Current Issues Brief no.13 2003–04
2002 03 Redistribution of Commonwealth Electoral
Boundaries
Contents
Introduction
Redistribution Process
Representation Entitlements
Victoria
Queensland
South Australia
Northern Territory
Future Redistributions
Endnotes
The Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 provides three
triggers for a redistribution of Commonwealth electoral boundaries.
Under section 59 of the Act a redistribution shall occur:
- when there is a change in the representational entitlements of
a state or territory
- when more than one third of the divisions in a state or
territory vary from the average divisional enrolment for the state
or territory by more than ten per cent for three consecutive
months, or
- if seven years ( seven year rule ) have elapsed since the last
redistribution in the state or territory.
A redistribution of Commonwealth electoral boundaries occurred
during 2002 and 2003 in Victoria, Queensland and South Australia.
The redistribution in Victoria was occasioned by the seven year
rule , while the redistributions in Queensland and South Australia
were triggered by a change in the representational entitlements of
the two jurisdictions.
The second trigger, malapportionment of electoral divisions, has
not occasioned a redistribution since the three triggers were
incorporated in the Act in 1984.
The procedures for conducting electoral redistributions are
contained in Parts III and IV of the Commonwealth Electoral Act
1918. The redistribution process provides opportunities for
interested parties to make submissions to the Redistribution
Committee, to make comments on other submissions and to make
objections to the Committee s proposals. The various stages of the
process are best summarised by the redistribution timetable.
Redistribution Timetable
Electoral Commission directs the commencement of a
redistribution
|
As soon as
practicable
|
Redistribution Committee appointed
|
As soon as
practicable
|
Redistribution Committee invites written
suggestions from public
|
30 days
|
Closing date for suggestions
|
14 days
|
Closing date for written comment on
suggestions
|
No time
specified
|
Redistribution Committee considers suggestions and
comments develops boundary proposals
|
No time
specified
|
Redistribution Committee publishes
proposals
|
28 days
|
Closing date for written objections to
proposals
|
14 days
|
Closing date for written comment on
objections
|
60 days
|
Augmented Electoral Commission considers objections
makes final proposals
|
As soon as
practicable
|
Final determination
|
|
In making its proposals the Redistribution Committee is required
to take into account the following considerations, outlined in
section 66 of the Act:
- Ensure that, as far as practicable, the projected number of
electors in each proposed division in the state or territory,
normally three years and six months after the redistribution, be
not more than 103.5 per cent or less than 96.5 per cent of the
average divisional enrolment of that state or territory.
- Subject to the above, the Committee shall give consideration to
the following:
- community of interests within the proposed divisions, including
economic, social and regional interests
- means of communication and travel within the proposed
divisions
- the physical features and area of the proposed divisions,
and
- the boundaries of existing divisions in the state or territory
(this criterion is subordinate to the above).
- The Redistribution Committee may adopt a margin of allowance
(from the enrolment quota for the state or territory) of not more
than ten per cent above or below the quota.
The procedures for determining the House of Representatives
representation entitlement for each state and territory are
contained in section 48 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act
1918. The Act requires the Electoral Commissioner to ascertain
the population of the states and territories of the Commonwealth
during the thirteenth month after the first meeting of a newly
elected House of Representatives. After the population has been
ascertained (from the Australian Statistician) the Electoral
Commissioner makes a determination of each state and territory s
entitlement to representation. The determination following the 2001
election was made on 20 February 2003.(1)
The entitlement is calculated by first dividing the population
of the states by twice the number of state Senators (72x2=144) to
obtain a quota. The population of each state and territory is then
divided by the quota to determine the entitlement for each. If on
this division there is a remainder greater than one-half of a quota
then the state or territory is entitled to an additional member.
This process can best be explained by the following example. At the
2003 Determination, Queensland had a population of 3 729 123, the
quota was 133 369.375. The Queensland population divided by the
quota gives a result of 27.9609; this gives Queensland an
entitlement of 28 seats, an increase of one over the previous
entitlement.
For the purposes of determining entitlements the population of
Jervis Bay is added to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), and
Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island are added to the
population of the Northern Territory, while electors on Norfolk
Island are included in state and ACT population
figures.(2)
2003 Determination
State/Territory
|
Population
|
Result (a)
|
Entitlement
|
Change
|
New South Wales
|
6 657 478
|
49.9176
|
50
|
..
|
Victoria
|
4 888 243
|
36.6519
|
37
|
..
|
Queensland
|
3 729 123
|
27.9609
|
28
|
+1
|
South Australia
|
1 522 467
|
11.4154
|
11
|
-1
|
Western Australia
|
1 934 508
|
14.5049
|
15
|
..
|
Tasmania (b)
|
473 371
|
3.5493
|
5
|
..
|
Northern Territory
|
199 760
|
1.4978
|
1
|
-1
|
Australia Capital Territory
|
322 871
|
2.4209
|
2
|
..
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six States
|
19 205 190
|
|
|
|
(a) Population of state or territory divided by
Quota (Quota: 19 205 190/144 = 133 369.375).
(b) Tasmania as an original state is guaranteed a
minimum representation of five.
Source: Australian Electoral Commission, Commissioner Issues
Federal Electoral Determination, media release, Canberra, 20
February 2003.
The 2003 determination resulted in an increase in the
entitlements of Queensland from 27 to 28 and a decrease in the
entitlements of South Australia from 12 to 11, and the Northern
Territory from two to one. As a consequence of the determination,
redistributions commenced in Queensland and South Australia on 12
March 2003.
A redistribution in the Northern Territory was not required as
the Electoral Commissioner determined that the Northern Territory
was to revert to one division for the next election. The
determination in respect of the Northern Territory triggered a
series of events that resulted in legislation being introduced to
set aside the determination in respect of the Northern Territory.
The Northern Territory situation is discussed later in this
paper.
Victoria
As stated above the redistribution of federal electoral
boundaries in Victoria was triggered by the seven year rule . Under
this provision a redistribution must commence within 30 days after
the expiration of seven years after a state or territory was last
redistributed. In the case of Victoria the state was last
redistributed on 20 December 1994. On 18 January 2002 the Electoral
Commission directed that a redistribution commence in
Victoria(3).
The Redistribution Committee faced the usual problems of unequal
rates of enrolment growth in different parts of the state; outer
metropolitan divisions with large growth projections while a number
of rural and regional divisions had low or negative projected
growth. The Committee was mindful of municipal boundaries as
indicators of community of interests and attempted to align
divisional boundaries with municipal boundaries wherever
possible.(4)
The Committee s most contentious proposals related to the La
Trobe Valley and the semi-rural areas to the north and west of
Melbourne. In the La Trobe Valley the Committee proposed to bring
Gippsland up to quota by transferring the town of Traralgon from
McMillan, thus splitting the La Trobe Shire between Gippsland and
McMillan. In the north of Melbourne the Committee proposed that
McEwen become more rural by the removal of suburban Craigieburn and
the inclusion of parts of Macedon Ranges Shire. In the west of
Melbourne the Committee proposed the abolition of the division of
Burke and the creation of the new division of Gorton.
