and Territory gains representation in the House of Representatives in proportion to the State and Territory populations, and that there are a similar number of electors in each division for a given State or Territory.

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 about redistributions can be found on the AEC’s website:  http://www.aec.gov.au/Electorates/Redistributions/index.htm.

 

Media contact:

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