Electoral Districts Act of 1931 (22 Geo v No. 11) (Qld)

ELECTIONS. 22 GEO. V. No. 11, 1931. Electoral Districts Act. DENTAL AMENDMENT. See MEDICAL. DISEASES IN STOCK. See STOCK. DIVORCE REPORTS. See PRlNTING AND NEWSPAPERS. DRUGS AND POISONS. See HEALTH. 13725 ELECTIONS. An Act to Provide for the Reduction of the Number 22 GEO. v. of Members ofthe Legislative Assembly, and of N;~~ l. the Number of Electoral Districts to ELECTORAL . DISTRICTS Sixty-two; for the Distribution of Electoral ~ ~ ~ ~ F Districts, and to Make Provision for the Better Representation of the People of Queensland in Parliament. [ASSENTED TO 1ST OCTOBER, 1931.] B E it enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legis- lative Assembly of Queensland in Parliament assembled, .and by the authority of the same, as follows:- 1. This Act may be cited as "The Electoral Districts Short title. Act of 1931." 2. From and after the passing of this Act, except Repeal of k for the purpose of representation in this present Ge~ . v· d Parliament (the term "this present Parliament" 130Geo~ ~ . meaning the Parliament in session at the passing of No. 23. this Act) of existing Electoral Districts and the filling up of any vacancy arising in the representation of any

13726 ELECTIONS. Electoral Districts Act. 22 G]J(). V. No. 11, Electoral District during the existence of this present Parliament, *" The Electoral Districts Act of 1910" and t" The Electoral Districts Act of 1922" are repealed. Number of 3. (1.) Notwithstanding anything contained in mAsesmembebrlsy.of any Act or law to the contrary, from and after the .end of this present Parliament (as above defined) the Legislative Assembly of Queensland shall consist of sixty-two members. Electoral Districts. (2.) The State of Queensland shall, in manner provided by this Act, be divided into sixty-two Electoral Districts each returning one member. Appoint- ment of Commis- sionerFl. 4. As soon as may be after the passing of this Act three Electoral Commissioners (herein referred to as "the Commissioners") shall be appointed by the Governor in Council by Commission under his hand and seal. One of such Commissioners shall be appointed Chairman of the Commissioners. Each Commissioner shall receive such salary and allowances as the Governor in Council thinks fit. If before the division of the State into Electoral Districts is finally made as herein provided any Com- missioner dies, or for any cause becomes incapable of acting, another Commissioner shall in like manner be appointed in his room. . Duty of Commis- sioners. 5. It shall be the duty of the Commissioners to divide the State of Queensland into Electoral Districts in manner provided by this Act. Quota. 6. For the purposes of such division, a quota of electors shall be ascertained as follows :- The total number of electors who are enrolled for the State, being the total sum of the net enrolment of all the Electoral Districts of the State pursuant to the provisions of t" The Elections Acts, 1915 to 1930," as at the thirtieth day of June, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-one, shall be divided by sixty-two, and the quotient shall be the quota of electors. * 1 Geo. V. No. 3, supra, page 687. t 13 Geo. V. No. 23, supra, page 9988. t 6 Geo. V. No. 13, 16 Geo. V. No. 21, and 21 Geo. V. No. 39, supra, pages 6799, 11294, and 12886.

ELECTIONS. 13727 1931. Electoral Districts Act. For the purposes of the determination of the total number of electors who are enrolled for the State as at the thirtieth day of June, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-one, a certificate under the hand of the Principal Electoral Officer, duly published in the Gazette, setting forth the net ~ nrolment of electors in respect of each Electoral District, and the total number of electors who are enrolled for the State (such total number of electors who are enrolled for the State being the total sum of the net ~nrolment of the electors of all the Electoral Districts) as at the thirtieth day of June, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-one, shall be conclusive evidence of the net enrolment of the electors of all the Electoral Districts, and the total number of electors who are enrolled for the State;. and such total number of electors who are enrolled for the State, being the number as set forth in the certificate of the Principal Electoral Officer aforesaid, shall be the number which shall be divided by sixty-two, and the quotient shall be the quota of electors. 7. In making the division, consideration shall be Matters tobe given by the Commissioners to- considered. (a) Community or diversity of interest; '(b) Means of communication; (c) Physical features; (d) The area of proposed Districts which do not comprise any part of a city; and subjoot thereto the quota of electors shall be the basis for the division of the State into Electoral Districts, and the Commissioners may adopt a margin of allowance to be used whenever necessary, but in no case shall such quota be departed from to a greater extent than one-fifth more or one-fifth less: Provided that the approximate number of electors- (a) In respect of a proposed Electoral District which shall be wholly comprised of a city; or (b) In respect of a proposed Electoral District which shall be wholly comprised of part of a city; shall not be less than such quota :