The Committee s proposed boundaries were widely condemned by the
Labor Party which accused the electoral commission of favouring the
Liberal Party by shifting ALP voters from marginal seats into safe
Labor seats, making it easier for the Liberals to win key marginal
seats .(5) While making no comment on whether or not the
Committees proposal favoured the Liberal Party, it could be argued
that the Labor Party certainly had a point in regard to the
electoral consequences of the Committee s proposal. The Committee s
proposal reduced the Labor margin in McMillan from 2.5 per cent to
a notional 0.6 per cent while in McEwen the Coalition s margin was
increased from 1.2 per cent to a notional 2.2 per cent. On the
other hand the new division of Gorton would be a very safe Labor
seat (notional margin 70.2 per cent).
Labor s concerns with the redistribution were further compounded
by the results of the objection stage of the redistribution
process.(6) In its objection to the Committee s proposal
the Labor Party argued that the La Trobe municipality should not be
split (i.e. Traralgon should be located with the rest of the
municipality) and that it should be wholly contained within the
division of McMillan.(7) The Liberal Party also argued
that Traralgon should not be split from the rest of the La Trobe
municipality but suggested as an alternative that both Morwell and
Traralgon be included in Gippsland.(8) The augmented
Electoral Commission largely accepted the Liberal Party s
suggestion and placed the majority of the La Trobe municipality
(including Morwell and Traralgon) in Gippsland. In a decision that
further upset the Labor Party the augmented Electoral Commission
determined that the changes it had made to the Redistribution
Committee s proposal were not significant and that as a result its
proposals were not open to any further objection.(9)
Under section 72(12) of the Act the augmented Electoral
Commission is required to form an opinion whether its proposal is
significantly different from the Redistribution Committee s
proposal. In forming an opinion that the proposal was not
significantly different, the augmented Electoral Commission
presumably relied on the fact that its proposal involved only the
movement of 1.2 per cent in electors for the whole state to
different divisions from the Redistribution Committee s proposal.
It could be argued that the augmented Commission s proposal in
regard to McMillan and Gippsland was sufficiently different from
the Redistribution Committee s proposal and that a further round of
objections and consideration was warranted.(10)
With the augmented Electoral Commission s decision not to allow
any further objections, the redistribution in Victoria concluded on
29 January 2003. The table below provides a summary of the
redistributed divisions.
The redistribution resulted in changes to 34 of the 37 divisions
in Victoria. The divisions of Higgins, Kooyong and Melbourne Ports
were unchanged by the redistribution, while only minor changes were
made to the divisions of Casey, Goldstein and Hotham. As stated
above the most dramatic changes occurred in the La Trobe Valley and
in the north west of Melbourne. Only one division notionally
changed hands as a result of the redistribution: McMillan changed
from a marginal Labor seat to a marginal Coalition seat. The main
features of the redistribution are discussed below. In the
following discussion all references to voting figures are two party
preferred votes at the 2001 House of Representatives election.
2002 03 Redistribution, Division Summary,
Victoria
Division
|
Actual enrolment 18 Jan
2002
|
Variation from average
(%)
|
Projected enrolment 31 Mar
2006
|
Variation from average
(%)
|
Area
sq km
|
Aston
|
86 347
|
-1.98
|
91 807
|
-2.21
|
95.87
|
Ballarat
|
88 009
|
-0.10
|
91 985
|
-2.02
|
4 651.88
|
Batman
|
87 577
|
-0.59
|
91 402
|
-2.64
|
53.47
|
Bendigo
|
91 839
|
4.25
|
95 428
|
1.65
|
7 286.14
|
Bruce
|
90 498
|
2.73
|
92 528
|
-1.44
|
67.81
|
Calwell
|
83 636
|
-5.06
|
96 959
|
3.28
|
503.83
|
Casey
|
86 119
|
-2.24
|
91 121
|
-2.94
|
409.41
|
Chisholm
|
87 220
|
-0.99
|
91 576
|
-2.46
|
60.97
|
Corangamite
|
87 219
|
-0.99
|
92 107
|
-1.89
|
7 723.64
|
Corio
|
86 912
|
-1.34
|
90 768
|
-3.32
|
814.64
|
Deakin
|
89 354
|
1.43
|
92 753
|
-1.20
|
61.37
|
Dunkley
|
91 055
|
3.36
|
95 470
|
1.69
|
137.58
|
Flinders
|
88 063
|
-0.03
|
95 318
|
1.53
|
1 955.35
|
Gellibrand
|
92 659
|
5.18
|
96 880
|
3.19
|
91.33
|
Gippsland
|
91 713
|
4.11
|
93 071
|
-0.86
|
33 263.72
|
Goldstein
|
90 353
|
2.57
|
95 014
|
1.21
|
48.63
|
Gorton
|
82 451
|
-6.40
|
94 736
|
0.91
|
165.63
|
Higgins
|
87 951
|
-0.16
|
92 065
|
-1.94
|
38.80
|
Holt
|
81 227
|
-7.79
|
96 848
|
3.16
|
144.83
|
Hotham
|
89 815
|
1.95
|
92 983
|
-0.96
|
71.59
|
Indi
|
87 350
|
-0.84
|
90 722
|
-3.37
|
28 007.66
|
Isaacs
|
89 978
|
2.14
|
97 087
|
3.41
|
171.44
|
Jagajaga
|
93 948
|
6.65
|
96 703
|
3.00
|
87.38
|
Kooyong
|
88 343
|
0.28
|
92 572
|
-1.40
|
49.49
|
Lalor
|
82 378
|
-6.49
|
94 146
|
0.28
|
990.77
|
La Trobe
|
81 412
|
-7.58
|
93 122
|
-0.81
|
588.08
|
Mallee
|
91 145
|
3.46
|
93 155
|
-0.77
|
70 693.64
|
Maribyrnong
|
90 937
|
3.23
|
93 543
|
-0.36
|
71.22
|
McEwen
|
89 526
|
1.63
|
97 089
|
3.42
|
10 675.29
|
McMillan
|
79 517
|
-9.74
|
94 344
|
0.49
|
8 327.90
|
Melbourne
|
88 786
|
0.79
|
96 551
|
2.84
|
53.45
|
Melbourne Ports
|
90 331
|
2.54
|
96 081
|
2.34
|
43.71
|
Menzies
|
88 762
|
0.76
|
93 040
|
-0.90
|
119.46
|
Murray
|
86 834
|
-1.43
|
90 680
|
-3.41
|
16 228.86
|
Scullin
|
85 018
|
-3.49
|
96 405
|
2.69
|
100.95
|
Wannon
|
90 743
|
3.01
|
90 710
|
-3.38
|
33 854.16
|
Wills
|
94 429
|
7.19
|
96 868
|
3.18
|
57.04
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
3 259 454
|
|
3473637
|
|
227 766.99
|
Average
|
88 093
|
|
93882
|
|
|
Source: Australian Electoral Commission, 2002 03
Redistribution of Victoria into Electoral
Divisions, Australian Electoral Commission, Canberra,
2003.
