Redistribution of New South Wales into electoral divisions

Updated: 11 March 2016

Chapter 2 – The augmented Electoral Commission’s redistribution and reasons for the redistribution

This chapter outlines the augmented Electoral Commission’s redistribution and the reasons for this redistribution. Also included is the augmented Electoral Commission’s approach to formulating the boundaries and names of electoral divisions.

Augmented Electoral Commission’s redistribution of New South Wales

  1. The augmented Electoral Commission was required to redistribute New South Wales into 47 electoral divisions.
  2. There are three components to the augmented Electoral Commission’s redistribution:
    • which electoral division to abolish,
    • where to draw the boundaries between electoral divisions in New South Wales to accommodate the abolition of an electoral division, and
    • the names of electoral divisions.
  3. The electoral division which has been abolished is the Division of Hunter, as proposed by the Redistribution Committee.
  4. The augmented Electoral Commission has adopted the Redistribution Committee’s proposal to:
    • rename the Division of Throsby as the Division of Whitlam, in recognition of the former Prime Minister, the Hon. Edward Gough Whitlam AC QC (1916–2014),
    • rename the proposed Division of Charlton as the Division of Hunter, which will enable the retention of an electoral division name which was first used in 1901, and
    • retain the existing names of the remaining 45 electoral divisions.
  5. With respect to boundaries of electoral divisions, the augmented Electoral Commission has adopted those proposed by the Redistribution Committee with the following modifications:
    • all of the former Yallaroi Shire, and a small part of the former Bingara Shire, both now within the Gwydir Shire, are now located in the Division of Parkes.
    • the entirety of the Carrathool Shire is now located in the Division of Farrer
    • the Lockhart Shire is now located in the Division of Riverina
    • Bundanoon, Exeter, Meryla, Penrose, part of Werai and Wingello are now located in the Division of Hume
    • the entire locality of Paddington is now located in the Division of Wentworth
    • Darlinghurst (except for the area bounded by South Dowling, Oxford and Flinders Streets) and Potts Point are now located in the Division of Sydney
    • that part of Moore Park to the north of Dacey Avenue is now located in the Division of Wentworth
    • the entirety of the Drummoyne Peninsula is now located in the Division of Reid
    • parts of Canterbury, Hurlstone Park, Dulwich Hill and Marrickville (to the north of the Sydenham Bankstown railway line) are now located in the Division of Grayndler
    • the locality of Sydenham is now located in the Division of Grayndler
    • part of Beverly Hills (east of King Georges Road and south of the M5 East Motorway), part of Hurstville (north of the Illawarra railway line) and part of Kingsgrove (west of Kingsgrove Road and south of the M5 East Motorway) are now located in the Division of Barton
    • the area bounded by the Princes Highway, Jubilee Avenue, the Illawarra railway line, Andover and Francis Streets at Carlton is now located in the Division of Banks
    • part of Auburn (to the south of the M4 Western Motorway and to the west of St Hilliers Road) and part of Lidcombe (to the west of Olympic Drive) are now located in the Division of Blaxland
    • the area bounded by King and Smithfield Roads and Prospect and Orphan School Creeks at Fairfield and Fairfield West is now located in the Division of McMahon
    • the localities of Edensor Park (to Smithfield Road), Bossley Park (except the area to the east of Mimosa Road and to the north of Polding Street), Prairiewood (to King Road), Greenfield Park (to Smithfield Road) and the built-up area of Abbotsbury are now located in the Division of Fowler
    • parts of Badgerys Creek and Kemps Creek south of Elizabeth Drive, that part of Bringelly to the east of The Northern Road and north of Bringelly Road, and that part of Rossmore to the north of Bringelly Road are now located in the Division of Werriwa
    • those parts of East Hills, Panania, Revesby and Padstow between the South Western Motorway and the East Hills railway line are now located in the Division of Banks
    • some minor changes to the boundary between the Divisions of Berowra and Mitchell which involve no elector movement, and
    • some minor changes to the boundary between the Divisions of Grayndler and Sydney which involve no elector movement.

Augmented Electoral Commission’s approach to formulating electoral boundaries

  1. In deciding whether to amend the Redistribution Committee’s proposal to incorporate an idea advocated in an objection, comment on objection or submission to the inquiries, the augmented Electoral Commission was mindful of whether the amendment would improve the Redistribution Committee’s proposal. As the augmented Electoral Commission’s formulation of electoral divisions must conform to the requirements of the Electoral Act, potential amendments were also analysed with respect to the requirements of sub-section 73(4) of the Electoral Act.
  2. The primary requirement was to ensure each electoral division remains within the permissible maximum and minimum number of electors around the projected enrolment quota (see Table B) and the current enrolment quota (see Table A). In modifying the boundaries of any electoral division proposed by the Redistribution Committee, the augmented Electoral Commission was therefore required to ensure that all electoral divisions continued to fall within the permissible ranges for the maximum and minimum number of electors in an electoral division.
  3. Similarly, when considering whether to adjust the boundary of an electoral division to better reflect one community of interest, the augmented Electoral Commission observed that such an adjustment could prompt further concerns about one or more different communities of interest in those electoral divisions impacted by such an adjustment.

