Redistributions – Frequently Asked Questions

A redistribution of a state or territory can only start earlier than scheduled if a redistribution of that state or territory is required because one of the triggers below is activated.

• When is the next redistribution of my state or territory?

A redistribution can be triggered if:

• the number of members of the House of Representatives for a state or territory changes.  During the 13th month of a new Parliament, the Electoral Commissioner is required to determine the number of members of the House of Representatives for each state and territory using population data supplied by the Australian Statistician and in accordance with procedures set out by the Electoral Act, or
  • State/territory entitlement to electoral divisions
• the number of electors in more than one-third of the electoral divisions in a state (or one of the electoral divisions in the Australian Capital Territory or the Northern Territory) have deviated from the average division enrolment in that state/territory for more than two months. This deviation needs to be by greater than one-tenth more or one-tenth less.
  • Monthly enrolment data by electoral division, including deviation from average division enrolment

Section 59 is the relevant section of the Electoral Act.

Yes, the legislation outlines two scenarios for deferring a redistribution (section 59).

Scenario 1:

A redistribution will be deferred if the redistribution is required due to the time requirements in the legislation (the last redistribution for that state or territory was determined seven years ago), and the redistribution is due to start within one year of the expiration of the House of Representatives (expiration occurs three years after the first sitting day of the House of Representatives in the current Parliament).

If a redistribution is deferred due to this scenario, it is then required to start within 30 days of the first sitting day of the House of Representatives in the new Parliament.

Scenario 2:

A redistribution of a state or territory may be deferred if:

• the redistribution is required due to the time requirements in the legislation (the last redistribution for that state or territory was determined seven years ago), and
• the three-person Electoral Commission’s formal direction to start the redistribution is due within 13 months after the first sitting day of the House of Representatives, and
• the Electoral Commissioner’s determination of the number of members of the House of Representatives has not yet been made. During the 13th month of a new Parliament, the Electoral Commissioner is required to determine the number of members of the House of Representatives for each state and territory using population data supplied by the Australian Statistician and in accordance with procedures set out by the Electoral Act, and
• the three-person Electoral Commission is of the opinion the Electoral Commissioner’s next determination of the number of members of the House of Representatives for each state and territory may or will change the number of members in the House of Representatives for the specific state or territory.

If a redistribution was deferred due to this scenario, it is then required to start after the Electoral Commissioner’s determination has been published. This determination may or may not cause a change to the number of members for the state or territory at the next general election.

The name of a federal electoral division can only be changed as part of a federal redistribution in the relevant state or territory. Interested persons or organisations are able to propose alternative names for existing electoral divisions at specific points in the redistribution process.

• When is the next redistribution of my state or territory?
• Guidelines for naming divisions

A Redistribution Committee is appointed for the state or territory in which a redistribution of federal electoral divisions has commenced.  The Redistribution Committee is responsible for considering inputs from interested individuals and organisations and developing a proposed redistribution of the state or territory.

An augmented Electoral Commission is also established to consider any objections to the Redistribution Committee’s proposals and make the final determination of the names and boundaries of electoral divisions in the state or territory.

A Redistribution Committee develops a proposal for dividing a state or territory into a number of electoral divisions equal to its entitlement in the House of Representatives. In developing its proposal, the Redistribution Committee must remain within the numerical quotas for the current and projected enrolment. The Redistribution Committee shall also give due consideration to:

• community interests within the proposed electoral division, including economic, social and regional interests
• means of communication and travel within the proposed electoral division
• physical features and area of the proposed electoral division, and
• existing boundaries of divisions in the state or territory.

When determining the final boundaries of electoral divisions in a state or territory, the augmented Electoral Commission must also remain within the same numerical quotas for the current and projected enrolment and give due consideration to the same factors.

The boundaries of electoral divisions  are drawn so that, as far as practicable, three and a half years after the redistribution has been completed, the projected enrolment in each electoral division should not vary from the projected state or territory average by more than 3.5 per cent. This is also known as the 'projection time'.

Note: The Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 provides separate provisions for the projection time if another redistribution is expected sooner than seven years.

No, a federal redistribution is a separate exercise to a state or territory redistribution. The two processes are not related as they are governed by different legislation and timeframes.

For the purpose of electing members to the House of Representatives, new and/or changed electoral divisions do not come into effect until the next federal election.

The enrolment of new electors and changes to existing enrolments are implemented immediately following the determination of the new electoral divisions.

Note: If a by-election is held prior to the next federal election, the by-election will be conducted on the existing electoral divisions not the redistributed electoral divisions.

If the writ for a House of Representatives election is issued before the completion of a redistribution and there is no change to the number of electoral divisions for the state or territory, the election would be contested on the current electoral boundaries. The work of the Redistribution Committee and augmented Electoral Commission would continue irrespective of the election.

However, if the writ for a House of Representatives election was issued before the completion of a redistribution which was occurring due to a change in the number of members for a state or territory, a mini-redistribution would be required (section 76 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918).