- Ballarat Division moved closer to Melbourne
and becomes slightly safer for Labor by the inclusion of the
remainder of Moorabool Shire (Bacchus Marsh) and the removal of the
Northern Grampians and Pyrenees shires to Wannon. Labor s notional
margin increased from 2.7 per cent to 3.2 per cent.
- Burke Division abolished and parts absorbed by
new division of Gorton and existing divisions of Ballarat, Calwell,
Lalor and McEwen.
- Calwell Division now wholly contains the City
of Hume. Received parts of the City of Hume from Burke and McEwen.
Remains a notionally safe Labor seat (margin 15.1 per cent).
- Gippsland Gains parts of La Trobe municipality
(Morwell and Traralgon) from McMillan but loses rural areas of
South Gippsland Shire to McMillan. Changes from a fairly safe
Coalition seat (margin 8.1 per cent) to a notionally marginal
Coalition seat (margin 2.6 per cent) by the acquisition of
Labor-voting polling places in Morwell and Traralgon ( Morwell 60.5
per cent, Morwell Central 68.2 per cent, Morwell Estate 68.1 per
cent, Traralgon East 57.9 per cent, Traralgon North 54.2 per cent,
and Traralgon South 53.7 per cent) and the loss of Coalition-voting
polling places in South Gippsland (Foster 55.9 per cent, Korumburra
58.4 per cent, Leongatha 65.8 per cent, Meeniyan 62.1 per cent and
Welshpool 63.2 per cent).
- Gorton New division in the outer north western
suburbs of Melbourne. Created out of parts of the divisions of
Burke, Calwell, Gellibrand, Lalor and Maribyrnong. Only 14 per cent
(11 675) of electors from the old division of Burke are contained
in the new division. Named after the former Prime Minister the Rt
Hon. Sir John Grey Gorton. The new division is a notionally very
safe Labor seat (margin 20.2 per cent).
- Holt Division moves in a south-easterly
direction with the loss of the City of Greater Dandenong part in
the west to Isaacs and the acquisition of parts of the City of
Casey in the south from Isaacs. Made less safe for Labor (margin
reduced from 13.3 per cent to 7.9 per cent) with the loss of
Labor-voting polling places in Greater Dandenong (Chandler 68.7 per
cent, Coomoora 70.1 per cent, Dandenong South 78.5 per cent,
Douglas 73.4 per cent, Noble Park 71.2 per cent and Southvale 70.8
per cent).
- Isaacs Division gains part of the City of
Greater Dandenong in the north from Holt and loses City of Casey
part in the west to Holt. Made safer for the Labor Party (margin
increased from 2.8 per cent to 6.6 per cent). See Holt (above) for
details.
- McEwen Division becomes more rural in nature
with the loss of suburban Craigieburn to Calwell and the
acquisition of part of Macedon Ranges Shire from the abolished
Burke. Division is now slightly safer for the Coalition (margin
increased from 1.2 per cent to 2.2 per cent) with the loss of
Labor-voting polling places in Craigieburn (Craigieburn 66.4 per
cent, Craigieburn South 68.8 per cent and Roxburgh Park 69.9 per
cent) and the acquisition of Coalition-voting polling places in
Macedon Ranges Shire (Gisborne 56.8 per cent, Lancefield 55.2 per
cent, Mount Macedon 54.7 per cent, New Gisborne 54.4 per cent and
Newham 57.6 per cent).
- McMillan Division changed dramatically from
being based on the La Trobe valley to now encompass rural areas in
South Gippsland. Division changed status from a marginal Labor seat
(margin 2.5 per cent) to a notionally marginal Coalition seat
(margin 2.9 per cent) with the loss of Labor-voting polling places
in Morwell and Traralgon (Morwell 60.5 per cent, Morwell Central
68.2 per cent, Morwell Estate 68.1 per cent, Traralgon East 57.9
per cent, Traralgon North 54.2 per cent, and Traralgon South 53.7
per cent) and the acquisition of Coalition-voting polling places in
South Gippsland (Foster 55.9 per cent, Korumburra 58.4 per cent,
Leongatha 65.8 per cent, Meeniyan 62.1 per cent and Welshpool 63.2
per cent).
- Melbourne Ports Division remained unchanged
for the second redistribution in a row. Melbourne Ports, having
been contested on the same boundaries since 1990, is now the
longest-standing unchanged seat in the Australia.
Effects of 2002 03 Redistribution,
Victoria
Estimated Two-Party Preferred Votes, 2001
Election
Per cent
|
Old Boundaries
|
New Boundaries
|
|
ALP
|
LP/NP
|
ALP
|
LP/NP
|
Aston
|
43.8
|
56.2
|
44.0
|
56.0
|
Ballarat
|
52.7
|
47.3
|
53.2
|
46.8
|
Batman
|
75.1
|
24.9
|
75.1
|
24.9
|
Bendigo
|
53.6
|
46.4
|
53.6
|
46.4
|
Bruce
|
55.5
|
44.5
|
56.5
|
43.5
|
Burke
|
55.5
|
44.5
|
n.a.
|
n.a.
|
Calwell
|
67.7
|
32.3
|
65.1
|
34.9
|
Casey
|
42.8
|
57.2
|
42.8
|
57.2
|
Chisholm
|
52.8
|
47.2
|
52.7
|
47.3
|
Corangamite
|
44.3
|
55.7
|
44.6
|
55.4
|
Corio
|
58.7
|
41.3
|
58.5
|
41.5
|
Deakin
|
48.3
|
51.7
|
48.4
|
51.6
|
Dunkley
|
44.6
|
55.4
|
44.8
|
55.2
|
Flinders
|
42.4
|
57.6
|
42.6
|
57.4
|
Gellibrand
|
71.8
|
28.2
|
70.4
|
29.6
|
Gippsland
|
41.9
|
58.1
|
47.4
|
52.6
|
Goldstein
|
40.5
|
59.5
|
40.5
|
59.5
|
Gorton
|
n.a.
|
n.a.
