Redistribution of Federal Electoral Boundaries IN Western Australia

PUBLIC SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS

In accordance with section 64 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (the Electoral Act), the Electoral Commissioner invites interested persons or organisations to make written suggestions about the redistribution of federal electoral boundaries for the House of Representatives in Western Australia; and to make written comments on the suggestions which are lodged.

WHY IS A REDISTRIBUTION REQUIRED?

A redistribution of federal electoral boundaries in Western Australia is required following a determination on 13 November 2014 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. Western Australia’s entitlement increased from 15 to 16 members of the House of Representatives. On 1 December 2014, in accordance with section 59 of the Electoral Act, the Electoral Commission directed that a redistribution commence.

WHO WILL CONDUCT THE REDISTRIBUTION?

The redistribution will be conducted by a Redistribution Committee appointed by the Electoral Commission in accordance with section 60 of the Electoral Act.

The Electoral Act requires that the Redistribution Committee for Western Australia comprise the Electoral Commissioner, the Australian Electoral Officer for Western Australia and two senior officials based in Western Australia.

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR A REDISTRIBUTION

In making its proposed redistribution, the Redistribution Committee is 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 Western Australia was determined by the Electoral Commissioner to be 94 026 as at 1 December 2014.

As far as practicable, the Redistribution Committee will ensure that the number of electors enrolled in each division at 8 February 2017 (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:  http://www.aec.gov.au/Electorates/Redistributions/2014/wa/index.htm

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.

THE REDISTRIBUTION PROCESS

The redistribution is carried out in accordance with the Electoral Act.  The key stages of the redistribution process are as follows.

Step 1 - Public suggestions

Any interested person or organisation who wishes to make suggestions relating to the boundaries or names of electoral divisions, has until 6pm Australian Western Standard Time (AWST) Friday 10 April 2015 to lodge them in writing with the Redistribution Committee via the means listed in the ‘How to lodge a suggestion or comment on a suggestion’ section below. Suggestions received after the prescribed lodgement time cannot be considered.

People or organisations making suggestions are requested, where practical, to provide any paper maps in A4/A3 size to facilitate copying.

Step 2 - Comments on the public suggestions

The suggestions will be available for public inspection from Monday 13 April 2015 at the office of the Australian Electoral Officer for Western Australia (Level 13, 200 St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA, 6000) and on the AEC’s website (www.aec.gov.au/wa-redistribution). Any comments on the suggestions must be lodged in writing with the Redistribution Committee by 6pm AWST Friday 24 April 2015. Comments received after the prescribed lodgement time cannot be considered.

Step 3 - Redistribution proposal

After considering the written suggestions and comments, the Redistribution Committee will propose a redistribution of federal electoral boundaries for Western Australia. Maps showing the proposed boundaries and names of electoral divisions will then be published in selected newspapers, on the AEC website and available at all AEC offices in Western Australia.

Step 4 - Objections to the proposed redistribution

Objections to the proposed redistribution must be lodged within 28 days of the publication of the proposed boundaries. There is a further 14 day period for lodgement of written comments on any objections.

Step 5 - Objections considered by the augmented Electoral Commission

The augmented Electoral Commission for the Western Australia federal redistribution considers all objections and comments. The augmented Electoral Commission comprises the members of the Redistribution Committee together with the Chairperson of the AEC and the third Commission member.

Step 6 - The second redistribution proposal

After it has considered all objections and comments, the augmented Electoral Commission will make its own proposed redistribution.

Step 7 - 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.

Step 8 - Final determination

After considering all submissions the augmented Electoral Commission will make a final determination of boundaries and names of the electoral divisions for Western Australia by notice published in the Gazette.

For more information about the redistribution process visit the AEC’s website: http://www.aec.gov.au/Electorates/Redistributions/index.htm

HOW TO LODGE A SUGGESTION OR A COMMENT ON A SUGGESTION

Suggestions and comments on suggestions should be lodged via the AEC website at www.aec.gov.au/wa-redistribution. Suggestions and comments on suggestions can also be submitted:

■      by email to FedRedistribution-WA@aec.gov.au

■      in person to Level 13, 200 St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA, 6000

■      by mail to PO Box 7081, Cloisters Square PO, WA, 6850

■      by fax to 08 6363 8016.

Public availability of suggestions and comments on suggestions

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 Western Australia (Level 13, 200 St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA, 6000), 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 Redistribution Committee and the augmented Electoral Commission for Western Australia.   

Signatures and address details of people and organisations that lodge written submissions will be removed prior to publication.

MORE INFORMATION

Persons or organisations intending to make submissions to the Redistribution Committee 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 Redistribution Committee for Western Australia’s secretariat by the relevant closing time.

A wide range of information is available on the AEC’s website, including:

·         Further information about the federal redistribution process in Western Australia, including an indicative timetable and background information – www.aec.gov.au/wa-redistribution

·         Information about current electoral divisions in Western Australia – http://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/index.htm

·         Guidelines for making a public submission – http://www.aec.gov.au/Electorates/Redistributions/guidelines-for-submissions.htm

·         Guidelines for naming federal electoral divisions – http://www.aec.gov.au/Electorates/Redistributions/guidelines.htm

·         the legal requirements for a federal redistribution as outlined in Part IV of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 – http://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/australian_electoral_system/Electoral_Legislation.htm)

·         general information about the redistribution process – www.aec.gov.au/Electorates/Redistributions/.

Further information can be obtained from the Redistribution Secretariat:

Phone number: 08 6363 8043

Email address: FedRedistribution-WA@aec.gov.au

Tom Rogers

Electoral Commissioner