Abolition of an electoral division

  1. The Redistribution Committee proposed abolishing the existing Division of Hunter.11
  2. A small number of objections argued the electoral division should not be abolished.12
  3. The augmented Electoral Commission considered the arguments offered were not substantive enough to warrant change from the Redistribution Committee’s proposal.
  4. The augmented Electoral Commission therefore concluded the Redistribution Committee’s proposal should stand unchanged and the Division of Hunter which existed prior to the commencement of the redistribution on Monday 1 December 2014 is abolished.

Adjusting the boundaries of existing electoral divisions

  1. The Redistribution Committee considered it’s proposed redistribution would result in electoral divisions which:
    • meet the requirements of the Electoral Act, and to the extent possible:
    • reflect the population trends identified by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS),
    • maintain and/or unite communities of interest,
    • make use of local government boundaries, particularly in rural areas, and
    • provide strong and readily identifiable electoral division boundaries.13
  2. The Redistribution Committee’s proposal made changes to all but one electoral division, although a number of these changes were taken to provide more appropriate boundaries and did not result in any elector movement.14 Alternatives to the majority of these changes did not feature in objections, comments on objections or submissions to the inquiries.
  3. The augmented Electoral Commission considered the Redistribution Committee’s proposal and agreed with much of what was proposed. Where an alternative to the Redistribution Committee’s proposal was advocated, the augmented Electoral Commission considered whether modifications should be made to address the alternative. The following paragraphs, together with Appendix F, outline the augmented Electoral Commission’s decision with respect to the alternatives offered.

The location of the Gwydir Shire

  1. The Redistribution Committee had proposed moving the Gwydir Shire from the Division of Parkes to the proposed Division of New England.
  2. Objections concerned whether all or the northern part of the Shire, covered by the former Yallaroi Shire, should be retained in the proposed Division of Parkes on the basis of community of interest.15
  3. The augmented Electoral Commission noted the arguments made with respect to community of interest in favour of placing part of the former Yallaroi Shire in the proposed Division of Parkes. Making this adjustment did not cause the Division of New England or the Division of Parkes to fall outside either of the ranges for the maximum and minimum number of electors in an electoral division permitted by the Electoral Act.
  4. The augmented Electoral Commission therefore concluded the Redistribution Committee’s proposal could be improved by moving all of the former Yallaroi Shire, and a small part of the former Bingara Shire, both now within the Gwydir Shire, into the Division of Parkes.

The location of the Carrathool Shire

  1. The Redistribution Committee proposed moving that part of the Carrathool Shire located mainly to the north of the Mid Western Highway from the Division of Riverina into the proposed Division of Parkes.
  2. Objections advocated that the Shire, in its entirety, should be located in the same electoral division as other Riverina towns due to their shared community of interest.16
  3. The augmented Electoral Commission noted the arguments made with respect to locating those local government areas in the Riverina/Murray area in the same electoral division. Moving part of the Gwydir Shire from the Division of New England to the Division of Parkes enabled Carrathool Shire to be united in the Division of Farrer. This adjustment kept both the Division of Farrer and the Division of Parkes within ranges for the maximum and minimum number of electors in an electoral division permitted by the Electoral Act.
  4. The augmented Electoral Commission therefore concluded the Redistribution Committee’s proposal could be improved by locating the entirety of the Carrathool Shire in the Division of Farrer.
  5. As a result of this decision, all of the 18 member councils and their communities represented by the Riverina and Murray Regional Organisation of Councils will be contained within the one federal electoral division.17

The location of the Lockhart Shire

  1. The Redistribution Committee had proposed retaining the Lockhart Shire in the proposed Division of Farrer.
  2. Objections advocated the Shire should be located in the proposed Division of Riverina for community of interest reasons, particularly communication and travel.18
  3. Uniting the Carrathool Shire in the Division of Farrer enabled the augmented Electoral Commission to make adjustments to the boundary between the Divisions of Farrer and Riverina which did not cause either electoral division to fall outside either of the ranges for the maximum and minimum number of electors in an electoral division permitted by the Electoral Act.
  4. The augmented Electoral Commission therefore concluded the Redistribution Committee’s proposal could be improved by locating the Lockhart Shire in the Division of Riverina.

The electoral division in which Bundanoon, Exeter, Penrose and Wingello are located

  1. The Redistribution Committee proposed moving the areas of Bundanoon, Penrose, Wingello and part of Exeter from the Division of Hume to the proposed Division of Whitlam.
  2. Objections based on community of interest reasons advocated these areas should be located in the proposed Division of Hume and not the proposed Division of Whitlam (formerly the Division of Throsby).19
  3. The augmented Electoral Commission noted that changes to the boundaries of the former Divsion of Throsby, as they existed prior to the commencement of the redistribution, were required to ensure the number of electors in the electoral division was within the ranges for the maximum and minimum number of electors permitted by the Electoral Act.
  4. The augmented Electoral Commission also noted the strong arguments made with respect to community of interest. Making this adjustment did not cause either the Division of Hume or the Division of Whitlam to fall outside either of the ranges for the maximum and minimum number of electors in an electoral division permitted by the Electoral Act.
  5. The augmented Electoral Commission therefore concluded the Redistribution Committee’s proposal could be improved and has moved Bundanoon, Exeter, Meryla, Penrose, part of Werai and Wingello to the Division of Hume.

