Past Redistributions - Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a redistribution?
- When are redistributions held?
- How are the entitlements to representation of States and Territories calculated?
- When was the last entitlement?
- When will the next entitlement determination occur?
- Who organises the redistribution of electoral boundaries?
- What are the steps in the redistribution process?
- What criteria are used to draw the boundaries?
- What is the three-and-a-half year rule?
- Who makes the final decision?
- How do I get copies of maps showing existing boundaries?
- How do I know if I have been affected by a Redistribution?
- When do the new boundaries come into effect?
- What if a federal election is held before the redistribution process is completed?
- Does the elected member for a division remain the member following a redistribution that effects that division?
- Who represents me when a new division is created or an existing division is abolished?
- The redistribution timetable
What is a redistribution?
A redistribution is a redrawing of electoral boundaries.
A redistribution ensures that, as nearly as practicable, each State and Territory gains representation in the House of Representatives in proportion to the State or Territory’s population, and that there are as nearly as practicable the same number of electors in each electoral division for a given State or Territory. (Note: The Australian Constitution guarantees each original State at least 5 members in the House of Representatives.) Electoral boundaries are redrawn (or redistributed) with the aim that in three years and six months after the completion of the redistribution the number of electors in each division in a State or Territory will vary by no more than 3.5% from the average divisional enrolment for that State or Territory.
When are redistributions held?
A redistribution is required when:
- the number of parliamentary representatives to which a State or Territory is entitled changes (population change);
- the number of electors in more than one-third of the divisions in a State (or one of the divisions in the ACT or Northern Territory) deviates from the average divisional enrolment by over ten per cent for more than two months; or
- seven years has elapsed since the last redistribution.
How are the entitlements to representation of States and Territories calculated?
Twelve months after the first meeting of the newly elected House of Representatives, the Electoral Commissioner ascertains the population of the Commonwealth (excluding the Territories) using the latest official statistics published by the Australian Statistician. The Commissioner then makes a determination of the number of parliamentary representatives to which each State is entitled. A similar exercise is used to calculate the entitlements of the Territories.
When was the last entitlement?
The last entitlement determination was announced on 17 November 2005. A total of 150 seats were contested at the 2007 federal election for the House of Representatives in accordance with the following table.
| New South Wales | 49 seats |
| Victoria | 37 seats |
| Queensland | 29 seats |
| Western Australia | 15 seats |
| South Australia | 11 seats |
| Tasmania | 5 seats |
| ACT | 2 seats |
| Northern Territory | 2 seats |
When will the next entitlement determination occur?
The determination is published within 13 months after the first sitting of the next House of Representatives.
Who organises the redistribution of electoral boundaries?
A separate Redistribution Committee is established for each State or Territory in which a redistribution has commenced. The Commonwealth Electoral Act requires that each Redistribution Committee must consist of the following people:
- the Electoral Commissioner;
- the Australian Electoral Officer for the particular State or the Northern Territory (the Senior Divisional Returning Officer in the case of the ACT);
- the State Surveyor-General for the State or the person holding an equivalent office; and
- the Auditor-General for the State or if unavailable a substitute.
Each Committee has the task of producing a proposed set of boundaries and names for electoral divisions for the House of Representatives in that particular State or Territory.
What are the steps in the redistribution process?
After the formal commencement of the redistribution, the Electoral Commissioner determines the enrolment quota for the State or Territory being redistributed. The quota is calculated by dividing the number of electors enrolled in the State or Territory by the number of members of the House of Representatives to be elected at a general election.
The Redistribution Committee for the State or Territory is appointed by the Electoral Commission.
The Electoral Commissioner invites interested persons or organisations to lodge suggestions with the Redistribution Committee within 30 days.
The suggestions are then made available for public inspection. Interested persons or organisations may lodge written comments on the suggestions within a further 14 days.
The Redistribution Committee then considers the written suggestions and comments and develops a set of proposed boundaries. The Redistribution Committee is required to ensure that the enrolment in each proposed division does not deviate from the enrolment quota by more or less than 10%.
The Committee’s proposal must also ensure that at the projection date (usually 3 years and six months after the redistribution is completed), the enrolment of each division does not deviate from the projected enrolment quota by more or less than 3.5%.
