RESEARCH PAPER SERIES, 2017–18              14 November 2017

The process of federal redistributions: a quick guide

Dr Damon Muller

Politics and Public Administration Section

The process of drawing and adjusting electoral boundaries in Australia is called a ‘redistribution’, and at the federal level is governed by Part IV of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (CEA). Currently, five redistributions—for Tasmania, Queensland, South Australia (SA), Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT)—are in progress (the Tasmanian redistribution should be completed on 14 November 2017). While this quick guide focuses on federal redistributions, it is worth noting that redistributions also occur within the states and territories for state-level electorates using separate processes.

The process of a federal redistribution is complex and involves a number of steps. Some of the steps rely on objective information that is produced outside the redistribution process, and some of the steps have the capacity for taking into account the opinions of those who are affected by redistribution decisions. Importantly, the process is undertaken independently of the Government and the Parliament.

Redistribution decisions are often erroneously attributed to the Government or the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). While the AEC is involved in the redistribution process in an administrative capacity, the decisions are made by a Redistribution Committee appointed for each redistribution. The Committee consists of the Australian Electoral Officer for the relevant state or territory (a statutory appointment), the Surveyor-General of the state and the Auditor-General of the state (also typically statutory officers).

Any objections to the proposals put forth by a Redistribution Committee are considered by the augmented Electoral Commission, which is made up of the Redistribution Committee and the two members of the Electoral Commission other than the Electoral Commissioner.[1] The augmented Electoral Commission makes the final determination of the redistribution, and may elect to keep the boundaries proposed by the Redistribution Committee, or modify them.

As one expert has noted, ‘Australia’s current redistribution process is widely recognised as independent and fair’:

The [electoral] commissions’ structures keep them independent of the parties and their authority to order maps into effect keeps them independent of the parliament. Their process is transparent and accountable, and redistributions are triggered frequently and automatically—in four jurisdictions they take place after each election. Elector tolerances are relatively tight and in several jurisdictions they apply when it counts—at the time of subsequent elections. The criteria generate relatively meaningful districts and the outcomes are regularly accepted by the parties and the public.

Redistribution triggers

There are three triggers for initiating a federal-level redistribution, set out in Section 59 of the CEA:

•        where the representation entitlement of a state changes (see next section)

•        where the divisions of a state are malapportioned, or

•        where a redistribution has not been held for seven years because neither of the other two triggers have been met.

The operations of the triggers are based on either time or population numbers, and are largely objective and transparent, being based on published data.

The malapportionment trigger is invoked when the number of electors in more than one third of the divisions in the state or territory differs from the average enrolment by more than ten per cent for more than two months (monthly enrolment statistics are published by the AEC on its website). The malapportionment trigger has been present in the CEA since 1984 and has never been used.

The entitlement determination

Each state and territory is divided into electoral divisions (or seats) for the House of Representatives. The total number of divisions across the country is determined by population and the Australian Constitution, and is required to be as close as practical to twice the number of senators (that is, twice 76). Currently there are 150 divisions for the House of Representatives, although this will change (see further below).

The representation entitlement for all states and territories is determined by applying the populations of the states and territories to a particular formula. This determines how many representatives, and therefore electoral divisions, each state and territory is entitled to.

Under section 46 of the CEA, the Electoral Commissioner ascertains the populations of the states and territories from the Australian Statistician the day after the anniversary of the first meeting of a newly elected House of Representatives, provided that the ‘House of Representatives has continued for a period of 12 months’. Section 48 of the Act specifies the manner in which representation entitlements are calculated from these population numbers.

As the current House of Representatives in the 45th Parliament first met on 30 August 2016, on 31 August 2017 the Electoral Commissioner took the latest population numbers published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and applied the entitlement determination formula.

The Electoral Commissioner’s determination, published on 31 August 2017, found that due to the patterns of population growth in the states and territories, Victoria and the ACT would both gain one new seat each, and that SA would lose one seat. This will bring the total number of divisions (and members) for the next (46th) Parliament to 151. The actual redistributions of electoral boundaries for these jurisdictions, however, have only recently commenced. Details of the number of members for each state (and for the Parliament) at every election since 1901 are in Appendix C.

