22 May 2003

The public were today invited to submit suggestions into the redistribution of federal electoral boundaries in Queensland.

The Australian Electoral Officer for Queensland, Ms Anne Bright, said that the Electoral Commissioner invites all interested individuals and organisations to submit written public suggestions and comments to the Redistribution Committee about possible changes to names and boundaries for the 27 current federal Electoral Divisions in Queensland.

"The Committee consists of the Electoral Commissioner, Mr Andy Becker, the Australian Electoral Officer for Queensland, Ms Anne Bright and two senior state government officials.

"Written submissions must be lodged by 6.00pm on Friday 20 June 2003 in order for them to be considered", Ms Bright said.

"In making its proposal, the Committee will consider communities of interest and means of communications and travel within the proposed divisions. The geographical and physical features of the divisions combined with the boundaries of existing Divisions in Queensland will also be considered," Ms Bright explained.

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. The latest population figures for the Commonwealth provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that the population for Queensland had increased sufficiently to result in increasing its entitlement from 27 to 28 seats.

Ms Bright suggested that individuals and organisations intending to submit suggestions should visit the AEC website www.aec.gov.au where a large range of information was available to assist them. Electoral Enrolment statistics are available from the website or from the AEC's Brisbane office on (07) 3834 3400.

Suggestions and comments must be addressed to:

Redistribution Committee for Queensland 488 Queen Street BRISBANE  QLD  4000

OR

GPO Box 2590 BRISBANE  QLD  4001

Background information on the redistribution process is below.

Media Contacts:

Anne Bright Australian Electoral Officer, Queensland 07 3834 3440 anne.bright@aec.gov.au

Terry Rushton Federal Redistribution Secretariat 02 6271 4468 terry.rushton@aec.gov.au

THE REDISTRIBUTION PROCESS

The redistribution is carried out in accordance with the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918. The following steps briefly outline the various stages of the redistribution process.

Step 1 - Public suggestions
Any interested person or organisation who wishes to make suggestions regarding the possible changes to boundaries or names of Divisions, have until 6.00 pm onFriday 20 June2003 to lodge them in writing with the Redistribution Committee at Collection House, 488 Queen Street, BRISBANE  QLD  4000 or GPO Box 2590 Brisbane QLD VIC 4001.

Step 2 - Comments on the public suggestions
The suggestions outlined in Step 1 above will be made available for public inspection by the Australian Electoral Officer for Queensland at 488 Queen Street, Brisbane from 9.00 am on Monday23 June 2003. Any comments on the suggestions must be lodged in writing with the Redistribution Committee by 6.00 pm on Friday4 July 2003.

Step 3 - Redistribution proposal
After considering the written suggestions and comments, the Redistribution Committee will propose a redistribution of Federal electoral boundaries for Queensland. Maps showing the proposed boundaries and names of Divisions will then be published in the Courier Mail and the Sunday Mail  and exhibited at all offices of the Australian Electoral Commission in Queensland.

Step 4 - Objections to the proposed redistribution
Objections to the proposed redistribution can then be lodged within 28 days. 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 Queensland considers all objections. The augmented Electoral Commission comprises the members of the Redistribution Committee plus the Chairman of the Australian Electoral Commission (the Hon. Trevor Morling QC) and the non-judicial Commissioner (Mr Dennis Trewin, Australian Statistician).

Step 6 - The second redistribution proposal
After it has considered all the objections lodged, the augmented Electoral Commission makes 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 Queensland.