PROPOSED Redistribution of Federal Electoral Boundaries IN THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
The Redistribution Committee for the Australian Capital Territory (the Redistribution Committee) has made a proposed redistribution of federal electoral boundaries in the Australian Capital Territory.
Members of the public and organisations are invited to inspect the report of the Redistribution Committee which contains:
Members of the public and organisations are now invited to lodge written objections against the proposed redistribution.
A redistribution of federal electoral boundaries in the Australian Capital Territory is required because more than seven years have elapsed since the last redistribution. The redistribution was due in December 2013, but was deferred at the time as population projections suggested the Australian Capital Territory might gain a third seat at the next determination of the number members of the House of Representatives to which each state and territory would be entitled at the next federal general election. It was determined on 13 November 2014 that the Australian Capital Territory entitlement remained at two members of the House of Representatives.
On 1 December 2014, in accordance with section 59 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (the Electoral Act), the Electoral Commission directed that a redistribution commence.
In making its proposed redistribution, the Redistribution Committee was bound by section 66 of the Electoral Act.
The number of electors in each proposed electoral division must not deviate by more than 10 per cent above or below the current enrolment quota. The current enrolment quota for the Australian Capital Territory was determined by the then acting Electoral Commissioner to be 134 812 as at 1 December 2014.
As far as practicable, the Redistribution Committee must ensure that the number of electors enrolled in each division at 28 July 2019 (the projection time) will not deviate by more than 3.5 per cent above or below the projected enrolment quota.
The actual and projected enrolment figures, current and projected enrolment quotas, and the redistribution timetable, are available on the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website: www.aec.gov.au/act-redistribution
Section 66 of the Electoral Act also provides that the Redistribution Committee:
‘give due consideration, in relation to each proposed Electoral Division, to:
(i) community of interests within the proposed Electoral Division, including economic, social and regional interests;
(ii) means of communication and travel within the proposed Electoral Division;
(iv) the physical features and area of the proposed Electoral Division; and
(v) the boundaries of existing Divisions in the State or Territory’.
Consideration of existing boundaries is subordinate to the other factors set out above.
Notices inviting suggestions relating to the redistribution and comments on suggestions were placed in the Gazette on Wednesday 29 April 2015 and in The Canberra Times and The Weekend Australian newspapers on Saturday 2 May 2015. Eight suggestions and two comments on suggestions were received and all were considered by the Redistribution Committee in the development of its proposal.
The proposed federal divisions
The Redistribution Committee proposes transferring the following areas located in the current Division of Fraser to the proposed Division of Canberra:
The Redistribution Committee was unanimous in its proposal to rename the Division of Fraser to ‘Fenner’, in honour and recognition of the contribution of the distinguished scientist Professor Frank Fenner AC, CMG, MBE, FAA, FRS, FRACP, FRCP. Professor Fenner was a renowned virologist whose major achievements, the eradication of smallpox, control of Australia’s rabbit plague through the use of the myxoma virus and his work on malaria in Papua New Guinea, have helped reduce human suffering.
A printed copy of the report can also be inspected at the office of the senior Divisional Returning Officer for the Australian Capital Territory (50 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra).
What happens next?
Objections
Any interested person or organisation who wishes to make an objection to the proposed boundaries or names of electoral divisions contained in the proposed redistribution has until 6pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) Friday 9 October 2015 to lodge a written objection via the means listed in the ‘How to lodge an objection or comment on an objection’ section below. Objections received after the prescribed lodgement time cannot be considered.
People or organisations making objections are requested, where practical, to provide any paper maps in A4/A3 size to facilitate copying.
Comments on objections
Objections will be available for public inspection from Monday 12 October 2015 at the office of the senior Divisional Returning Officer for the Australian Capital Territory (50 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra) and on the AEC’s website (www.aec.gov.au/act-redistribution). Any written comments on the objections must be lodged in writing with the AEC by 6pm (AEDT) Friday 23 October 2015. Comments received after the prescribed lodgement time cannot be considered.
The comments on objections will be available for public inspection from Monday 26 October 2015 at the office of the senior Divisional Returning Officer for the Australian Capital Territory (50 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra) and on the AEC’s website (www.aec.gov.au/act-redistribution).
Objections considered by the augmented Electoral Commission
Written objections and comments on objections are considered by the augmented Electoral Commission. The augmented Electoral Commission for the Australian Capital Territory comprises of:
As part of its considerations, the augmented Electoral Commission may hold an inquiry into any objection or comment on an objection.
The second redistribution proposal
After it has considered all objections and comments, the augmented Electoral Commission will make its own proposed redistribution.
Further objections
If the augmented Electoral Commission’s proposed redistribution is significantly different from the Redistribution Committee’s proposal, the augmented Electoral Commission will invite further objections. Information will be provided should this stage be required.
Final determination
After considering all submissions, the augmented Electoral Commission will make a final determination of boundaries and names of the electoral divisions for the Australian Capital Territory by notice published in the Gazette on 28 January 2016.
Copies of the augmented Electoral Commission’s determination and reasons for that determination, together with the work of the Redistribution Committee, will be tabled in both Houses of Parliament. Once this has occurred, this material will be made available to the public via the AEC website.
When will the new federal boundaries come into effect?
The new boundaries will apply at the first election held for all members of the House of Representatives after the determination date of 28 January 2016.
Should an election for all members of the House of Representatives be held before this date, the election would be contested on the boundaries in place at the 2013 federal election.
Objections and comments on objections should be lodged via the AEC website at www.aec.gov.au/act-redistribution. Objections and comments on objections can also be submitted:
■ by email to: FedRedistribution-ACT@aec.gov.au
■ in person, during business hours, to: The Australian Electoral Commission (Att: Redistribution Secretariat), 50 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra
■ by mail to: The Australian Electoral Commission (Att: Redistribution Secretariat), PO Box 6172, Kingston, ACT, 2604
■ by fax to: 02 6293 7660.
The Electoral Act requires that objections and comments on objections are made publicly available. Copies of all submissions will be made available in full for public inspection at the office of the senior Divisional Returning Officer for the Australian Capital Territory (50 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra) in accordance with the Electoral Act.
All submissions will also be published in full on the AEC’s website and included in reports produced by the augmented Electoral Commission for the Australian Capital Territory.
Signatures and contact details of people and organisations that lodge written submissions will be removed prior to publication.
Persons or organisations intending to make submissions are urged to take account of the requirements of the Electoral Act. In particular, those making submissions are advised to ensure their submissions are in the physical possession of the Australian Electoral Commission by the relevant closing time.
A wide range of information is available on the AEC’s website, including:
Further information can be obtained from the Redistribution Secretariat:
Telephone: 02 6271 4672
Email: FedRedistribution-ACT@aec.gov.au
Mr Tom Rogers | Mr Andrew Kristjanson | Mr Jeff Brown | Dr Maxine Cooper |
Electoral Commissioner | senior Divisional Returning Officer for the Australian Capital Territory | Surveyor-General for the Australian Capital Territory | Australian Capital Territory Auditor-General |