The Proposed Redistribution Report is published and maps showing the suggested boundaries and names are publicly exhibited.
The public has 28 days to lodge written objections to the proposals. This is followed by a period of 14 days during which interested persons and organisations may lodge written comments on the objections.
An augmented Electoral Commission is established to consider objections to the Proposed Redistribution and to make a final determination of the names and boundaries of the Electoral Divisions for the State or Territory. The augmented Electoral Commission consists of members of the Redistribution Committee plus the Chairperson of the Australian Electoral Commission and the non-judicial Commissioner (currently the Australian Statistician). The augmented Electoral Commission has 60 days to consider objections (including initial and any further objections). After considering any objections, the augmented Electoral Commission will make its own proposed redistribution of the State or Territory.
If the augmented Electoral Commission’s proposed redistribution is significantly different from that proposed by the Redistribution Committee, it will invite interested persons and organisations to lodge further objections.
Following consideration of all objections the augmented Electoral Commission will make a final determination of the names and boundaries of the Electoral Divisions in the State or Territory. The decision of the augmented Electoral Commission is final although it can be challendged in the courts if there is an error of law.
What criteria are used to draw the boundaries?
A Redistribution Committee must develop a set of proposals for dividing each State or Territory into a number of divisions equal to its entitlement in the House of Representatives. In developing its proposals, the Committee must remain within the numerical quotas for current and projected enrolment. The Committee also shall give due consideration to:
- community interests within the proposed division, including economic, social and regional interests;
- means of communication and travel within the proposed division;
- physical features and area of the proposed division; and
- existing boundaries of divisions in the State or Territory.
What is the three-and-a-half year rule?
Boundaries are drawn so that, as far as practicable, three and a half years after the redistribution has been completed, the enrolment in each electoral division should not vary from the State average by more than 3.5%. Note that the Electoral Act provides separate provisions for the projection time if another redistribution is expected sooner than seven years.
Who makes the final decision?
The augmented Electoral Commission for the State or Territory considers any objections and makes the final determination. The final report of the augmented Electoral Commission is tabled in the Parliament.
How do I get copies of maps showing existing boundaries?
Maps of current electoral boundaries are available from the AEC’s State Offices located in each State and Territory capital city, Divisional Offices in each electorate and the National Office. Maps can also be viewed and printed from the AEC web site.
How do I know if I have been affected by a Redistribution?
Electors affected by changes to divisional boundaries will be notified of this change before the next federal election.
When do the new boundaries come into effect?
The enrolment of new electors and changes to existing enrolments are implemented immediately following the determination of new boundaries. However, for the purpose of electing Members of Parliament, the new boundaries do not come into effect until the next federal election.
Note: If a by-election is held prior to the next federal election, the by-election will be conducted on existing boundaries not the redistributed boundaries.
What if a federal election is held before the redistribution process is completed?
If the writ for an election was issued before the completion of a redistribution and there was no change to the number of electoral divisions for the State or Territory, the election would be contested on the old boundaries. If the writ for an election was issued before the completion of a redistribution which was occurring due to a change of entitlement, a mini redistribution would be held (The Electoral Act s.76). A mini-redistribution takes place as follows.
- Where a State is entitled to one more Member than the number of existing divisions, the two contiguous divisions with the highest combined enrolment are split into three divisions. The newly-created division is given a hyphenated name - a combination of the names of the two divisions from which it was created.
- Similarly, when a State is entitled to one less Member than it has divisions, the pair of contiguous divisions with the lowest combined enrolment will be redistributed to create one division where there had been two. The name of the newly created division would be a combination of the two divisional names.
The work of the Redistribution Committee would continue irrespective of the election.
Does the elected member for a division remain the member following a redistribution that effects that division?
For the purposes of electoral representation, the elected member for a division remains the member of that division irrespective of any redistribution until the next federal election. At the time of the next election, the candidates can stand for election for the redistributed boundaries.
Who represents me when a new division is created or an existing division is abolished?
The member who was elected to represent you continues to represent you until the next federal election. That election will then be conducted utilising the redistributed boundaries.
The redistribution timetable
Please see the Redistribution Timetable.