The location of Paddington and consequential changes

  1. The Redistribution Committee proposed transferring electors from the Division of Wentworth to the proposed Division of Sydney in the area of Woolloomooloo, East Sydney, Darlinghurst, Victoria Barracks and Moore Park.
  2. Objections concerned whether Paddington should or should not be split between the proposed Divisions of Sydney and Wentworth, with alternative boundaries proposed.20
  3. The augmented Electoral Commission noted that changes to the boundaries of both the Divisions of Sydney and Wentworth, as they existed prior to the commencement of the redistribution, were required to ensure the number of electors in both electoral divisions were within the ranges for the maximum and minimum number of electors permitted by the Electoral Act.
  4. Noting the strong arguments made with respect to community of interest and the location of Paddington, the augmented Electoral Commission examined whether, given other changes made in the Redistribution Committee proposal to these two divisions, it would be possible to accommodate the relocation of Paddington within the requirements of the Electoral Act without making alterations to a significant number of electoral divisions. The augmented Electoral Commission found alterations could be made, with no impact on any other divisions, to accommodate this adjustment without causing the Division of Sydney or the Division to Wentworth to fall outside either of the ranges for the maximum and minimum number of electors in an electoral division permitted by the Electoral Act.
  5. The augmented Electoral Commission therefore concluded the Redistribution Committee’s proposal could be improved by:
    • locating the entirety of Paddington in the Division of Wentworth,
    • locating Darlinghurst (except for the area bounded by South Dowling, Oxford and Flinders Streets) and Potts Point in the Division of Sydney, and
    • locating that part of Moore Park to the north of Dacey Avenue in the Division of Wentworth.

The location of the boundary between the Divisions of Grayndler and Reid and consequential changes

  1. The Redistribution Committee proposed moving the areas of Drummoyne, Russell Lea, Rodd Point and Rodd Island from the Division of Reid into the proposed Division of Grayndler.
  2. Objections concerned whether these areas, which share a community of interest, should be split between the proposed Division of Grayndler and the proposed Division of Reid, offered alternatives to facilitate suggested changes, and also including following local government boundaries.21
  3. The augmented Electoral Commission noted that changes to the boundaries of both the Divisions of Grayndler and Reid, as they existed prior to the commencement of the redistribution, were required to ensure the number of electors in both electoral divisions were within the ranges for the maximum and minimum number of electors permitted by the Electoral Act.
  4. After considering the arguments made utilising community of interest, the augmented Electoral Commission noted the Drummoyne Peninsula, in its entirety, could be located in the Division of Reid if a series of adjustments were made to surrounding electoral divisions in order to ensure the numerical requirements of the Electoral Act would continue to be met. As these changes would better reflect communities of interest, the augmented Electoral Commission concluded the Redistribution Committee’s proposal could be improved by placing:
    • the entirety of the Drummoyne Peninsula in the Division of Reid,
    • parts of Canterbury, Hurlstone Park, Dulwich Hill and Marrickville (north of the Sydenham Bankstown railway line) in the Division of Grayndler,
    • the locality of Sydenham in the Division of Grayndler
    • part of Beverly Hills (east of King Georges Road and south of the M5 East Motorway), part of Hurstville (north of the Illawarra railway line) and part of Kingsgrove (west of Kingsgrove Road and south of the M5 East Motorway) in the Division of Barton
    • the area bounded by the Princes Highway, Jubilee Avenue, the Illawarra railway line, and Andover and Francis Streets at Carlton in the Division of Banks
    • part of Auburn (to the south of the M4 Western Motorway and to the west of St Hilliers Road) and part of Lidcombe (to the west of Olympic Drive) in the Division of Blaxland.

The location of the boundary between the Divisions of Barton and Cook

  1. The Redistribution Committee proposed placing parts of, or the entire localities of, Connells Point, Kyle Bay, Blakehurst, Carrs Park, Kogarah, Beverley Park, Kogarah Bay, Sandringham, Sans Souci, Dolls Point, Ramsgate, Ramsgate Beach and Monterey in the proposed Division of Cook.
  2. Objections concerned whether these areas should be located in the proposed Division of Barton or the proposed Division of Cook.22 Strong feelings were expressed regarding the community of interest within the St George region and the desirability of the region forming the basis of an electoral division.
  3. While noting these strong feelings, the augmented Electoral Commission observed the placement of the boundaries of electoral divisions does not determine the ongoing existence of community, social, economic, regional or suburban interests, with the population of such areas often too large to be accommodated within a single electoral division. The augmented Electoral Commission further noted that both the Divisions of Barton and Cook, as they existed prior to the commencement of the redistribution were within the ranges for minimum and maximum number of electors permitted by the Electoral Act, but were required to change to accommodate the alterations made to the boundaries of surrounding electoral divisions which were outside these ranges. Adopting alternative boundaries could prompt different communities of interest concerns and would require further adjustments to ensure the two ranges permitted by the Electoral Act for the maximum and minimum number of electors in an electoral division could be met.
  4. The augmented Electoral Commission concluded the Redistribution Committee’s proposal should stand unchanged for this boundary.