|
70.2
|
29.8
|
Higgins
|
41.6
|
58.4
|
41.6
|
58.4
|
Holt
|
63.3
|
36.7
|
57.9
|
42.1
|
Hotham
|
61.0
|
39.0
|
61.0
|
39.0
|
Indi
|
38.9
|
61.1
|
39.3
|
60.7
|
Isaacs
|
52.8
|
47.2
|
56.6
|
43.4
|
Jagajaga
|
55.6
|
44.4
|
55.3
|
44.7
|
Kooyong
|
39.1
|
60.9
|
39.1
|
60.9
|
Lalor
|
65.6
|
34.4
|
62.1
|
37.9
|
La Trobe
|
46.3
|
53.7
|
46.3
|
53.7
|
Mallee
|
30.1
|
69.9
|
29.1
|
70.9
|
Maribyrnong
|
67.4
|
32.6
|
65.4
|
34.6
|
McEwen
|
48.8
|
51.2
|
47.8
|
52.2
|
McMillan
|
52.5
|
47.5
|
47.1
|
52.9
|
Melbourne
|
70.1
|
29.9
|
69.9
|
30.1
|
Melbourne Ports
|
55.7
|
44.3
|
55.7
|
44.3
|
Menzies
|
41.1
|
58.9
|
41.1
|
58.9
|
Murray
|
26.1
|
73.9
|
28.1
|
71.9
|
Scullin
|
69.2
|
30.8
|
70.3
|
29.7
|
Wannon
|
40.4
|
59.6
|
40.8
|
59.2
|
Wills
|
69.4
|
30.6
|
70.6
|
29.4
|
Queensland
Continued high population growth in Queensland resulted in the
state gaining an additional seat in the House of Representatives at
the 2003 determination. Queensland has now gained an additional
seat in four out of the seven determinations made since the
expansion of the parliament in 1984 (1991, 1994, 1997 and
2003).
In common with other redistributions, the Committee faced the
problem of unequal enrolment growth rates in different parts of the
state. The Committee noted large enrolment growth rates in inner
city Brisbane and in the outer suburbs and in divisions covering
the Gold and Sunshine Coasts. The Committee also noted the low
level of enrolment growth in rural and provincial
divisions.(11)
In previous redistributions the Redistribution Committees have
located the new divisions to the north and west of Brisbane (Blair
in 1997, Longman in 1994 and Dickson in 1991). Suggestions to the
Redistribution Committee for the 2003 redistribution generally
proposed the creation of a new division to the south of Brisbane.
The Liberal Party proposed a new division in Brisbane s south
eastern suburbs, the National Party proposed a new division
following the course of the Brisbane River, while the Australian
Democrats proposed a new division in the northern Gold Coast. The
Labor Party did not propose the location of a new division in its
written suggestion.(12)
In dealing with areas south of Brisbane the Committee proposed
that three divisions be located within the City of Gold Coast. This
meant the contraction of Fadden in a southerly direction and the
movement of Bowman into the areas vacated by Fadden. With
considerable enrolment growth in central Brisbane, the division of
Brisbane was substantially over quota. The Committee remedied this
by proposing that Brisbane be wholly located north of the river.
The division of Griffith could then move up to the areas vacated
south of the Brisbane River by Brisbane. With the contraction of
divisions in both a northerly and southerly direction, the
Committee was able to propose the location of the new division of
Bonner in Brisbane s bay side and eastern suburbs.
The Committee s proposals were not without controversy as they
were perceived in some quarters as favouring the Coalition parties
over the Labor Party.(13) Criticism of the Committee s
proposals centred on the fact that before the redistribution Labor
held seven out of Queensland s 27 seats and that after the
redistribution it notionally still only holds seven seats out of a
new total of 28. Concern was also expressed that Labor s supporters
were bottled up in the division of Griffith (margin increase from
5.7 per cent to 6.2 per cent) while the division of Brisbane was
made notionally more marginal for Labor (margin reduced from 3.1
per cent to 1.0 per cent). In other significant changes the
division of Rankin becomes notionally more marginal for Labor
(margin reduced from 6.7 per cent to 2.4 per cent) and the division
of Moreton becomes notionally more marginal for the Liberal Party
(margin reduced from 4.2 per cent to 2.6 per cent). The new
division of Bonner is a notionally marginal Labor seat (margin 1.9
per cent) but is compensated for by the fact that the division of
Bowman changes from a marginal Labor seat (margin 1.4 per cent) to
a notionally marginal Coalition seat (margin 3.1 per cent).
The following table provides a summary of the redistributed
divisions in Queensland.
2003 Redistribution, Division Summary,
Queensland
Division
|
Actual
enrolment
12 Mar 2003
|
Variation
from average
(%)
|
Projected enrolment
31 Jul 2007
|
Variation
from average
(%)
|
Area
sq km
|
Blair
|
87 171
|
3.68
|
92 524
|
-1.18
|
14 860
|
Bonner
|
84 311
|
0.28
|
95 968
|
2.50
|
358
|
Bowman
|
81 718
|
-2.81
|
93 842
|
0.23
|
573
|
Brisbane
|
83 834
|
-0.29
|
94 643
|
1.09
|
77
|
Capricornia
|
88 717
|
5.52
|
91 062
|
-2.74
|
125 136
|
Dawson
|
87 398
|
3.95
|
93 437
|
-0.20
|
22 515
|
Dickson
|
80 206
|
-4.61
|
92 029
|
-1.70
|
708
|
Fadden
|
75 838
|
-9.80
|
96 668
|
3.25
|
524
|
Fairfax
|
79 667
|
-5.25
|
93 699
|
0.08
|
1 880
|
Fisher
|
79 326
|
-5.65
|
94 100
|
0.51
|
787
|
Forde
|
80 422
|
-4.35
|
92 787
|
-0.90
|
5 202
|
Griffith
|
86 970
|
3.44
|
93 983
|
0.38
|
59
|
Groom
|
85 038
|
1.14
|
92 665
|
-1.03
|
6 452
|
Herbert
|
83 435
|
-0.76
|
92 957
|
-0.71
|
1 997
|
Hinkler
|
88 788
|
5.60
|
94 524
|
0.96
|
35 330
|
Kennedy
|
90 860
|
8.07
|
95 378
|
1.87
|
564 701
|
Leichhardt
|
85 467
|
1.65
|
93 124
|
-0.54
|
150 676
|
Lilley
|
89 238
|
6.14
|
93 928
|
0.32
|
142
|
Longman
|
81 010
|
-3.65
|
94 932
|
1.40
|
1 673
|
McPherson
|
78 087
|
-7.13
|
94 545
|
0.98
|
355
|
Maranoa
|
86 946
|
3.41
|
90 922
|
-2.89
|
779 329
|
Moncrieff
|
81 002
|
-3.66
|
93 173
|
-0.48
|
129
|
Moreton
|
84 444
|
0.44
|
95 475
|
1.98
|
101
|
Oxley
|
85 221
|
1.36
|
94 916
|
1.38
|
302
|
Petrie
|
83 679
|
-0.47
|
93 395
|
-0.25
|
144
|
Rankin
|
87 349
|
3.89
|
94 557
|
1.00
|
160
|
Ryan
|
84 081
|
0.00
|
91 646
|
-2.11
|
415
|
Wide Bay
|
83 953
|
-0.15
|
90 610
|
-3.22
|
19 604
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
2 354 176
|
|
2 621 489
|
|
1 734 189
|
Average
|
84 078
|
|
93 625
|
|
|
Source: Australian Electoral Commission, 2003 Redistribution
of Queensland into Electoral Divisions,
Australian Electoral Commission, Canberra, 2003.
