Research Report 5 - Analysis of Electoral Divisions Classifications: Current electoral division classifications

Current electoral division classifications

The AEC currently categorises electoral divisions according to two classifications:

• Party safeness; and
• Socio-demographic criteria.

Party safeness

The party safeness classification categorises divisions according to the party holding the division (or notionally holding the division after the effects of a redistribution are taken into account) and the margin in two party preferred terms. In the case of a division held by an Independent the margin is based on a two candidate preferred analysis.

There are currently five party categories:

• Australian Labor Party (ALP);
• Liberal Party (LP);
• National Party (NP);
• Northern Territory Country Liberal Party (CLP); and
• Independent.

The margin categories are classified as:

• Marginal: requiring a swing of 0<6% to change;
• Fairly safe: requiring a swing of between 6<10% to change; and
• Safe: requiring a swing of 10%+ to change.

Socio-demographic criteria

The socio-demographic classification categorises divisions according to geographic location. There are four categories:

• Inner metropolitan: located in a capital city and comprising well-established, built-up suburbs;
• Outer metropolitan: located in capital cities and containing areas of more recent urban expansion;
• Provincial: divisions with a majority of enrolment in major provincial cities; and
• Rural: divisions without a majority of enrolment in major provincial cities.

The current classifications have been used since at least the 1975 election.