The location of Fairfield and consequential changes

  1. The Redistribution Committee proposed moving Fairfield, Fairfield Heights and Fairfield West from the Division of McMahon to the proposed Division of Fowler.
  2. One objection advocated locating Fairfield in the proposed Division of McMahon as the proposed Division of Fowler contained the three central business districts of Fairfield, Cabramatta and Liverpool, resulting in McMahon having no central focus or a transport hub.23
  3. The augmented Electoral Commission noted the arguments made with respect to community of interest and means of travel within the electoral division in favour of placing Fairfield in the proposed Division of McMahon. Making this and a subsequent adjustment did not cause the Division of Fowler or the Division of McMahon to fall outside either of the ranges for the maximum and minimum number of electors in an electoral division permitted by the Electoral Act.
  4. The augmented Electoral Commission therefore concluded the Redistribution Committee’s proposal could be improved by placing:
    • the area bounded by King and Smithfield Roads and Prospect and Orphan School Creeks at Fairfield and Fairfield West in the Division of McMahon, and
    • the localities of Edensor Park (to Smithfield Road), Bossley Park (except the area east of Mimosa Road and north of Polding Street), Prairiewood (to King Road), Greenfield Park (to Smithfield Road), and the built-up area of Abbotsbury in the Division of Fowler.

The location of Badgerys Creek

  1. The Redistribution Committee proposed locating the area of Badgerys Creek in the proposed Division of Hume.
  2. Objections advocated locating Badgerys Creek in the proposed Division of Werriwa on the basis of community of interest and means of travel.24
  3. The augmented Electoral Commission noted the arguments made with respect to the placement of Badgerys Creek in the proposed Division of Werriwa. Following the transfer of the Bundanoon area to the Division of Hume, the augmented Electoral Commission was able to make adjustments to the boundary between the Divisions of Hume and Werriwa which did not cause either of the Divisions of Hume or Werriwa to fall outside either of the ranges for the maximum and minimum number of electors in an electoral division permitted by the Electoral Act.
  4. The augmented Electoral Commission therefore concluded the Redistribution Committee’s proposal could be improved by locating parts of Badgerys Creek and Kemps Creek to the south of Elizabeth Drive, that part of Bringelly to the east of The Northern Road and to the north of Bringelly Road, and that part of Rossmore to the north of Bringelly Road in the Division of Werriwa.

The electoral division in which Camden township and surrounding suburbs are to be located

  1. The Redistribution Committee proposed moving Camden South, Camden Park, Camden, Elderslie, Spring Farm, Mount Annan, Narellan Vale, Narellan, Cawdor, Menangle, Douglas Park and Appin from the Division of Macarthur to the proposed Division of Hume.
  2. Objections advocated locating those areas covered by Camden Council in the proposed Division of Macarthur in recognition of their connection to members of the Macarthur family after whom the electoral division is named.25
  3. While the Division of Macarthur, as it existed prior to the commencement of the redistribution was within the ranges for the maximum and minimum number of electors permitted by the Electoral Act, it was required to change to accommodate the alterations made to the boundaries of other electoral divisions which were outside these ranges. The augmented Electoral Commission noted the strong arguments, particularly in relation to historic and regional concerns, made with respect to what should be included in the proposed Division of Macarthur. After examining a number of models of potential alternate electoral divisions in an attempt to accommodate these perspectives, the augmented Electoral Commission observed that adopting alternative boundaries could prompt different communities of interest concerns and would require more substantial adjustments to ensure the two ranges permitted by the Electoral Act for the maximum and minimum number of electors in an electoral division continued to be met.
  4. The augmented Electoral Commission therefore concluded the Redistribution Committee’s proposal should stand unchanged.

The location of the boundary between the Divisions of Cowper and Lyne

  1. The Redistribution Committee proposed moving the southern part of the Kempsey Shire and part of the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, including Port Macquarie, from the Division of Lyne into the proposed Division of Cowper.
  2. Objections concerned whether, based on considerations of community of interest:
    • Port Macquarie should be located in the proposed Division of Lyne,
    • Port Macquarie should be located in the same electoral division as the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and/or the satellite areas of Wauchope and the Camden Haven, and
    • Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour should be located in the same electoral division.26
  3. The augmented Electoral Commission noted that changes to the boundaries of both the Divisions of Cowper and Lyne, as they existed prior to the commencement of the redistribution, were required in order to:
    • ensure the number of electors in both electoral divisions were within the ranges for the maximum and minimum number of electors permitted by the Electoral Act, and
    • accommodate changes made to adjacent electoral divisions to compensate for the abolition of an electoral division.
  4. After carefully examining a number of models of potential electoral divisions which reflected the concerns expressed in objections and submissions to the inquiries, the augmented Electoral Commission observed that adopting alternative boundaries could prompt different communities of interest concerns and would require further adjustments to ensure the two ranges permitted by the Electoral Act for the maximum and minimum number of electors in an electoral division continued to be met.
  5. The augmented Electoral Commission therefore concluded the Redistribution Committee’s proposal should stand unchanged.
  6. The augmented Electoral Commission observed the Port Macquarie area has experienced relatively large increases in population in recent times,27 and notes that, should this continue, the electoral division in which Port Macquarie and the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council are located in is likely to change in the future.