The redistribution resulted in changes to all but three of the
divisions in Queensland. The divisions of Dawson, Groom and
Leichhardt were unchanged by the redistribution. As a result of the
creation of the new division of Bonner significant changes were
made to divisions to the south of Brisbane while divisions to the
north of Brisbane (notably Dickson, Lilley, Longman and Petrie)
were less significantly affected. The main features of the
redistribution are discussed below. In the following discussion all
references to voting figures are two party preferred votes at the
2001 House of Representatives election.
- Bonner New division in Brisbane s bay side and
eastern suburbs. Created out of parts of Bowman, Griffith and
Moreton. Named after former Senator Neville Bonner AO. Division is
a notionally marginal Labor seat (margin 1.9 per cent).
- Bowman Division moves to the south into parts
of Redland Shire vacated by Fadden and now fully contains the
Redland Shire. Status of division changes from a marginal Labor
seat (margin 1.4 per cent) to a notionally marginal Coalition seat
(margin 3.1 per cent) with the loss of strong Labor-voting polling
places to Bonner (Hemmant 62.5 per cent, Lindum 62.1 per cent,
Wynnum Central 60.9 per cent and Wynnum West 60.0 per cent) and the
acquisition of Coalition-voting polling places from Fadden (Mount
Cotton 62.7 per cent, Redland Bay 58.3 per cent, Victoria Point
59.4 per cent, and Victoria Point South 59.1 per cent).
- Brisbane Division now wholly located north of
the Brisbane River with the loss of areas south of the river to
Griffith. Division is now notionally highly marginal for Labor
(margin reduced from 3.1 per cent to 1.0 per cent) with the loss of
Labor-voting polling places south of the Brisbane River (Dutton
Park 65.7 per cent, Hill End 65.3 per cent, South Brisbane 64.3 per
cent and West End 74.7 per cent) and the acquisition of
Liberal-voting polling places from Dickson (Everton North 56.3 per
cent, Ferny Grove 58.4 per cent and Keperra 58.4 per cent) and
Petrie (Everton Park 58.6 per cent and Everton Park North 61.5 per
cent).
- Capricornia Division contracts towards the
coast with the loss of the western shires of Aramac, Barcaldine,
Ilfracombe, Jericho, Longreach, Peak Downs and Winton to Maranoa.
Remains a notionally fairly safe Labor seat (margin reduced from
6.9 per cent to 5.5 per cent).
- Fadden Division moves southward with the loss
of Redland Shire part to Bowman and is now wholly contained within
the City of Gold Coast, becoming one of three Gold Coast-based
divisions. Remains a notionally safe Liberal seat (margin increases
from 12.3 per cent to 13.1 per cent).
- Griffith Division contracts towards the inner
city with the loss of the eastern suburbs part of the division to
Bonner and the acquisition of areas south of the Brisbane River
from Brisbane. Becomes notionally safer for Labor (margin increased
from 5.7 per cent to 6.2 per cent) with the acquisition of
Labor-voting polling places from Brisbane (Dutton Park 65.7 per
cent, Hill End 65.3 per cent, South Brisbane 64.3 per cent and West
End 74.7 per cent).
- Hinkler Division loses Mt Morgan in the north
to Capricornia and gains rural shires of Eidsvold, Gayndah, Kolan,
Monto, Mundubbera and Parry in the south west from Wide Bay.
Division becomes notionally safer for the National Party (margin
increased from 0.04 per cent to 2.2 per cent) with the loss of the
strong Labor-voting town of Mt Morgan (72.3 per cent) and the
acquisition of solid Coalition-voting towns of Gayndah (67.3 per
cent), Gin Gin (59.7 per cent), Monto (72.3 per cent) and
Mundubbera (70.3 per cent).
- Kennedy Division is slightly increased in size
with the acquisition of parts of the City of Thuringowa. Notionally
less safe for the sitting independent member, the Hon. Robert
Katter (two candidate preferred margin reduced from 19.7 per cent
to 14.1 per cent) through the acquisition of polling places where
Mr Katter was not a candidate at the 2001 election.
- Moreton Division moves in a southerly
direction with the loss of suburbs in the north to Griffith and in
the east to Bonner and Rankin and the acquisition of the Sunnybank
Hills area in the south from Rankin. Division is made notionally
slightly less safe for the Liberal Party (margin reduced from 4.2
per cent to 2.6 per cent) with the loss of Liberal-voting polling
places to Bonner (Mansfield 60.1 per cent, Mt Petrie 66.8 per cent,
Rochedale 69.0 per cent and Wishart 60.2 per cent).
- Oxley Division moves further to the east with
the acquisition of Corinda, Darra, Oxley and Seventeen Mile Rocks
from Ryan and the loss of parts of Ipswich to Blair. Division no
longer has a majority of electors located in the City of Ipswich.
Political status of division remains virtually unchanged.
- Rankin Division now firmly centred on the City
of Logan with the acquisition of parts of the City of Logan east of
the South East Freeway from Fadden and the suburbs of Kuraby and
Underwood from Moreton and the loss of the Sunnybank Hills area to
Moreton. Division is notionally more marginal for Labor (margin
reduced from 6.7 per cent to 2.4 per cent) with the acquisition of
Liberal-voting polling places in Fadden (Chatswood Hills 60.7 per
cent, Kimberley Park 64.8 per cent, Shailer Park 66.5 per cent,
Slacks Creek 60.1 per cent and Springwood Road 61.6 per cent).
