Redistribution of Federal Electoral divisions IN the northern territory

PUBLIC SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS

In accordance with section 64 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (the Electoral Act), the Electoral Commissioner invites interested persons and organisations to make written suggestions from Wednesday 3 February 2016 about the redistribution of federal electoral divisions for the House of Representatives in the Northern Territory; and to make written comments on the suggestions which are lodged.

WHY IS A REDISTRIBUTION REQUIRED?

A redistribution of federal electoral divisions in the Northern Territory is required because more than seven years have elapsed since the last redistribution. On 15 October 2015, in accordance with section 59 of the Electoral Act, the Electoral Commission directed that a redistribution commence.

As part of 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, it was determined that the Northern Territory remains entitled to two members of the House of Representatives.  

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 the Northern Territory comprise the Electoral Commissioner, the Australian Electoral Officer for the Northern Territory and two senior officials based in the Northern Territory.

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR A REDISTRIBUTION OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY

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 the Northern Territory was determined by the Electoral Commissioner to be 64 786 as at 15 October 2015.

As far as practicable, the Redistribution Committee will ensure that the number of electors enrolled in each electoral division at 7 August 2020 (the projection time) will not deviate by more than 3.5 per cent above or below the projected enrolment quota of 70 688.

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/nt-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.

Under section 56A of the Electoral Act, until such time as the Territory of the Christmas Islands or the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Island is entitled to a member of the House of Representatives, each Territory is to be included in an electoral division in the Northern Territory. The Territory of Christmas Island and the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Island are currently part of the Division of Lingiari.

THE BOUNDARIES OF THE ELECTORAL DIVISIONS WILL CHANGE

On the boundaries in place when the redistribution started on 15 October 2015, the number of electors enrolled in both the Divisions of Lingiari and Solomon meet the requirement to be not more than plus or minus 10 per cent of the current enrolment quota of 64 786. However, neither electoral division meets the requirement to be not more than plus or minus 3.5 per cent of the projected enrolment quota of 70 688 at the projection time, as:

• the Division of Lingiari is less than the permissible minimum number of projected electors of 68 214 at the projection time of 7 August 2020, and
• the Division of Solomon is more than the permissible maximum number of projected electors of 73 162 at the projection time of 7 August 2020.

As a consequence, the Redistribution Committee will be required to adjust the boundaries of both electoral divisions so that the requirements of the Electoral Act can be met.

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 Central Standard Time (ACST) Friday 4 March 2016 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 7 March 2016 at the office of the Australian Electoral Officer for the Northern Territory (Level 7, TCG Centre, 80 Mitchell Street, Darwin, NT) and on the AEC’s website (www.aec.gov.au/nt-redistribution). Any comments on the suggestions must be lodged in writing with the Redistribution Committee by 6pm ACST Friday 18 March 2016. 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 divisions for the Northern Territory. Maps showing the proposed boundaries and names of electoral divisions will then be published in selected newspapers and on the AEC website and will be made available at all AEC offices in the Northern Territory.

Step 4 - Objections to the proposed redistribution

Written objections to the proposed redistribution must be lodged within 28 days of the publication of the proposed redistribution. 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 Northern Territory considers all objections and comments. The augmented Electoral Commission comprises the members of the Redistribution Committee together with the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and the third member of the Electoral Commission.

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, in the opinion of the augmented Electoral Commission, its proposal 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 the boundaries and names of the electoral divisions for the Northern Territory by notice published in the Commonwealth Government Notices 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/nt-redistribution. Suggestions and comments on suggestions can also be submitted:

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

■      in person at the office of the Redistribution Committee for NT at Level 7, TCG Centre, 80 Mitchell Street, Darwin, NT

■      by mail to GPO Box 21, Darwin NT 0801

■      by fax 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 the Northern Territory (Level 7, TCG Centre, 80 Mitchell Street, Darwin, NT), 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.

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 suggestions or comments on suggestions read the ‘Guidelines for making a public suggestion’.

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 the Northern Territory 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 the Northern Territory, including an indicative timetable and background information – www.aec.gov.au/nt-redistribution

·         Information about current electoral divisions in the Northern Territory – 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: 02 6271 4672

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

Tom Rogers

Electoral Commissioner