The location of the Tumut and Tumbarumba Shires

  1. The Redistribution Committee proposed moving the Tumut and Tumbarumba Shires from the Division of Riverina to the proposed Division of Eden-Monaro.
  2. Objections concerned whether, on the basis of community of interest grounds, the two Shires should be located in the proposed Division of Riverina or the proposed Division of Eden-Monaro.28
  3. The augmented Electoral Commission noted that changes to the boundaries of both the Divisions of Eden-Monaro and Riverina, as they existed prior to the commencement of the redistribution, were required in order to:
    • ensure the number of electors in both electoral divisions were within the ranges for the maximum and minimum number of electors permitted by the Electoral Act, and
    • accommodate changes made to adjacent electoral divisions to compensate for the loss of an electoral division.
  4. Adopting alternative boundaries could prompt different communities of interest concerns and would require further adjustments to ensure the two ranges permitted by the Electoral Act for the maximum and minimum number of electors in an electoral division continued to be met. The augmented Electoral Commission was also conscious of suggestions made to the Redistribution Committee of the value in collocating the two Shires in the same electoral division due to their community of interest.29
  5. The augmented Electoral Commission therefore concluded the Redistribution Committee’s proposal should stand unchanged.

The electoral division in which the Forbes Shire is to be located

  1. The Redistribution Committee proposed the Forbes Shire be transferred from the Division of Calare to the proposed Division of Riverina.
  2. Objections advocated, on the basis of community of interest, locating the Shire in the proposed Division of Calare.30
  3. The augmented Electoral Commission noted that changes to the boundaries of both the Divisions of Calare and Riverina, as they existed prior to the commencement of the redistribution, were required to ensure the number of electors in both electoral divisions were within the ranges for the maximum and minimum number of electors permitted by the Electoral Act. Adopting alternative boundaries could prompt different communities of interest concerns and would require further adjustments to ensure the two ranges permitted by the Electoral Act for the maximum and minimum number of electors in an electoral division continued to be met.
  4. The augmented Electoral Commission therefore concluded the Redistribution Committee’s proposal should stand unchanged.

The location of the boundary between the Divisions of Cowper and Page

  1. The Redistribution Committee proposed transferring electors from the Division of Cowper to the proposed Division of Page in the northern part of the Coffs Harbour Council, from Lowanna, Coramba, Karangi and the northern part of Sapphire Beach, and the eastern part of the Clarence Valley Council.
  2. Objections advocated, on the basis of community of interest, retaining these areas in the proposed Division of Cowper.31
  3. The augmented Electoral Commission noted that changes to the boundaries of both the Divisions of Cowper and Page, as they existed prior to the commencement of the redistribution, were required in order to:
    • ensure the number of electors in both electoral divisions were within the ranges for the minimum and maximum number of electors permitted by the Electoral Act, and
    • accommodate changes made to adjacent electoral divisions.
  4. Adopting alternative boundaries could prompt different communities of interest concerns and would require further adjustments to ensure the two ranges permitted by the Electoral Act for the maximum and minimum number of electors in an electoral division continued to be met.
  5. The augmented Electoral Commission therefore concluded the Redistribution Committee’s proposal should stand unchanged.

Movement of electors between electoral divisions

  1. The Redistribution Committee noted that, in the absence of any other changes, some two per cent of electors must be moved in order that the number of electoral divisions can be reduced from 48 to 47.32
  2. As a result of the adjustments made by the augmented Electoral Commission to the Redistribution Committee’s proposal, 24 678 fewer electors have been moved between electoral divisions. Table E outlines the extent of elector movements resulting from the augmented Electoral Commission’s redistribution.
Table E: Summary of movement of electors between electoral divisions
Number Percentage
Electors remaining in their electoral division 3 943 679 81.09%
Electors transferred to another electoral division 919 914 18.91%
Total 4 863 593 100.00%

Augmented Electoral Commission's approach to naming electoral divisions

  1. The naming of federal electoral divisions has been the subject of a number of recommendations from parliamentary committees. The 'Guidelines for naming federal electoral divisions' (the guidelines) were developed by the AEC from recommendations made by the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters in 1995 in its Report on the Effectiveness and Appropriateness of the Redistribution Provisions of Parts III and IV of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918. The guidelines were offered to interested persons when this redistribution was advertised, and are publicly available on the AEC website (see Appendix K).

Renaming the proposed Division of Whitlam

  1. The Redistribution Committee unanimously proposed renaming the Division of Throsby to ‘Whitlam’, in honour of the former Prime Minister, the Hon. Edward Gough Whitlam AC QC (1916–2014) in recognition of his service to Australia.
  2. The Redistribution Committee did not make this proposal lightly, noting the guidelines advise the names of electoral divisions should not be changed or transferred to new areas without very strong reasons. In reaching their decision, the Redistribution Committee made the following points:
    • those making suggestions and comments on suggestions advocated five different electoral divisions which could be renamed ‘Whitlam’,
    • the guidelines note that consideration should be given to naming electoral divisions after former Prime Ministers,
    • many of the electoral divisions advocated in suggestions and comments on suggestions were not suitable for renaming.33
  3. Strong feelings about the name of this electoral division were expressed by a number of those who made objections to the proposed redistribution, commented on objections or made submissions to the inquiries, falling into the following categories:
    • advocating the electoral division should not be re-named and should continue to be known as the Division of Throsby in honour of Dr Charles Throsby (1771–1828), a local pioneer who explored the area,34
    • advocating one of the following electoral divisions become the Division of Whitlam:
      • Banks
      • Blaxland
      • Charlton
      • Fowler
      • Fraser (located in the Australian Capital Territory)35
      • Greenway
      • Hume
      • Macarthur
      • Werriwa
    • a new electoral division should be created and named ‘Whitlam’
    • support for the Redistribution Committee’s proposal to rename the electoral division as the Division of Whitlam.
  4. As was the case for the Redistribution Committee, the augmented Electoral Commission was attentive to the guidelines and the material presented to it for consideration. The arguments offered in support of reverting to the previous name of the proposed Division of Whitlam and naming another electoral division as ‘Whitlam’ were, in the opinion of the augmented Electoral Commission, not substantive enough to warrant a change to the Redistribution Committee’s proposal.
  5. The augmented Electoral Commission therefore concluded the Redistribution Committee’s proposal should stand and the electoral division will be known as the Division of Whitlam.