Redistributions: the process

A redistribution follows a set process that has several opportunities for public input. Sitting members and/or their political parties, and other political parties, typically take advantage of these opportunities to submit comments, but have no special role in the process above any other interested person. As discussed below, the process ignores political consequences when determining new electoral boundaries.

In the report of the most recent NSW redistribution, completed in October 2015, the Committee summarised the requirements for drawing new electoral boundaries:

In summary, the primary criteria are to:

 endeavour to ensure that the number of electors in the proposed electoral divisions are within a range of 3.5 per cent below or above the projected enrolment quota at the projection time, and

 ensure that current enrolments are within 10 per cent below or above the current enrolment quota.

The secondary criteria are community of interests, means of communication and travel, and physical features and area. The augmented Electoral Commission also considers the boundaries of existing electoral divisions; however this criterion is subordinate to the others.

The requirements are set out in section 66 of the CEA.

The CEA states that the provision for preserving existing boundaries is subordinate to the other matters. That is, the Redistribution Committee is free to disregard the current electoral boundaries if doing so better accommodates population change and reflects community of interests, travel and communication or physical features. Notably, there is no provision in the CEA for the consideration of political outcomes or electoral fairness in federal redistributions (although South Australian law does have such a provision for state-level redistributions).

Requirements for determining boundaries

The primary requirement for a redistribution is that all of the newly-drawn boundaries fulfil two enrolment quotas:

•        the malapportionment provision, as per the redistribution triggers, that no division must differ from the average enrolment per division for the state by more than ten percent (calculated by taking the number of enrolments in the state and dividing by the number of divisions) and

•        the new boundaries are required to have projected enrolments that differ by no more than 3.5 per cent from the state average.

The enrolment projections are prepared by the ABS, and the ABS states that they are based largely on the calculated projections of Australian residents aged 18 or over.[2] Typically the projected enrolments are for a period three and a half years after the redistribution is complete. However in the case of the current Victorian redistribution the AEC has determined that the projection time for enrolments is only two years. Subsection 63A(3) of the CEA allows the AEC to use a shorter time for the enrolment projection if it believes that a new redistribution of the state will be required sooner than seven years. This suggests that the AEC believes that the population growth of Victoria is such that another seat will be gained at the entitlement determination following the sitting of the next (46th) Parliament.

Note that, while the whole Australian population is used for the determination of entitlement (the number of electoral divisions in each state and territory), it is only the enrolled population (and projected enrolled population) that is used for determining the number of electors within the actual boundaries of each division. Average enrolments are determined at the beginning of the redistribution process based on current enrolments, and the enrolment projections are published by the AEC as part of the redistribution process.

In regard to the secondary criteria (community of interests, means of communication and travel, and physical features), because redistributions are for entire states or territories, Redistribution Committees tend to take a state-wide view of these issues. However, in the absence of significantly different growth patterns and population movements in the state, unless the redistribution is required to accommodate the addition or removal of a division, boundary changes may potentially be minor.

Public consultation

Once a redistribution commences there is a public call for written suggestions (the AEC provides guidelines for making submissions). These suggestions are then made available for public comment. The Redistribution Committee will consider the suggestions and produce a set of boundary proposals, which are then published with a call for written objections to the proposals. The objections are then published and written comments on the objections are invited. The augmented Electoral Commission then considers the objections and makes a final determination.

In cases where the proposed changes are particularly contentious, such as in the most recent NSW redistribution, the augmented Electoral Commission may hold public hearings where objections can be discussed, before making its determination.

Interpretation of the secondary criteria listed in section 66 (community of interests, means of communication and travel, and physical features) by interested parties is largely subjective. Different parties will tend to interpret the criteria to their own ends in their own submissions. The community of interest criterion is particularly open to interpretation, and may be discussed in terms of rural versus urban, dominant industries, socioeconomic class, ethnic backgrounds, and so on.

The CEA (section 67) provides that a Redistribution Committee must state in writing its reasoning for its redistribution proposal, and, if any member of the Committee disagrees, the reason for the disagreement. Typically, however, the decision is unanimous.

