Deferral of the redistribution of federal electoral boundaries in Tasmania

Electoral Commissioner Mr Tom Rogers announced today that a redistribution of federal electoral boundaries in Tasmania will be deferred until after the next federal election.

"As the next Tasmanian redistribution is due to start less than 12 months before the end of the current Parliament, the redistribution will be deferred in accordance with provisions available under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918," Mr Rogers said.
"The next federal election will therefore be contested on existing Tasmanian House of Representatives boundaries."

The Tasmanian redistribution will start following the next federal election, within 30 days after the first meeting of the House of Representatives in the new Parliament.

Tasmania will maintain its entitlement to five members of the House of Representatives at the next redistribution.

Editors' notes:

• On 16 February 2016 it will be seven years since the determination of the Tasmanian electoral names and boundaries on 16 February 2009. As prescribed by paragraph 59(2)(c) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (the Electoral Act) the next redistribution would be due to commence within 30 days of 16 February 2016.
• The Electoral Act provides that a redistribution shall not commence within one year before the date of expiry of a House of Representatives by effluxion of time. The current House of Representatives is due to expire on Friday 11 November 2016.
• The commencement date for the next Tasmanian redistribution (16 February 2016) falls within the twelve month period prior to the expiration of the House of Representatives (11 November 2016), the Electoral Act legislates under sub-section 59(4) that a redistribution in Tasmania should be deferred and commence within 30 days after the first sitting of the new House of Representatives.
• Under section 24 of the Commonwealth of Australian Constitution Act Tasmania was an "original State" when Australia became a federation and therefore is entitled to a minimum of five members of the House of Representatives.