Effects of 2003 Redistribution,
Queensland
Estimated Two Party Preferred Votes, 2001 Election
Per cent
|
Old Boundaries
|
New Boundaries
|
|
ALP
|
LP/NP
|
ALP
|
LP/NP
|
|
|
|
|
|
Blair
|
41.5
|
58.5
|
43.4
|
56.6
|
Bonner
|
n.a.
|
n.a.
|
51.9
|
48.1
|
Bowman
|
51.4
|
48.6
|
46.9
|
53.1
|
Brisbane
|
53.1
|
46.9
|
51.0
|
49.0
|
Capricornia
|
56.9
|
43.1
|
55.5
|
44.5
|
Dawson
|
42.0
|
58.0
|
42.0
|
58.0
|
Dickson
|
44.0
|
56.0
|
44.0
|
56.0
|
Fadden
|
37.7
|
62.3
|
36.9
|
63.1
|
Fairfax
|
40.8
|
59.2
|
40.8
|
59.2
|
Fisher
|
37.9
|
62.1
|
38.2
|
61.8
|
Forde
|
42.6
|
57.4
|
43.0
|
57.0
|
Griffith
|
55.7
|
44.3
|
56.2
|
43.8
|
Groom
|
34.9
|
65.1
|
34.9
|
65.1
|
Herbert
|
48.4
|
51.6
|
48.5
|
51.5
|
Hinkler
|
50.0
|
50.0
|
47.8
|
52.2
|
Kennedy (a)
|
n.a.
|
n.a.
|
n.a.
|
n.a.
|
Leichhardt
|
43.6
|
56.4
|
43.6
|
56.4
|
Lilley
|
54.8
|
45.2
|
54.6
|
45.4
|
Longman
|
47.3
|
52.7
|
47.5
|
52.5
|
McPherson
|
37.5
|
62.5
|
37.8
|
62.2
|
Maranoa
|
34.0
|
66.0
|
34.6
|
65.4
|
Moncrieff
|
34.6
|
65.4
|
33.7
|
66.3
|
Moreton
|
45.8
|
54.2
|
47.4
|
52.6
|
Oxley
|
58.1
|
41.9
|
58.0
|
42.0
|
Petrie
|
46.6
|
53.4
|
46.5
|
53.5
|
Rankin
|
56.7
|
43.3
|
52.4
|
47.6
|
Ryan
|
41.4
|
58.6
|
40.5
|
59.5
|
Wide Bay
|
39.3
|
60.7
|
40.1
|
59.9
|
(a) Two Candidate Preferred votes: Old boundaries-Ind 69.7% ALP
30.3%, New boundaries- Ind 64.1% ALP 35.9%.
South
Australia
Low population growth in South Australia resulted in the state
losing a seat in the House of Representatives for the second
occasion since 1984.
The main interest in the South Australian redistribution was
whether the seat to be abolished was from Adelaide or from the
country and which member was to lose his or her seat. As the
Liberal Party held nine of the twelve South Australian seats there
was a widespread expectation that a government seat would be
abolished, with the Speaker s seat of Wakefield being a prime
candidate.(14)
The Australian Labor Party in its submission to the
Redistribution Committee called for the abolition of Wakefield,
with parts of the division to be transferred to Barker, Bonython
and Grey.(15) Given the obvious political sensitivities,
the Liberal Party submission was less definite. It provided
suggestions and arguments for the retention of each division but
did not suggest a division for abolition.(16) Not
surprisingly a number of Liberal MPs made submissions arguing for
the retention of their divisions.(17)
In the end the Redistribution Committee s proposal closely
resembled the Labor Party s submission but with one notable
difference. The Committee decided to abolish the division of
Bonython and retain Wakefield as the name for the area previously
covered by Bonython. Wakefield thus changes from a rural division
to a largely outer metropolitan division located in the northern
suburbs of Adelaide. The Committee argued that although the
majority of electors in the proposed Wakefield are from the
existing Bonython the majority of land area is from the existing
Wakefield. The Committee also noted that Wakefield has been in
existence from 1903 and is thus as close to a Federation seat as
possible in South Australia.(18)
The Redistribution Committee s proposal provided a neat solution
to what could have been a potentially difficult situation. With the
boundaries of Wakefield being extensively redrawn to take in
traditionally Labor voting areas in Adelaide s northern suburbs the
seat is now a notionally marginal Labor seat (margin 1.3 per cent).
Given the abolition of Bonython and the changed status of
Wakefield, the Coalition now notionally holds eight seats to Labor
s three. Shortly after the proposed boundaries were announced the
member for Wakefield and Speaker of the House of Representatives,
the Hon. Neil Andrew announced that he would be retiring from the
Parliament at the next election.(19)
The redistribution became finalised on 17 December 2003 with a
decision by the augmented Electoral Commission for South Australia
to accept the Committee s proposal and not to uphold any
objections. The following table provides a summary of the new
divisions.
The redistribution resulted in changes to all South Australian
divisions. Apart from the already mentioned changes to Wakefield,
substantial changes were also made to Barker, Kingston, Grey and
Mayo. The main features of the redistribution are discussed below.
In the following discussion all references to voting figures are
two party preferred votes at the 2001 House of Representatives
election.
2003 Redistribution, Division Summary,
South Australia
Division
|
Actual enrolment 12 Mar
2003
|
Variation
from average
(%)
|
Projected enrolment
31 Jul 2007
|
Variation
from average
(%)
|
Area
sq km
|
Adelaide
|
94 342
|
-0.52
|
98 204
|
-0.71
|
75
|
Barker
|
100 231
|
5.69
|
102 000
|
3.13
|
64 015
|
Boothby
|
94 981
|
0.16
|
97 016
|
-1.91
|
123
|
Grey
|
97 415
|
2.72
|
99 491
|
0.59
|
904 881
|
Hindmarsh
|
98 621
|
3.99
|
101 469
|
2.59
|
73
|
Kingston
|
92 537
|
-2.42
|
98 446
|
-0.47
|
377
|
Makin
|
92 774
|
-2.17
|
97 315
|
-1.61
|
115
|
Mayo
|
88 426
|
-6.76
|
96 761
|
-2.17
|
9 190
|
Port Adelaide
|
97 207
|
2.50
|
100 546
|
1.66
|
253
|
Sturt
|
96 928
|
2.21
|
100 126
|
1.23
|
84
|
Wakefield
|
89 715
|
-5.40
|
96 628
|
-2.31
|
6 155
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
1 043 177
|
|
1 088 002
|
|
985 341
|
Average
|
94 834
|
|
98 909
|
|
|
Source: Australian Electoral Commission, 2003 Redistribution
of South Australia into Electoral Divisions,
Australian Electoral Commission, Canberra, 2003.
- Barker Division expands in a northerly
direction acquiring the Riverland (Berri, Loxton, Renmark and
Waikerie) and parts of the Barossa valley (Angaston, Barossa and
Tanunda) from Wakefield and losing Kangaroo Island and the southern
Fleurieu Peninsula (Alexandrina, Victor Harbour and Yankalilla) to
Mayo. Division remains a notionally safe Liberal seat (margin 16.6
per cent).
- Bonython Division abolished, mainly absorbed
by the relocated Wakefield but parts of Salisbury in the south east
transferred to Port Adelaide.
- Grey Acquires Yorke Peninsula (Barunga West,
Copper Coast and Yorke Peninsula) from Wakefield, loses Clare and
Gilbert Valleys to Wakefield. Division remains a notionally safe
Liberal seat (margin 10.6 per cent).