Renaming the proposed Division of Hunter

  1. The Redistribution Committee unanimously agreed to rename the proposed Division of Charlton as ‘Hunter’. In making this decision, the Redistribution Committee observed:
    • ‘Hunter’ was a Federation name, having first been used as the name of an electoral division in 1901. As the guidelines note that every effort should be made to retain the names of original federation electoral divisions, the Redistribution Committee considered it would be appropriate to rename another electoral division,
    • the socio-demographic nature of the proposed Division of Charlton changed from an urban provincial electoral division to a largely rural electoral division, and
    • ‘Hunter’ is an appropriate name for an electoral division located in the geographic area bearing the same name.36
  2. A small number of objections to the proposed redistribution and comments on objections advocated that this electoral division should retain the name ‘Charlton’, with the proposed Division of Paterson instead being named ‘Hunter’.37
  3. The guidelines note that the names of electoral divisions should not be changed or transferred to new areas without very strong reasons. Any decision to alter the name of an electoral division is not taken lightly.
  4. The augmented Electoral Commission considered whether the name proposed by the Redistribution Committee should be changed or retained, but did not believe the arguments offered in support of making these adjustments were substantive enough to warrant change at this time.
  5. The augmented Electoral Commission therefore concluded the Redistribution Committee’s proposal should stand and the electoral division will be known as the Division of Hunter.

Renaming of electoral divisions

  1. The Redistribution Committee proposed 45 electoral divisions retain their existing name.38
  2. A small number of objections to the proposed redistribution and comments on objections advocated renaming electoral divisions, as displayed in Table F.39
  3. The guidelines note that the names of electoral divisions should not be changed or transferred to new areas without very strong reasons. Any decision to alter the name of an electoral division is not taken lightly.
  4. While noting the contribution to Australian society of those individuals submitted for its consideration and the general relevance of those names submitted, the augmented Electoral Commission considered it was first required to determine whether the name of current electoral divisions should be changed.
  5. The augmented Electoral Commission did not consider that compelling reasons had been presented to change the names of the remaining 45 electoral divisions and concluded the names of each of these electoral divisions will be retained, as proposed by the Redistribution Committee.
Table F: Names offered in objections and comments on objections as alternatives to those proposed by the Redistribution Committee
Name proposed by the Redistribution Committee Offered alternative name
Eden-Monaro Snowy Mountains – to reflect a major geographic factor contained within the proposed electoral division
Farrer Riverina – to reflect the area contained within the proposed electoral division
Hume Macarthur – to reflect the connection of the Macarthur family to the Camden/Narellan region, which is contained within the proposed electoral division
Hunter Charlton – to retain the name ‘Charlton’, after Matthew Charlton (1866–1948), Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly 1903–10, Member of House of Representatives 1910–28 and leader of the ALP 1922–28
Macarthur Broughton – in honour of the Right Reverend William Grant Broughton (1788–1853), the first Bishop of Australia and of Sydney
Lyne Paterson – as the proposed electoral division contains a significant proportion of the existing Division of Paterson, in addition to the Paterson River and township of Paterson
Paterson Hunter – as the proposed electoral division contains a significant proportion of the existing Division of Hunter, in addition to the Hunter River
Riverina a woman, Indigenous Australian or Indigenous Australian woman
Grassby – the objection did not specify who the name was intended to honour
Hume – to maintain the connection between Wagga Wagga, which is located within the proposed electoral divisions, and Hamilton Hume (1797–1873), an early explorer
Lawson – after Henry Lawson (1867–1922), the Australian poet and fiction writer of the colonial period

