Redistribution of Federal Electoral Boundaries IN the australian capital 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 or organisations to make written suggestions about the redistribution of federal electoral boundaries for the House of Representatives in the Australian Capital Territory; and to make written comments on the suggestions which are lodged.
WHY IS A REDISTRIBUTION REQUIRED?
A redistribution of federal electoral boundaries in the Australian Capital Territory is required because more than seven years have elapsed since the last redistribution. The redistribution was due in December 2013, but was deferred at the time as population projections suggested the Australian Capital Territory might gain a third seat at the next determination of the number members of the House of Representatives to which each state and territory would be entitled at the next federal general election. It was determined on 13 November 2014 that the Australian Capital Territory entitlement remained the same with two 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 the Australian Capital Territory comprise the Electoral Commissioner, the Senior Divisional Returning Officer for the Australian Capital Territory, the Surveyor-General for the Australian Capital Territory and the Auditor-General of the Australian Capital Territory.
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 the Australian Capital Territory was determined by the Electoral Commissioner to be 134 812 as at 1 December 2014.
As far as practicable, the Redistribution Committee will ensure that the number of electors enrolled in each division at 28 July 2019 (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/act/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 Eastern Standard Time (AEST) Friday 29 May 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 1 June 2015 at the office of the senior Divisional Returning Officer for the Australian Capital Territory (50 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra) and on the AEC’s website (www.aec.gov.au/act-redistribution). Any comments on the suggestions must be lodged in writing with the Redistribution Committee by 6pm AEST Friday 12 June 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 the Australian Capital Territory. 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 the Australian Capital Territory.
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 Australian Capital Territory 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 the Australian Capital Territory 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/act-redistribution. Suggestions and comments on suggestions can also be submitted:
■ by email to FedRedistribution-ACT@aec.gov.au
■ by mail to Redistribution Committee for the ACT, PO Box 6172, Kingston, ACT, 2604
■ by fax to 02 6293 7660
■ in person at the office of the Redistribution Committee for the Australian Capital Territory:
Wednesday 29 April to 1pm on Friday 8 May: West Block Offices, Queen Victoria Terrace, Parkes
Monday 11 May to Friday 12 June: 50 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra.
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 senior Divisional Returning Officer for the Australian Capital Territory (50 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra), 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 the Australian Capital Territory.
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 the Australian Capital 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 Australian Capital Territory, including an indicative timetable and background information – www.aec.gov.au/act-redistribution
- Information about current electoral divisions in the Australian Capital 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-ACT@aec.gov.au
Kevin Kitson
Acting Australian Electoral Commissioner