- Hindmarsh Division acquires suburbs on the
coast in the north (Grange, Seaton West, Semaphore Park and West
Lake Shore) from Port Adelaide and loses Edwardstown in the south
east to Boothby. Division is now notionally more marginal for the
Liberal Party (margin reduced from 1.9 per cent to 1.0 per cent)
with the acquisition of solid Labor-voting polling places from Port
Adelaide (Semaphore Park 61.7 per cent and Semaphore Park South
71.3 per cent).
- Kingston Division now fully contains the City
of Onkaparinga with the acquisition of remaining parts of
municipality from Mayo. Division is now notionally more marginal
for Labor (margin reduced from 2.4 per cent to 1.3 per cent) with
the acquisition of solid Liberal-voting polling places (McLaren
Vale 65.6 per cent and Willunga 61.6 per cent).
- Mayo Division expands in the north with the
acquisition of parts of the Barossa valley from Wakefield and to
the south with the acquisition of Kangaroo Island and the southern
Fleurieu Peninsula from Barker. Division remains a notionally safe
Liberal seat (margin 14.3 per cent).
- Wakefield Division changes dramatically from
being a rural division based on the Riverland to a largely outer
metropolitan division based on Elizabeth. Division changes status
from a safe Liberal seat (margin 14.6 per cent) to a notionally
marginal Labor seat (margin 1.3 per cent). Safe Labor-voting
polling places in Elizabeth (Elizabeth Downs 65.1 per cent,
Elizabeth Grove 68.8 per cent, Elizabeth North 65.5 per cent,
Elizabeth South 69.0 per cent) are partly offset by solid
Liberal-voting polling places in the rural part of the division
(Clare 70.9 per cent, Gawler East 63.0 per cent, Gawler South 58.6
per cent and Kapunda 58.2 per cent)
Effects of 2003 Redistribution, South
Australia
Estimated Two Party Preferred Votes, 2001 Election
Per cent
|
Old Boundaries
|
New Boundaries
|
|
ALP
|
LP/NP
|
ALP
|
LP/NP
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adelaide
|
49.8
|
50.2
|
49.4
|
50.6
|
Barker
|
34.3
|
65.7
|
33.4
|
66.6
|
Bonython
|
60.4
|
39.6
|
n.a.
|
n.a.
|
Boothby
|
42.6
|
57.4
|
42.6
|
57.4
|
Grey
|
39.4
|
60.6
|
39.4
|
60.6
|
Hindmarsh
|
48.1
|
51.9
|
49.0
|
51.0
|
Kingston
|
52.4
|
47.6
|
51.3
|
48.7
|
Makin
|
46.2
|
53.8
|
46.3
|
53.7
|
Mayo
|
37.1
|
62.9
|
35.7
|
64.3
|
Port Adelaide
|
64.6
|
35.4
|
66.0
|
34.0
|
Sturt
|
41.8
|
58.2
|
41.5
|
58.5
|
Wakefield
|
35.4
|
64.6
|
51.3
|
48.7
|
Northern
Territory
The 2003 determination reduced the Northern Territory's
representation in the House of Representatives from two to one.
Given the fact that the Northern Territory fell short of the second
seat by only 295 people(20)and the consequences for the
representation of the Northern Territory in the House of
Representatives, the determination generated much discussion. In
June 2003 the member for Solomon, David Tollner MP, introduced a
private member's bill, the purpose of which was to guarantee a
minimum of two seats each for the Australian Capital Territory and
the Northern Territory. The Tollner bill was overtaken by events
and was subsequently removed from the Notice Paper.
In July 2003, the Special Minister of State, Senator the Hon.
Eric Abetz asked the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters
to inquire into and report on increasing the minimum representation
for the territories to provide for a minimum of two seats each for
the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern
Territory.(21)
The majority of submissions to the inquiry supported a
guaranteed minimum of two seats for the Northern Territory. The
reasons given included: the geographic size and the disparate
nature of the territory, claims that the territory would be
entitled to two seats at the next determination, uncertainty about
the definition of the 'latest statistics of the Commonwealth' used
to calculate entitlements, reservations about the accuracy of
Northern Territory population estimates, and an acknowledgement by
the Australian Bureau of Statistics that its quarterly population
estimates contain a margin of error and that the 295 people by
which the Northern Territory fell short of a quota for a second
seat was within that margin of error.(22)
In its report dated 1 December 2003, the Committee rejected the
proposal that the Northern Territory be guaranteed a second seat
but did recommend that in future the margin of error in the
territory's population estimates be taken into account when
determining the two territories entitlements and that the 2003
determination in respect of the Northern Territory be set
aside.(23)
The Government accepted the Committee's recommendations and
introduced the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Representation in
the House of Representatives) Bill 2004 on 25 March 2004 to give
effect to the Committee's recommendations. The bill attracted
bipartisan support and received Royal Assent on 20 April 2004. With
the passing of the bill the Northern Territory reverts to two
divisions, Lingiari and Solomon, at the next election, with no
alteration to their boundaries.
Since the 1984 amendments to the Commonwealth Electoral
Act, redistributions have become an integral part of the
Australian political landscape. There have been twenty-one
electoral redistributions in the various states and territories
under the current provisions. All states have been redistributed at
least twice during that time, with Queensland having been
redistributed four times.
The 'seven year' rule has triggered redistributions in 1992 in
Tasmania and the ACT, in 1997 in Western Australia, in 1999 in
South Australia, Tasmania and New South Wales and 2003 in Victoria.
The following schedule shows the date of the most recent
redistribution in each State and Territory and the prospective date
of the next redistribution scheduled under the 'seven year' rule.
According to the schedule the next redistribution to be held, under
this provision, should be in the Australian Capital Territory in
January 2005.
Redistribution Schedule
State/Territory
|
Last Redistribution
|
Next Scheduled Redistribution
(a)
|
New South Wales
|
11 February 2000
|
Mar 2007
|
Victoria
|
29 January 2003
|
Feb 2010
|
Queensland
|
25 November 2003
|
Dec 2010
|
South Australia
|
17 December 2003
|
Jan 2011
|
Western Australia
|
20 November 2000
|
Dec 2007
|
Tasmania
|
11 February 2000
|
Mar 2007
|
Northern Territory
|
21 December 2000
|
Jan 2008
|
Australian Capital Territory
|
10 December 1997
|
Jan 2005
|
(a) Under section 59 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act
1918 a direction initiating a redistribution must be made
within 30 days of the end of the period of seven years after a
state or territory was last redistributed.