When a redistribution does need to accommodate the addition or removal of a division, the effects of that will usually extend well beyond the people enrolled in the division affected. The removal of one division (of approximately 110,000 electors) in NSW in the 2016 redistribution resulted in 919,914 electors (18.91 per cent of all NSW electors) moving electorates.

Where an existing division must be abolished due to the results of the entitlement determination (see above), the Committee must still abide by the requirements of section 66 of the CEA, considering the current and projected populations first, and other factors such as community of interests after that. The decision about which division to abolish is usually suggested by other boundary changes necessitated in accommodating areas where growth and population rates have changed.

Political considerations?

As noted above, there is no provision in the CEA for the consideration of political outcomes or electoral fairness in federal redistributions. It has been noted that, in 1984, shortly after the AEC was created and the process of redistributions was separated from the Parliament, a federal redistribution for Western Australia was subject to an appeal in terms of the ‘political effects’ of the redistribution. The Electoral Commissioner at the time sought legal advice as to whether the augmented Electoral Commission had the power to decline to hear arguments on the ‘political effects’ of a redistribution in an objection to a redistribution.

The advice from the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department was that the augmented Electoral Commission could, at its discretion, either include or exclude objections due to political effects. The Commission took the position that it would not consider the political effects of a redistribution. Maintaining impartiality as to the potential political effects of a redistribution has remained part of the redistribution process since that point federally, and has also been adopted by most state and territory redistribution processes (as noted previously, South Australia is an exception to this).

Timeframes

The most recent redistributions have taken 13 to 14 months to complete. The Electoral Commissioner must direct that a redistribution commences ‘forthwith after making the determination’ (CEA, paragraph 59(2)(a)). The redistributions of Victoria, SA and the ACT commenced on 4 September 2017.

The AEC has projected that the redistributions will be complete by July 2018, but if the recent past redistributions are any indication, an election before October or November 2018 could result in the triggering of a mini-redistribution for each jurisdiction. Appendix D provides dates and timeframes of recent redistributions.

Naming electorates

Under the CEA a Redistribution Committee and the augmented Electoral Commission are not restricted in their approach to naming new divisions or renaming old divisions. However in practice they tend to follow a set of non-mandatory guidelines which emerged out of recommendations from a 1987 Joint Select Committee on Electoral Reform (JSCER) inquiry.

In brief, the guidelines state that:

•        Electorates should be named after deceased Australians who have rendered outstanding service to their country, and deceased former Prime Ministers should be considered when naming new divisions.

•        Electorate names that date from the time of Federation should be retained (a list of Federation divisions is in Appendix E).

•        Place names should be avoided.

•        Aboriginal names should be used where appropriate, and existing Aboriginal division names should be retained.

•        Names should not duplicate existing state electoral district names.

•        Names of divisions should not be changed or moved to new areas without very good reasons.

•        When multiple divisions are combined the new division should be the name of the old division with the greatest number of electors in the new boundaries.

As an example of the practical application of the guidelines, in the 2016 NSW redistribution the division of Hunter was abolished. Around half of the electors from the division of Hunter went into the neighbouring division of Charlton. However, as Hunter was a Federation electorate, it was decided to rename Charlton to Hunter to preserve the Federation name.

A recent analysis has concluded that 15 seats in the current parliament (10 per cent) are named after women, while 92 (61 per cent) are named after men, and three (2 per cent) are named after families.

At the 2016 redistribution for the ACT, the division of Fraser (named after John Fraser, a member of the House of Representatives for the ACT from 1951 to 1970) was renamed to Fenner (after scientist Frank Fenner) in order to free-up the name of Fraser for a future division in Victoria to be named after former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser. As such, it is likely that Victoria will gain a division of Fraser in the upcoming redistribution of that state, although whether this will be a new division or a renamed existing division is yet unknown.

What happens if an election is called when a redistribution in is progress?

As noted above, if the calculated representation entitlement is different to the current entitlement for a state or territory, then the state or territory must undergo a redistribution. The 2017 entitlement determination indicated that SA must lose one seat and the ACT and Victoria must gain one seat each.