Redistribution of New South Wales – by electoral division

  1. For each of the electoral divisions in New South Wales, Table G presents:
    • enrolment as at Monday 1 December 2014,
    • percentage variation from the current enrolment quota,
    • projected enrolment as at Sunday 25 August 2019,
    • percentage variation from the projected enrolment quota, and
    • the approximate area of each division.
Table G: Summary of electoral divisions
Electoral division Enrolment as at Monday 1 December 2014 Projected enrolment as at Sunday 25 August 2019 Approximate area
Number Percentage variation from the current enrolment quota Number Percentage variation from the projected enrolment quota
Banks 103 000 -0.46% 110 782 0.22% 53 km2
Barton 103 037 -0.43% 113 157 2.37% 40 km2
Bennelong 102 693 -0.76% 110 876 0.30% 60 km2
Berowra 103 320 -0.16% 110 861 0.29% 786 km2
Blaxland 100 504 -2.88% 110 746 0.18% 61 km2
Bradfield 103 027 -0.44% 110 742 0.18% 101 km2
Calare 107 827 4.20% 111 814 1.15% 32 666 km2
Chifley 97 924 -5.37% 108 528 -1.82% 126 km2
Cook 101 317 -2.09% 109 035 -1.36% 94 km2
Cowper 112 408 8.63% 114 199 3.31% 7 296 km2
Cunningham 106 644 3.06% 110 111 -0.39% 519 km2
Dobell 104 955 1.42% 112 143 1.45% 787 km2
Eden-Monaro 103 542 0.06% 107 383 -2.86% 41 617 km2
Farrer 108 159 4.52% 112 353 1.64% 126 590 km2
Fowler 102 909 -0.55% 112 158 1.46% 60 km2
Gilmore 109 804 6.11% 111 230 0.62% 6 342 km2
Grayndler 100 802 -2.59% 109 912 -0.57% 32 km2
Greenway 99 659 -3.69% 111 643 1.00% 81 km2
Hughes 101 244 -2.16% 108 867 -1.52% 369 km2
Hume 99 813 -3.54% 107 622 -2.64% 17 240 km2
Hunter 106 977 3.38% 110 997 0.41% 10 640 km2
Kingsford Smith 103 736 0.25% 112 719 1.97% 91 km2
Lindsay 102 005 -1.43% 112 273 1.57% 339 km2
Lyne 106 145 2.57% 107 098 -3.12% 16 099 km2
Macarthur 96 773 -6.48% 109 620 -0.83% 363 km2
Mackellar 104 264 0.76% 111 364 0.74% 233 km2
Macquarie 99 516 -3.83% 106 949 -3.25% 4 374 km2
McMahon 103 935 0.44% 113 968 3.10% 168 km2
Mitchell 98 816 -4.51% 108 266 -2.06% 101 km2
Newcastle 109 265 5.59% 113 025 2.25% 171 km2
New England 105 156 1.62% 108 157 -2.16% 66 394 km2
North Sydney 102 229 -1.21% 111 629 0.98% 53 km2
Page 111 117 7.38% 114 294 3.39% 19 342 km2
Parkes 103 593 0.11% 107 412 -2.83% 393 413 km2
Parramatta 99 543 -3.81% 111 097 0.50% 57 km2
Paterson 104 954 1.42% 109 455 -0.98% 1 123 km2
Reid 100 976 -2.42% 111 623 0.98% 55 km2
Richmond 105 768 2.21% 107 403 -2.84% 2 148 km2
Riverina 107 134 3.53% 110 463 -0.07% 48 988 km2
Robertson 104 017 0.52% 110 181 -0.33% 980 km2
Shortland 106 161 2.59% 110 029 -0.46% 265 km2
Sydney 100 992 -2.41% 112 695 1.95% 44 km2
Warringah 98 571 -4.74% 107 752 -2.52% 68 km2
Watson 102 790 -0.67% 113 268 2.47% 47 km2
Wentworth 98 744 -4.58% 106 774 -3.41% 38 km2
Werriwa 101 806 -1.62% 113 284 2.48% 172 km2
Whitlam 106 022 2.46% 109 533 -0.91% 1 331 km2
Total 4 863 593 5 195 490 802 017 km2
  1. Statistical summaries of the electoral divisions are provided in Appendix L.
  1. Redistribution Committee for New South Wales, op. cit., page 23–24
  2. O46 – Falco Lombardi and O113 – Sarah Lukeman argued against the abolition of the Division of Hunter.
  3. ibid., page 22
  4. Redistribution Committee for New South Wales, op. cit., page 7
  5. Objections which referred to this matter: O19 – Jeff Waddell; O49 – Gwydir Shire Council; O464 – Paul Blackman; O699 – Austin Evans. Comments on objections which referred to this matter: COB9 – John E Lush; COB23 – The Nationals. IS26 – The Nationals referred to this matter.
  6. Objections which referred to this matter: O19 – Jeff Waddell; O177 – John E Lush, O496 – Country Women’s Association Murrumbidgee Lachlan Group, O682 – Riverina and Murray Regional Organisation of Councils, O704 – The Nationals. Comments on objections which referred to this matter: COB 16 – Carrathool Shire Council, COB21 – Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division) COB25 – Austin Evans. IS26 – The Nationals referred to this matter.
  7. The member councils are: Albury, Balranald, Berrigan, Carrathool, Conargo, Corowa, Deniliquin, Greater Hume, Griffith, Hay, Jerilderie, Leeton, Murray, Murrumbidgee, Narrandera, Urana, Wakool and Wentworth.
  8. O704 – The Nationals referred to this matter. COB23 – The Nationals referred to this matter.
  9. Objections which referred to this matter are: O9 – John Brock and Rosemary Page; O98 – Carol Olde; O192 – Wingello Village Association Inc.; O208 – Exeter Village Association; O212 – Bundanoon Community Association (BCA); O401 – Dr Mark Mulcair; O468 – Penrose Community Association; O487 – Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch); O656 – Graham S Olde; O665 – Southern Villages Group; O703 – Dr Charles Richardson; O721 – Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division). Comments on objections which referred to this matter: COB1 – Martin Gordon; COB7 – Jeff Waddell; COB11 – Dr Mark Mulcair; COB21 – Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division); COB24 – Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch). IS7 – John McNamara and IS30 – Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch) referred to this matter.