As noted redistributions may also be triggered by a change in a
state or territory's entitlements to representation in the House of
Representatives. Assuming that the current House of Representatives
serves its full term with the next election held at the end of
2004, then the next determination of entitlements should take place
in February 2006. At that date the latest available population
figures should be for June 2005. The following table calculates the
entitlements of the states and territories at June 2005 using the
latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) population
projections. The ABS publishes three population projection series;
Series A high growth rate, Series B medium growth rate and Series C
low growth rate.
The three projection series provide different prospective
outcomes for the future entitlements of the states and territories.
Under the high growth projection, both New South Wales and Victoria
would lose a seat each while Queensland would gain a seat. Under
the medium growth projection, Queensland would gain a seat while
under the low growth projection the Northern Territory would lose a
seat. Given the differing outcomes depending on the projection used
it is difficult to make generalisations as to the future
entitlements of the various states and territories. However, there
is some chance that Queensland will gain a seat at the next
determination and a lesser chance that New South Wales, Victoria
and the Northern Territory could lose a seat. The entitlements of
the other states and the Australian Capital Territory should remain
unchanged.
Projected Entitlements, June 2005
|
Series A (High)
|
Series B (Medium)
|
Series C (Low)
|
|
Population '000
|
Quotas
|
Seats
|
Population '000
|
Quotas
|
Seats
|
Population '000
|
Quotas
|
Seats
|
NSW
|
6 825.5
|
49.4611
|
49
|
6 812.3
|
49.5665
|
50
|
6 787.5
|
49.6543
|
50
|
Vic
|
5 036.3
|
36.4957
|
36
|
5 027.3
|
36.5788
|
37
|
5 016.6
|
36.6992
|
37
|
Qld
|
3 971.7
|
28.7810
|
29
|
3 930.9
|
28.6014
|
29
|
3 886.7
|
28.4333
|
28
|
SA
|
1 536.8
|
11.1365
|
11
|
1 538.5
|
11.1942
|
11
|
1 538.8
|
11.2572
|
11
|
WA
|
2 021.1
|
14.6459
|
15
|
2 006.2
|
14.5972
|
15
|
1 983.5
|
14.5104
|
15
|
Tas
|
480.2
|
3.4798
|
5
|
475.8
|
3.4619
|
5
|
471.0
|
3.4456
|
5
|
NT
|
211.0
|
1.5290
|
2
|
207.4
|
1.5090
|
2
|
203.8
|
1.4909
|
1
|
ACT
|
336.7
|
2.4399
|
2
|
332.9
|
2.4222
|
2
|
329.0
|
2.4068
|
2
|
Territory projections adjusted to include Christmas and Cocos
Islands (NT) and Jervis Bay (ACT) and two standard errors of
estimate of margin of error of net Census undercount.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Population
Projections, Australia, 2002-2101,
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra, 2003.
- Australian Electoral Commission, Commissioner Issues
Federal Electoral Determination, media release, Australian
Electoral Commission, Canberra, 20 February 2003.
- Under section 38A of the Commonwealth Electoral Act
1918, the Territory of Norfolk Island is not taken to be a
territory for the purposes of the determination, but certain
Norfolk Island residents are included in the state and ACT
population figures.
- Australian Electoral Commission, 2002 Victorian
Redistribution Commences, media release, Australian Electoral
Commission, Canberra, 23 January 2002.
- Redistribution Committee of Victoria, 2002 Proposed
Redistribution of Victoria into Electoral
Divisions, Melbourne, 2002, p. 7.
- Phillip Hudson, 'Labor anger over shift in voters', The
Age, 31 August 2002.
- For Commonwealth redistributions, initial boundaries are
proposed by a Redistribution Committee, objections and comments on
the initial proposals are heard by an augmented Electoral
Commission which consists of the Redistribution Committee plus the
other two members of the Australian Electoral Commission.
- Roland Lindell, Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch)
augmented Electoral Commission, Public Objection no. 45,
2002-03 Redistribution of Victoria into Electoral
Divisions.
http://www.aec.gov.au/_content/why/redistributions/2002/vic/objec/obj45.pdf
- Brian Loughnane, Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian
Division) augmented Electoral Commission, Public Objection no. 44,
2002-03 Redistribution of Victoria into
Electoral Divisions,
http://www.aec.gov.au/_content/why/redistributions/2002/vic/objec/obj44b.pdf
- Australian Electoral Commission, 2002-03 Redistribution of
Victoria into Electoral Divisions, Australian Electoral
Commission, Canberra, 2003, p.10.
- Gerard Newman and Andrew Kopras, 'Victorian Redistribution',
Research Note, no. 25, Parliamentary Library, Canberra,
2002-03.
- Redistribution Committee for Queensland, 2003 Proposed
Redistribution of Queensland into Electoral
Division, Brisbane, 2003, p. 7.
- Suggestions and Comments to the Redistribution Committee,
2003 Proposed Redistribution of Queensland
into Electoral Division, Brisbane, 2003, CD Rom.
- Dennis Atkins, 'Seat reshuffle will give Labor the blues',
Courier-Mail, 23 August 2003.
- General News, 'Lib seat likely to go without a vote cast',
Advertiser,10 March 2003.
- Australian Labor Party, South Australian Branch, Redistribution
Committee of South Australia, Public Suggestion no 18, 2003
Redistribution of South Australia into Electoral
Divisions,
http://www.aec.gov.au/_content/why/redistributions/2003/sa/sugg/SS18.pdf
- Liberal Party of Australia (SA Division), Redistribution
Committee of South Australia, Public Suggestion no 16, 2003
Redistribution of South Australia into Electoral
Divisions,
http://www.aec.gov.au/_content/why/redistributions/2003/sa/sugg/SS16.pdf
- Suggestions were received from Mr C Pyne (Sturt), the Hon N
Andrew (Wakefield), Mr A Southcott (Boothby) and the Hon T Worth
(Adelaide).
- Redistribution Committee for South Australia, 2003 Proposed
Redistribution of South Australia into Electoral
Divisions, Adelaide, 2003, p. 12. For the first Commonwealth
elections in South Australia, members were elected 'at large'. It
was not until the 1903 election that South Australia was divided
into divisions.
- Morgan Mellish, 'Andrew to retire', Australian Financial
Review, 17 September 2003.
- Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, Territorial
representation: report of the inquiry into increasing the minimum
representation for the Australian Capital Territory
and the Northern Territory in the House of
Representatives, November 2003, p. 24.
- Under section 48(2B) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act
1918 the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern
Territory are entitled to a minimum of at least one member each in
the House of Representatives. It should be noted that at the 2003
determination the entitlement calculation for the ACT was 2.4209,
well over the requirement for two seats but short of the
requirement for three seats.
- Rosemary Bell and Gerard Newman, 'Commonwealth Electoral
Amendment (Representation in the House of Representatives) Bill
2004', Bills Digest, no. 121, Parliamentary Library,
Canberra, 2003-04.
- Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, op. cit.
p.xvi.
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