If a federal election is called and a redistribution is due for a state or territory but is not complete, and the state or territory has not changed its entitlement, the election will be conducted under the existing boundaries. However, section 76 of the CEA provides that, if a state or territory changes its entitlement and an election is called before the resulting redistribution is complete, the state or territory must undergo a ‘mini-redistribution’. A mini-redistribution is triggered when the writs for an election are issued.

Where a state or territory is to lose a seat (such as in SA), the two adjacent divisions with the combined lowest number of electors are combined into a single electorate. When a seat is to be gained (as with Victoria and the ACT), the two adjacent electorates with the combined largest number of electors are split into three electorates, each of which has, as close as possible, the same number of electors. These changes must happen between the issue of the writs for the election and the declaration of nominations (between 10 and 27 days after the issue of the writs).

For the purpose of conducting a mini-redistribution, the number of electors in electorates is the most recent monthly gazetted enrolment figures. It is possible to estimate the likely result of mini-redistributions for SA, Victoria and the ACT on the basis of enrolments as of 30 September 2017. This calculation is an estimate only on the basis of the current enrolments, and changes in the relative enrolments in the Victorian and SA divisions could mean that a different set of electorates would be subject to any mini-redistribution by the time an election was called.

•        In South Australia, the large rural divisions of Barker and Grey would be combined into the one division, which would be named Barker-Grey. Both of these seats are currently held by Liberal members.

•        In Victoria, the divisions of Gorton and McEwen would be split into three divisions: Gorton, McEwen, and Gorton-McEwan[3]. Gorton is currently a safe Labor seat and McEwen is a fairly safe Labor seat.

•        The two ACT seats of Canberra and Fenner would be split into three divisions: Canberra, Fenner and Canberra-Fenner. Fenner is currently a safe Labor seat and Canberra is a fairly safe Labor seat.

The distribution of the two-party preferred vote in each of these seats from the 2016 federal election can be seen in a July 2017 Library Flagpost on the topic.

The mini-redistribution provisions have never been used, and as such it is impossible to say exactly how the Redistribution Commissioners (the Electoral Commissioner and the Australian Electoral Officer for the state, or the senior Divisional Returning Officer in the case of the ACT) would split up two divisions into three. Mini-redistributions in SA, Victoria and the ACT would likely leave very little time to decide pre-selection for the newly created (or newly abolished) seats, and could result in extensive voter confusion.

Further reading

•        Electoral redistributions during the 45th Parliament (Parliamentary Library)

•        Redistributions—Frequently Asked Questions (AEC)

•        Explainer: how do seat redistributions work? (The Conversation)

•        Changes to State Representation in the House of Representatives and the Impact on Election Timing (Antony Green)

Appendix A: the fate of recently abolished divisions

2016—NSW

The most recent NSW redistribution saw the division of Hunter abolished. However, the division of Charlton was moved so that it contained about half the population of the former division of Hunter and half of the former Charlton. Charlton was then renamed to Hunter (notionally marginal Australian Labor Party (ALP)[4]). The sitting Member for the previous division of Hunter (Joel Fitzgibbon, ALP) ran for and won the new division of Hunter, while the sitting Member for Charlton (Pat Conroy, ALP) ran for and won the division of Shortland (notional fairly safe ALP) at the 2016 federal election. The previous Member for Shortland (Jill Hall, ALP) retired before the 2016 federal election.

2009—NSW

In the 2009 redistribution of NSW the division of Reid (safe ALP) was abolished. The Redistribution Committee proposed renaming the existing division of Lowe to McMahon which the augmented Electoral Commission then renamed to Reid (and the existing division of Prospect was renamed to McMahon). The new division of Reid (notionally safe ALP) had about one third of its population from the previous division of Reid, and two thirds from the existing division of Lowe (marginal ALP). The Member for Lowe (John Murphy, ALP) ran and won the new seat of Reid, and the Member for the previous division of Prospect (Chris Bowen, ALP) ran in and won the new division of McMahon (notionally safe ALP) in the 2010 election. The Member for Reid (Laurie Ferguson, ALP) ran for and won the division of Werriwa (notionally safe ALP). The previous Member for Werriwa (Chris Hayes, ALP) ran for and won the division of Fowler (notionally safe ALP).

