Who makes the final redistribution and what factors do they consider?

Updated: 21 September 2017

Who will make the final redistribution of Queensland?

The final redistribution will be made by the augmented Electoral Commission for Queensland.
Section 70 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (the Electoral Act) requires that, for each redistribution of a state or territory, there will be established an augmented Electoral Commission for that state or territory. The Electoral Act also specifies the membership of the augmented Electoral Commission.
The augmented Electoral Commission for Queensland is:

Position on the augmented Electoral Commission Name Basis for membership
Chair The Hon. Dennis Cowdroy OAM QC Chairperson of the Electoral Commission
Member Mr David Kalisch non-judicial member of the Electoral Commission
Member* Mr Tom Rogers Electoral Commissioner
Member* Mr Thomas Ryan Australian Electoral Officer for Queensland
Member* Mr Steven Jacoby PSM Executive Director of Land and Spatial Information, Department of Natural Resources and Mines
Member* Mr Brendan Worrall Queensland Auditor-General

Note:

  1. * indicates the members of the Redistribution Committee for Queensland.

    2.  

  2. Sub-paragraph 60(2)(c)(ii) provides that where is no Surveyor-General for the State, the person nominated by the relevant State Minister as the person holding the office equivalent to the office of Surveyor-General for the State is a member of the Redistribution Committee.

What is the augmented Electoral Commission for Queensland responsible for?

The augmented Electoral Commission is responsible for:

  • considering all objections to the Redistribution Committee’s proposed redistribution and all comments on objections which were received by the specified lodgement times,
  • developing a proposed redistribution of Queensland in accordance with the requirements of the Electoral Act,
  • conducting an inquiry into objections, should one be required,
  • determining the names and boundaries of electoral divisions in Queensland, and
  • making the reasons for the augmented Electoral Commission’s determination available for public perusal.

What factors will the augmented Electoral Commission for Queensland consider when making their redistribution of Queensland?

The Electoral Act requires the augmented Electoral Commission for Queensland to comply with the following factors when making their redistribution:

  • Queensland is to be divided into the same number of electoral divisions as the number of members of the House of Representatives to be chosen in Queensland at a general election (sub-section 73(3) of the Electoral Act)
  • consideration of all objections and comments on objections received by the lodgement time (sub-section 72(1) of the Electoral Act)
    • All written objections received by 6pm AEST Friday 27 October 2017 and all written comments on objections received by 6pm AEST Friday 10 November 2017 will be considered by the augmented Electoral Commission in the development of their proposed redistribution.
  • as far as practicable, the number of electors enrolled in each electoral division in Queensland at the projection time would not be more than plus 3.5 per cent, or less than minus 3.5 per cent, of the projected enrolment quota (paragraph 73(4)(a) of the Electoral Act)
    • As far as practicable, the number of electors enrolled in each federal electoral division in Queensland at the projection time of Monday 27 September 2021 must be between 106,270 and 113,978.
  • the number of electors enrolled in each electoral division in Queensland would not be more than plus 10 per cent, or less than minus 10 per cent, of the current enrolment quota (sub-section 73(4) of the Electoral Act)
    • The number of electors enrolled in each federal electoral division in Queensland must be between 92,883 and 113,523.
  • in relation to each proposed electoral division, give due consideration to:
    1. community of interests within the proposed electoral division, including economic, social and regional interests
    2. means of communication and travel within the proposed electoral division
    3. the physical features and area of the proposed electoral division, and
    4. the boundaries of existing electoral divisions in Queensland, with this factor being subordinate to the consideration i, ii and iv (paragraph 73(4)(b) and sub-section 73(4A) of the Electoral Act)