Research Report 5 - Analysis of Electoral Divisions Classifications: Current electoral division classifications
Updated: 30 May 2013
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.