2005—NSW

The division of Gwydir (safe National Party (NAT)) was abolished, with most of the population transferred to the division of Parkes (safe NAT in 2007), and a smaller proportion to Hunter (notionally safe ALP in 2007) and other electorates. The sitting Member for Gwydir (John Anderson, NAT) retired prior to the 2007 federal election, and the sitting Member for Parkes (John Cobb, NAT) moved to the seat of Calare (notionally safe NAT) at the 2007 election, with a new Member (Mark Coulton, NAT) elected in Parkes.

2003—SA

In the 2003 redistribution of SA the division of Bonython (safe ALP) was abolished, with most of the population of Bonython going into the division of Wakefield (safe Liberal Party (LIB) at the 2001 election). The Member for the previous division of Bonython (Martyn Evans, ALP) ran in the new seat of Wakefield (notionally marginal ALP) in the 2004 election and narrowly lost to a new Liberal candidate. The previous Member for Wakefield (Neil Andrew, LIB) retired prior to the 2004 election.

1994—Victoria

The seat of Corinella was abolished. The former Member for Corinella (Alan Griffin, ALP) went on to contest the seat of Bruce (notional marginal ALP) in the 1996 election and won against the incumbent Member (Julian Beale, LIB) in what had previously been a fairly safe Liberal seat.

1992—NSW

This redistribution abolished the divisions of Phillip and Dundas, and created the division of Paterson (notionally marginal LIB). The Member for Phillip (Jeannette McHugh, ALP) contested and won the division of Grayndler (notional safe ALP), and the Member for Dundas (Philip Ruddock, LIB) contested and won the existing division of Berowra (safe LIB). The previous Member for Grayndler (Leo McLeay, ALP) contested and won the division of Watson (fairly safe ALP). The previous Member for Berowra (Paul Edwards, LIB) retired before the election. The winner of the division of Paterson (Bob Horne, ALP) was new to Parliament.

1992—SA

The division of Hawker was abolished, and its population mainly went to the divisions of Boothby and Hindmarsh. The Member for Hawker (Christine Gallus, LIB) went on to contest and win Hindmarsh, which was notionally marginal Liberal, at the 1993 election. The previous Member for Hindmarsh (John Scott, ALP), which was previously a marginal ALP electorate, retired before the election.

1989—Victoria

The divisions of Henty and Streeton were abolished and the new division of Corinella was created (which did not include any of the electors of Henty or Streeton). The Member for Henty (Joan Child, ALP), a fairly safe ALP electorate, retired in 1990. The Member for Streeton (Tony Lamb, ALP) went on to contest the division of Deakin (which was notionally marginal ALP) and lost at the 1990 federal election.

Appendix B: recent redistributions

Redistributions were undertaken in 2016 for New South Wales (NSW), Western Australia (WA), the ACT and the Northern Territory (NT). The submissions to these redistributions are still available online.

NT (2017)

Public suggestions

Comments on public suggestions

Objections to the redistribution proposal

Comments on  objections

Final determination report

NSW (2016)

Public suggestions

Comments on public suggestions

Objections to the redistribution proposal

Comments on objections

Final determination report

WA (2016)

Public suggestions

Comments on public suggestions

Objections to the redistribution proposal

Comments on objections

Final determination report

ACT (2016)

Public suggestions

Comments on public suggestions

Objections to the redistribution proposal

Comments on  objections

Final determination report

Appendix C: number of House of Representatives seats by state for each federal election

Election
year

NSW

Vic.

Qld

SA

WA

Tas.

