PROPOSED Redistribution of Federal Electoral DIVISIONS IN VICTORIA
The Redistribution Committee for Victoria (the Redistribution Committee) has made a proposed redistribution of federal electoral divisions in Victoria.
Members of the public and organisations are invited to inspect:
Members of the public and organisations are now invited to lodge written objections against the proposed redistribution.
As part of a determination on Friday 3 July 2020 of the number of members of the House of Representatives to which each state and territory will be entitled at the next federal general election, the Electoral Commissioner determined Victoria’s entitlement increased from 38 to 39 members of the House of Representatives.
As a redistribution is required when a state’s entitlement to members of the House of Representatives changes, in accordance with section 59 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (the Electoral Act), the Electoral Commission directed that a redistribution of Victoria commence on Wednesday 15 July 2020.
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 redistribution quota. The redistribution quota for Victoria was determined by the Electoral Commissioner to be 109,021 as at Wednesday 15 July 2020.
As far as practicable, the Redistribution Committee must ensure that the number of electors enrolled in each division at Sunday 26 January 2025 (the projection time) will not deviate by more than 3.5 per cent above or below the projected enrolment quota of 117,107 electors.
Enrolment as at Wednesday 15 July 2020, the projected enrolment figures, redistribution and projected enrolment quotas, and the redistribution timetable, are available on the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website: www.aec.gov.au/VIC-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
One hundred and two suggestions and 48 comments on suggestions were received and all were considered by the Redistribution Committee in the development of its proposal.
The new Division of Hawke, named in honour of the Hon. Robert James Lee Hawke AC (1929–2019), is proposed to include electors in the local government areas of Hume City, Melton City and Moorabool Shire Councils.
The Redistribution Committee proposes retaining the names of 37 of Victoria’s existing electoral divisions and changing the name of the Division of Corangamite to ‘Tucker’ in honour of Margaret (Lilardia) Elizabeth Tucker MBE (1904–1996), for her significant work to create a more equal and understanding society for Aboriginal people.
The proposed renaming of an electoral division will affect 101,000 electors enrolled in Victoria (2.38 per cent of all electors enrolled in Victoria on Wednesday 15 July 2020) as a result of the proposed redistribution.
The Redistribution Committee proposes changing the boundaries of 29 of Victoria’s existing electoral divisions.
As a result of the proposed redistribution, 536,730 electors enrolled in Victoria (12.62 per cent of all electors enrolled in Victoria on Wednesday 15 July 2020) will change their federal electoral division.
The Redistribution Committee’s report, including maps, is available electronically on the AEC website (www.aec.gov.au/VIC-redistribution).
A printed copy of the report can also be inspected in AEC offices in Victoria and at the office of the Australian Electoral Officer for Victoria (Level 1, Urban Workshop, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne). The location of each AEC office is available on the AEC website or by phoning 13 23 26.
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 AEST Friday 16 April 2021 to lodge a written objection via the means listed in the ‘How to lodge an objection or a 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 19 April 2021 on the AEC’s website (www.aec.gov.au/VIC-redistribution) and at the office of the Australian Electoral Officer for Victoria (Level 1, Urban Workshop, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne). Any written comments on objections must be lodged in writing with the AEC by 6pm AEST Friday 30 April 2021. Comments received after the prescribed lodgement time cannot be considered.
The comments on objections will be available for public inspection from Monday 3 May 2021 on the AEC’s website (www.aec.gov.au/VIC-redistribution) and at the office of the Australian Electoral Officer for Victoria (Level 1, Urban Workshop, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne).
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 Victoria comprises of:
As part of its considerations, the augmented Electoral Commission may hold an inquiry into any objection or any comment on an objection.
The second redistribution proposal
After it has considered all objections and comments on objections, 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 Victoria by notice published in the Gazette on Monday 26 July 2021.
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 ELECTORAL DIVISiONS come into effect?
The new names and boundaries of electoral divisions will be in place from the determination on Monday 26 July 2021. However, electoral events will not be contested on these new electoral divisions until a writ is issued for a general election following the next expiry or dissolution of the House of Representatives.
Objections and comments on objections should be lodged via the AEC website at www.aec.gov.au/VIC-redistribution. Objections and comments on objections can also be submitted:
The Electoral Act requires that submissions to the Redistribution Committee be made publicly available. Copies of all submissions will be made available in full for public inspection at the office of the Australian Electoral Officer for Victoria (Level 1, Urban Workshop, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne), 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.
Signatures and address details of people and organisations who lodge written submissions will be removed prior to publication.
It is strongly recommended those wishing to make an objection or a comment on objections read the ‘Guidelines for making a public suggestion’.
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: 03 9285 7197
Email: FedRedistribution-VIC@aec.gov.au
Information about the 2020-21 redivision of Victoria’s state electoral boundaries is available at: www.ebc.vic.gov.au
This is a separate process not administered by the AEC and is not related to federal parliament.
Mr Tom Rogers | Mr Aneurin Coffey | Mr Craig Sandy | Mr Andrew Greaves |
Electoral Commissioner | Acting Australian Electoral Officer for Victoria | Surveyor-General of Victoria | Auditor-General for Victoria |