Commissioner Issues Federal Electoral Determination
20 February 2003
A redistribution of federal electoral boundaries will be carried out in Queensland and South Australia in 2003. This follows a determination under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 of the number of Federal Members of the House of Representatives that each State and Territory will be entitled to at the next federal election.
The Electoral Commissioner, Mr Andy Becker, today released the determination based on the latest population figures for the Commonwealth provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Using these figures, the Commissioner also determined that the Northern Territory will revert to one seat at the next federal election.
"A redistribution is a redrawing of electoral boundaries to ensure that as nearly as practicable, each State and Territory gains representation in the House of Representatives in proportion to the State and Territory populations, and that there are a similar number of electors in each division for a given State or Territory," Mr Becker said.
"The figures show that the population for Queensland has increased sufficiently to result in that State increasing its entitlement from 27 to 28 seats.
"At the same time, South Australia and the Northern Territory will each lose a seat resulting in a reduced entitlement of 11 seats and one seat respectively. Overall there will be 149 seats in the House of Representatives after the next federal election."
Mr Becker said that the Electoral Commission will soon commence the redistribution process in Queensland and South Australia. Redistribution Committees will be appointed and the public will be invited to make suggestions and comments on matters affecting the drawing of federal electoral boundaries and the naming of divisions.
As the Northern Territory reverts to one seat no redistribution process is required to determine matters affecting federal electoral boundaries.
Further information:
Attachment one - Backgrounder on redistributions
Media contact:
| Brien Hallett Assistant Commissioner Australian Electoral Commission Ph: (02) 6271 4477 |
Phil Diak Director Information Australian Electoral Commission Ph. (02) 6271 4415 |