NT

ACT

Total

Total with full
voting rights(a)

1901

26

23

9

7

5

5

75

75

1903

26

23

9

7

5

5

75

75

1906

27

22

9

7

5

5

75

75

1910

27

22

9

7

5

5

75

75

1913

27

21

10

7

5

5

75

75

1914

27

21

10

7

5

5

75

75

1917

27

21

10

7

5

5

75

75

1919

27

21

10

7

5

5

75

75

1922

28

20

10

7

5

5

1

76

75

1925

28

20

10

7

5

5

1

76

75

1928

28

20

10

7

5

5

1

76

75

1929

28

20

10

7

5

5

1

76

75

1931

28

20

10

7

5

5

1

76

75

1934

28

20

10

6

5

5

1

75

74

1937

28

20

10

6

5

5

1

75

74

1940

28

20

10

6

5

5

1

75

74

1943

28

20

10

6

5

5

1

75

74

1946

28

20

10

6

5

5

1

75

74

1949

47

33

18

10

8

5

1

1

123

121

1951

47

33

18

10

8

5

1

1

123

121

1954

47

33

18

10

8

5

1

1

123

121

1955

46

33

18

11

9

5

1

1

124

122

1958

46

33

18

11

9

5

1

1

124

122

1961

46

33

18

11

9

5

1

1

124

122

1963

46

33

18

11

9

5

1

1

124

122

1966

46

33

18

11

9

5

1

1

124

123

1969

45

34

18

12

9

5

1

1

125

125

1972

45

34

18

12

9

5

1

1

125

125

1974

45

34

18

12

10

5

1

2

127

127

1975

45

34

18

12

10

5

1

2

127

127

1977

43

33

19

11

10

5

1

2

124

124

1980

43

33

19

11

11

5

1

2

125

125

1983

43

33

19

11

11

5

1

2

125

125

1984

51

39

24

13

13

5

1

2

148

148

1987

51

39

24

13

13

5

1

2

148

148

1990

51

38

24

13

14

5

1

2

148

148

1993

50

38

25

12

14

5

1

2

147

147

1996

50

37

26

12

14

5

1

3

148

148

1998

50

37

27

12

14

5

1

2

148

148

2001

50

37

27

12

15

5

2

2

150

150

2004

50

37

28

11

15

5

2(b)

2

150

150

2007

49

37

29

11

15

5

2

2

150

150

2010

48

37

30

11

15

5

2

2

150

150

2013

48

37

30

11

15

5

2

2

150

150

2016

47

37

30

11

16

5

2

2

150

150

2019?

47

38

30

10

16

5

2

3

151

151

(a) The member for the Northern Territory had limited voting rights between 1922 and 1968. The member for the Australian Capital Territory had limited voting rights between 1949 and 1966.

(b) The NT was reduced to 1 seat after the entitlement determination of 19 February 2003 but reverted to two divisions after the passage of the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Representation in the House of Representatives) Act 2004 and did not undergo a redistribution.

Key: numbers in green indicate a seat gained since the last election, and numbers in red indicate a seat lost. Shaded cells indicate that the seat has undergone a redistribution prior to the election.

Source: Compiled by the Parliamentary Library from various sources.

Appendix D: start dates and selected milestones of recent redistributions

State

Date redistribution commenced

Days until suggestions closed

Days from suggestions closed to proposal released

Date Finalised

Days from proposals released until redistribution finalised

Total time

Days

Months

NT

15/10/2015

141

189

7/02/2017

151

481

15

NSW

1/12/2014

172

147

25/02/2016

132

451

14

WA

1/12/2014

130

133

19/01/2016

151

414

13

ACT

1/12/2014

179

105

28/01/2016

139

423

13

SA

12/01/2011

114

98

16/12/2011

126

338

11

Vic.

1/02/2010

67

112

24/12/2010

147

326

10

Qld

19/02/2009

78

77

15/12/2009

144

299

9

NSW

19/02/2009

71

98

22/12/2009

137

306

10

Tas.

13/02/2008

86

105

16/02/2009

178

369

12

NT

16/01/2008

72

84

19/08/2008

60

216

7

WA

14/12/2007

105

126

10/12/2008

131

362

11

NSW

2/12/2005

112

98

22/11/2006

145

355

11

Qld

2/12/2005

91

112

22/11/2006

152

355

11

ACT

30/11/2004

108

98

9/12/2005

168

374

12

Qld

12/03/2003

100

63

25/11/2003

95

258

8

SA

12/03/2003

114

32

17/12/2003

134

280

9

Vic.

