Info
Boundary Delimitation
BD001
Delimitation of constituencies
Question: Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (amended in 2019)
Section 66: Redistribution Committee to make proposed redistribution
(1) A Redistribution Committee for a State or the Australian Capital Territory shall, in accordance with subsections (2), (3) and (4), make a proposed redistribution of the State or Territory.
Source: Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (amended in 2019) Section 66: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00103/f85985f8-e256-4e11-ad31-884ed7f92224
Verified: 2024/09/09
BD003
Criteria for drawing boundaries
Question: On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s):
a . "Equality" of population b . Respecting natural barriers d . Conformity with local jurisdiction boundaries f . Communities of interest/cultural concerns g . Other
Comments: Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (amended in 2019)
Section 66: Redistribution Committee to make proposed redistribution
(2) The proposed redistribution shall propose the distribution of the State or Territory into Electoral Divisions equal in number to the number of members of the House of Representatives to be chosen in the State or Territory at a general election.
(3) In making the proposed redistribution, the Redistribution Committee:
(a) shall, as far as practicable, endeavour to ensure that, if the State or Territory were redistributed in accordance with the proposed redistribution, the number of electors enrolled in each Electoral Division in the State or Territory would not, at the projection time determined under section 63A, be less than 96.5% or more than 103.5% of the average divisional enrolment of that State or Territory at that time; and
(b) subject to paragraph (a), shall 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;
and subject thereto the quota of electors for the State or Territory shall be the basis for the proposed redistribution, and the Redistribution Committee may adopt a margin of allowance, to be used whenever necessary, but in no case shall the quota be departed from to a greater extent than one‑tenth more or one‑tenth less.
(3A) When applying subsection (3), the Redistribution Committee must treat the matter in subparagraph (3)(b)(v) as subordinate to the matters in subparagraphs (3)(b)(i), (ii) and (iv).
Source: Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (amended in 2019) Section 66: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00103/f85985f8-e256-4e11-ad31-884ed7f92224
Verified: 2024/09/09
BD005
Body responsible for drawing boundaries
Question: The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s):
d . Boundary Commission e . Electoral Management Body (EMB)
Comments: Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (amended in 2019)
Section 60 (1): For the purposes of each redistribution of a State, the Electoral Commission shall, as soon as practicable after the commencement of the redistribution, appoint, by instrument in writing, a Redistribution Committee for the State.
Source: Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (amended in 2019) Section 60: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00103/f85985f8-e256-4e11-ad31-884ed7f92224
Verified: 2024/09/09
The data on this page is continuously updated.
Additional, but potentially outdated material is available here.