13728 ELECTIONS. Electoral Districts Act. 22 Goo. V. No~ 11~ Provided further that the approximate number of electors in respect of a proposed Electoral District within the boundaries of which there is included a city or part of a city shall not be less than seven thousand. For the purposes of the above provisions the term "city" shall mean and include the City of Brisbane constituted under *" The Oityof Brisbane Acts, 1924 to 1930," and a city as proclaimed under the provisions of t" The Local Authorities Acts, 1902 to 1929." Notice of proposed division. 8. On or before the first day of December, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-one (or such date as the Governor in Council may by Proclamation published in the Gazette prescribe), the Commissioners shall cause to be publicly exposed, in some conspicuous place at all court-houses and principal police stations within each proposed Electoral District, a map whereon shall be delineated- (a) The boundaries of the proposed District (naming such District) and of the several Districts (naming such Districts) contiguous thereto; and (b) The approximate number of electors in the proposed District (naming such District) concerned and in the several Districts (naming such Districts) contiguous thereto. Objections. 9. Objections or suggestions in writing with respect to such proposed division may be lodged with the Com- missioners not later than one calendar month after the date referred to in section eight aforesaid, and the Commissioners shall consider all objections and sugges- tions so lodged before finally making their division. Report. 10. The Commissioners shall, on or before the first day of February, one thousand nine hundred and thirty- two (or such date as the Governor in Council may by Proclamation published in the Gazette prescribe)- (i.) Make and forward to the Attorney-General a repor~ of their division, specifying- (a) The quota of electors; and (b) The names of each Electoral District; and * 15 Geo. v. No. 32 and 21 Geo. v. No. 45, 8upra, pages 11140, 13211. t 2 Edw. VII., No. 19 and amending Acts, supra, pages 1860 et 8eq. (See Alphabetical Table.)

~ ~ - - - - - - - - ~ - -- ELECTIONS. ----- -------- . - -- - . - - - ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 13729 1931. Electoral Districts Act. - - - - ~ ~ - - - - - - - - - (c) The boundaries of each Electoral District ; and (d) The approximate number of electors therein; and (ii.) Forward a map signed by them, with the Map. names and boundaries of each Electoral District delineated thereon. 11. Thereupon the names and boundaries of the Proclama. said Electoral Districts shall forthwith be proclaimed by ~ ~ ~ r~ ! ts. the Governor in Council in the Gazette. The said Electoral Districts shall be the Electoral Districts of the State of Queensland from and after the end of this present Parliament, subject, however, to any adjustment of boundaries or complete redistribution as hereinafter provided, and shall each return one member to the Legislative Assembly. Any division by the Commissioners of the State into Electoral Districts made or purporting to have been made pursuant to this Act shall on the pro- clamation by the Governor in Council in the Gazette of the names and boundaries of the said Electoral Districts, be final and conclusive and shall not be impeachable for any informality or want of form, or be appealed against, reviewed, quashed, or in any way called in question in any court whatever. 12. The Principal Electoral Officer shall compile Compilation Electoral Rolls for the said Electoral Districts so pro- of Rolls. claimed in the Gazette, and for this purpose the provisions of *" The Elections Acts, 1915 to 1930," shall apply and extend accordingly: Moreover the Principal Electoral Officer is hereby empowered to issue such orders and give such directions as he may consider necessary or expedient for the purpose of the compilation of such Electoral Rolls. Any such orders and directions shall have the force of law and shall be obeyed. The Rolls so compiled shall be the Rolls of electors entitled to vote in the said Electoral Districts at the general election held next after the constitution of such Electoral Districts. • * 6 Geo. V. No. 13, 16 Geo. V. No. 21,21 Geo. V. No. 39, 8upra, pages 6779, 11294, 12886. .

