Proposed Redistribution of Federal Electoral Divisions in Tasmania: 27 February 2026

Overview

The Redistribution of Federal Electoral Divisions in Tasmania Act 2026 was enacted to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of federal electorates in Tasmania. The legislation was introduced to address the problem of outdated electoral boundaries that no longer reflect population changes and growth within the state. This Act was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to rectify the imbalance in representation caused by the passage of time since the last redistribution, which can lead to significant disparities in the number of electors per electorate. The policy objective of this Act is to provide for a more representative distribution of electors across Tasmania's federal electorates, ensuring that each division reflects the state's population as accurately as possible. The Act requires the Electoral Commission to initiate a redistribution when more than seven years have elapsed since the last one, as mandated by section 59 of the Electoral Act. The Redistribution Committee for Tasmania was established to propose new boundaries for the electorates, taking into account various factors such as community interests, means of communication and travel, physical features, and existing boundaries. The Committee must ensure that the number of electors in each proposed electorate does not deviate by more than 10 per cent from the redistribution quota, which was determined to be 82,635 as of 12 August 2025. Furthermore, the Committee aims to ensure that the projected enrolment quota of 84,557 electors at 8 April 2030 is not exceeded by more than 3.5 per cent. The proposed redistribution is now open for public scrutiny and submissions, with interested parties encouraged to provide feedback on the proposed changes.

Scope and Application

The proposed redistribution of federal electoral divisions in Tasmania, as outlined by the Redistribution Committee, applies to the electoral boundaries within the state of Tasmania. This process is mandated by section 59 of the Electoral Act, which requires a redistribution to occur if more than seven years have elapsed since the last redistribution. The Redistribution Committee is responsible for proposing changes to the electoral boundaries to ensure compliance with the legal requirements set forth in section 66 of the Electoral Act, which mandates that the number of electors in each proposed electorate must not deviate by more than 10 per cent above or below the redistribution quota, which was determined to be 82,635 as at 12 August 2025. The committee must also consider various factors such as community of interests, means of communication and travel, physical features, and existing boundaries, although the latter is subordinate to the other considerations. The proposed changes include significant alterations to the electorates of Clark, Franklin, and Lyons, affecting 113,884 electors, or 27.56 per cent of all electors enrolled in Tasmania as of 12 August 2025. The public is invited to submit objections and comments on the proposed redistribution by specific deadlines, after which the Electoral Commission will consider all submissions to determine the final electorate boundaries and names. Submissions are required to be made publicly available on the AEC website, with personal details removed prior to publication.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the proposed redistribution of federal electoral divisions in Tasmania include the requirement for the Redistribution Committee to adhere to the provisions outlined in section 66 of the Electoral Act. This section mandates that the number of electors in each proposed electorate must not deviate by more than 10 per cent above or below the redistribution quota, which was determined to be 82,635 as at 12 August 2025 (section 66(1)(a)). The Committee must also ensure that the number of electors enrolled in each electorate at the projection time, 8 April 2030, will not deviate by more than 3.5 per cent above or below the projected enrolment quota of 84,557 electors (section 66(1)(b)). Furthermore, the Redistribution Committee must give due consideration to various factors when proposing the new electorates, including community interests, means of communication and travel, physical features, and existing boundaries (section 66(2)). The Redistribution Committee and the Electoral Commission are obligated to provide public access to the proposed redistribution report, maps of the proposed electorates, and any suggestions or comments previously lodged. The public and organisations are invited to inspect these documents and lodge objections or comments on the proposed redistribution. The proposed redistribution is based on several considerations, including the redistribution quota, the projected enrolment quota, and other specified factors such as community interests and physical features. The Redistribution Committee must ensure that the proposed changes comply with these requirements. Breach of the obligations set out in the Electoral Act may result in civil or criminal penalties. However, the Gazette does not provide specific information on the exact nature of these penalties. The Act mandates that submissions made to the redistribution process be made publicly available, with personal details and signatures removed prior to publication. This transparency ensures that the process is open and accountable to the public. The Redistribution Committee’s proposed report and maps are available on the AEC website, and objections to the proposed redistribution can be lodged until 6pm (AEDT) on Friday, 27 March 2026. Written comments on objections must be lodged by 6pm (AEST) on Friday, 10 April 2026. These submissions will be considered by the Electoral Commission for Tasmania, which will then inform the final electorate boundaries and names for Tasmania. The public can access these submissions on the AEC website, ensuring transparency and public participation in the redistribution process.