18/01/2002

91

133

29/01/2003

152

376

12

WA

23/12/1999

92

63

20/11/2000

178

333

10

NT

23/12/1999

71

56

21/12/2000

237

364

11

Tas.

14/04/1999

44

84

22/11/1999

94

222

7

NSW

26/02/1999

49

91

11/02/2000

210

350

11

SA

10/02/1999

37

63

13/08/1999

84

184

6

Source: AEC and Parliamentary Library calculations.

Appendix E: the Federation divisions and their fate

State

Divisions

Time in use

History

NSW

Barrier

1901–22

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1922

Bland

1901–06

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1906

Canobolas

1901–06

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1906

Cowper

Still in existence

Dalley

1901–69

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1968

Darling

1901–77

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1977

East Sydney

1901–69

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1968

Eden-Monaro

Still in existence

Gwydir

1901–2007

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 2006

Hume

Still in existence

Hunter

Still in existence

Illawarra

1901–22

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1922

Lang

1901–77

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1977

Macquarie

Still in existence

Newcastle

Still in existence

New England

Still in existence

North Sydney

Still in existence

Parkes

Still in existence

Parramatta

Still in existence

Richmond

Still in existence

Riverina

Still in existence

Robertson

Still in existence

South Sydney

1901–34

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1934

Wentworth

Still in existence

Werriwa

Still in existence

West Sydney

1901–69

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1968

Vic

Balaclava

1901–84

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1984

Ballaarat

Still in existence; renamed Ballarat 1977

Bendigo

Still in existence

Bourke

1901–49

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1948

Corangamite

Still in existence

Corinella

1901–06

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1906

1990–96

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1994

Corio

Still in existence

Echuca

1901–37

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1936

Flinders

Still in existence

Gippsland

Still in existence

Grampians

1901–22

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1922

Indi

Still in existence

Kooyong

Still in existence

Laanecoorie

1901–13

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1912

Melbourne

Still in existence

Melbourne Ports

Still in existence

Mernda

1901–13

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1912

Moira

1901–06

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1906

Northern Melbourne

1901–06

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1906

Southern Melbourne

1901–06

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1906

Wannon

Still in existence

Wimmera

1901–77

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1977

Yarra

1901–69

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1968

Qld

Brisbane

Still in existence

Capricornia

Still in existence

Darling Downs

1901–84

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1984

Herbert

Still in existence

Kennedy

Still in existence

Maranoa

Still in existence

Moreton

Still in existence

Oxley

Still in existence

Wide Bay

Still in existence

WA

Coolgardie

1901–13

Abolished on redistribution of seats, 1912

Fremantle

Still in existence

Kalgoorlie

Still in existence

Perth

Still in existence

Swan

Still in existence

Note: Corinella was abolished twice, once in 1906 and for the second time in 1994. Only 63 of the first Parliament’s 75 divisions were Federation divisions as the first MPs from both Tasmania and South Australia were elected ‘at large’. This was due to the colonial parliaments not having managed to distribute the colonies in time for the 1901 election (held on 29 and 30 March), and meant that each of these MPs was known as the ‘Member for Tasmania’ and the ‘Member for South Australia’. The first named divisions for Tasmania and South Australia were not used until the 1903 election.

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[1].               Confusingly, the ‘Australian Electoral Commission’, under the CEA (section 6) consists of three members, including the Chair, who is usually a retired judge, the Electoral Commissioner, and a third member, usually the Australian Statistician (the head of the Australian Bureau of Statistics). In order to distinguish between the statutory agency, also referred to as the Australian Electoral Commission, this is often referred to informally as  the ‘three-person Commission’. All links current as of 14 November 2017.

[2].               The resident population 18 and over is only an estimate of the population that is eligible to vote, as resident non-citizens who cannot vote are included in the count.

[3].               The CEA says the newly created division ‘shall have a name consisting of the names of each Division included in the pair of contiguous Divisions arranged in alphabetical order and hyphenated’, (subsection 76(12)).

[4].               Details on the candidates and the notional election margins have been taken from Adam Carr’s Australian Election Archive.