13730 ELECTIONS. Electoral Districts Act. 22 Gm. V. No. 11, The Rolls so compiled shall be deemed to be the Rolls for such Electoral Districts within the meaning of *" The Elections Acts, 1915 to 1930," but may nevertheless be added to by additional Electoral Rolls as prescribed by law. By·election. 13. In case where it becomes necessary to fill up any vacancy arising in the representation of any Electoral District during the existence of this present Parliament, th.e Roll to be used for such Electoral District for the purpose of such by-election shall be the Annual Roll containing the names of electors registered to the thirty- first day of December, one thousand nine hundred and thirty, together with any additions thereto or removals therefrom as may be prescribed in *" The Elections Acts, 1915 to 1930." Adjustment 14. Whenever at any time the number of electors o b f oundaries appearing upon the Electoral Roll of any District or of Districts Districts is or are, as the case may be, so much above or ~~ p~:~~: of so much below the prescribed quota of electors, after or complete taking into consideration the margin of allowance herein orerdpisatrrtiibaul. oreferred t 0, that ,I.n the opI.n.IOn 0 f the Governor I.n tion. Council, it has become necessary to reduce or increase, as the case may be, the number of such electors so as to approximate the same to the said quota or to make a complete or partial redistribution of the Electoral Districts of the State, the Governor in Council may appoint three Electoral Commissioners in the manner aforesaid for the purposes of this section. Thereupon the following provisions shall apply :- (i.) The Commissioners shall within the pre- scribed time alter the boundaries of the Electoral District or Districts aforesaid, and of such other Electoral Districts as appear to be necessary to effect a proper adjustment, or the Commissioners may make a complete or partial redistribution of the Electoral Districts of the State, and for that purpose may abolish any existing District or Districts, and create any new District or Districts, and rename the Electoral Districts as so constituted. - - -_ _ _ 0 _ _ _ 0 0 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ * 6 Geo. v. No. 13, 16 Geo. V. No. 21, 21 Geo. V. No. 39, supra, pages 6779, 11294, 12886.

ELECTIONS. 1931. Electorcd Districts Act. (ii.) The Commissioners shall within the prescribed time give public notice of the proposed adjustment or complete or partial redistribu- tion as the case may be, and of the number of electors in each such Electoral District after adjustment or complete or partial redistribution as the case may be. (iii.) Objections or suggestions in writing with respect to such proposed adjustment or complete or partial redistribution may be lodged with the Commissioners within the prescribed time, and the Commissioners shall consider all objections and suggestions so lodged before finally making their adjustment or complete or partial redistribution as the case may be. (iv.) The Commissioners shall within the prescribed time- (a) Make and forward to the Attorney-General a report of their adjustment, specifying the new boundaries of each Electoral District affected [l,nd the number of electors therein after adjustment, or, in case of a complete or partial redistribution, the new boundaries of the Electoral Districts and the number of electors therein after such complete or partial redistribution; and {b} Forward a map signed by them, in the case of adjustment, with the names and boun- daries of each such Electoral District delineated thereon, and in the case of a complete or partial redistribution with the names and boundaries of all such Electoral Districts or Districts affected. (v.) Thereupon the new boundaries of the said Electoral Districts shall forthwith be pro- claimed by the Governor in Council in the Gazette, and shall for all purposes, in the case of adjustment, be the boundaries of such Districts so adjusted, or, in the case of a complete or partial redistribution, be the boundaries of the new Electoral Districts until any further adjustment or complete or partial redistribution, as the case may be, is made under this Act. 13731

13732 ELECTIONS. Electoral Districts Act. 22 GEO. V. No. 11, 1931. (vi.) The Principal Electoral Officer shall within the prescribed time compile, from the existing Rolls of the Electoral Districts affected by the adjustment, Electoral Rolls of electors entitled to vote in the several Electoral Districts after the adjustment, or, in the case of a complete or partial redistribution, the Electoral Rolls in the several Electoral Districts so pro- claimed: And the Rolls so compiled shall be the Rolls for such Districts respectively under and for the purposes of *" The Elections Acts, 1915 to 1930." (vii.) The respective times for doing any act or thing for the aforesaid purposes shall be appointed by the Governor in Council by notification in the Gazette. --- -- --- - ~ ~ ~ - * 6 G80. V. No. 13, 16 G80. V. No. 21, 21 G80. V. No. 39, supra, pages 6779, 11294, 12886. ELECTORAL REDISTRIBUTION. See ELECTIONS. ELECTRICAL WORKERS. See ELECTRICITY.