  10. Objections which referred to this matter include those listed in Table H and Table I and O19 – Jeff Waddell; O177 – John E Lush; O401 – Dr Mark Mulcair; O464 – Paul Blackman. Comments on objections which referred to this matter: COB1 – Martin Gordon; COB2 – Michelle Jelicic; COB5 – Coral Rogers; COB7 – Jeff Waddell; COB9 – John E Lush; COB11 – Dr Mark Mulcair; COB14 – Anonymous Pseudonym; COB21 – Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division); COB24 – Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch). Participants at the inquiries who referred to this matter are: IS4 – Leone Morrison; IS6 – Will Mrongovius and Brenton Moore; IS8 – Michael Waterhouse.
  11. Objections which referred to this matter include those listed in Table J and O19 – Jeff Waddell; O65 – Martin Gordon; O393 – Darren McSweeney; O401 – Dr Mark Mulcair; O487 – Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch); O464 – Paul Blackman; O703 – Dr Charles Richardson; O721 – Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division). Comments on objections which referred to this matter: COB1 – Martin Gordon; COB7 – Jeff Waddell; COB9 – John E Lush; COB11 – Dr Mark Mulcair; COB14 – Anonymous Pseudonym; COB21 – Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division); COB24 – Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch). Participants at the inquiries who referred to this matter are: IS1 – Bruce MacCarthy; IS2 – Craig Laundy MP; IS13 – Jan Mapledoram; IS18 – Andrew Blake; IS30 – Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch).
  12. Objections which referred to this matter are those outlined in Table K and O19 – Jeff Waddell; O65 – Martin Gordon; O401 – Dr Mark Mulcair; O464 – Paul Blackman; O487 – Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch); O721 – Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division). Comments on objections which referred to this matter: COB1 – Martin Gordon; COB4 – Dylan Smith; COB7 – Jeff Waddell; COB9 – John E Lush; COB11 – Dr Mark Mulcair; COB14 – Anonymous Pseudonym; COB15 – Robert Waller; COB21 – Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division); COB24 – Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch); COB26 – Hon Scott Morrison MP. Participants at the inquiries who referred to this matter are: IS5 – George Christodoulou; IS10 – Paul Sedrak; IS19 – Mina Goubran; IS20 – Annie Tang; IS23 – John Nour.
  13. O487 – Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch) and COB24 – Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch) referred to this matter. IS29 – Hon Chris Bowen MP referred to this matter.
  14. Objections which referred to this matter: O487 – Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch); O663 – Macarthur Law Society; O694 – Mayor Liverpool City Council. COB21 – Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division) and COB24 – Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch) referred to this matter. IS30 – Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch) referred to this matter.
  15. Objections which referred to this matter are those listed in Table M and O401 – Dr Mark Mulcair; O467 – Sharynne Freeman; O487 – Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch); O663 – Macarthur Law Society; O721 – Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division). Comments on objections which referred to this matter: COB1 – Martin Gordon; COB7 – Jeff Waddell; COB8 – P C Hayward; COB9 – John E Lush; COB11 – Dr Mark Mulcair; COB14 – Anonymous Pseudonym; COB21 – Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division); COB24 – Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch). Participants who referred to this matter at the inquiries are: IS11 – Cheryl Weller; IS14 – Ron Moore; IS15 – Raad Richards; IS16 – Adriana Care; IS17 – Brett McGrath; IS21 – John Wrigley OAM; IS22 – Stephen McMahon.
  16. Objections which referred to this matter are those listed in Table L, together with O19 – Jeff Waddell; O35 – Peter Florent; O77 – Robyn Burtinshaw; O107 – Lyle Eder; O393 – Darren McSweeney; O401 – Dr Mark Mulcair; O464 – Paul Blackman; O679 – Jodie Blackmore; O721 – Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division). Comments on objections which referred to this matter: COB7 – Jeff Waddell; COB9 – John E Lush; COB11 – Dr Mark Mulcair; COB15 – Robert Waller; COB21 – Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division); COB23 – The Nationals; COB24 – Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch). Participants who referred to this matter at the inquiries are: IS24 – Peter Goodwin; IPM2 – Joyce Bilish; IPM3 – Anne Phillips; IPM4 – Joy Corben; IPM6 – Harry Creamer; IPM7 – Karen Clifford; IPM8 – John Burman; IPM9 – Peter Besseling; IPM10 – Colleen Parker; IPM11 – Janette Hyde; IPM12 – Geoffrey Hawkins; IPM13 – Hadyn Oriti; IPM15 – Doug Heagney; IPM16 – Jennifer Hurrell; IPM17 – Peter Alley; IPM18 – Justin Levido.
  17. ABS, 3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2013–14
  18. Objections which referred to this matter: O393 – Darren McSweeney; O401 – Dr Mark Mulcair; O487 – Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch); O682 – Riverina and Murray Regional Organisation of Councils; O699 – Austin Evans; O703 – Dr Charles Richardson; O721 – Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division). COB21 – Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division) referred to this matter. IS28 – Robert Stewart and IS30 – Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch) referred to this matter.
  19. This argument is present in: S20 – Liberal Party of Australia New South Wales Division and S22 – The Nationals.
  20. Objections referring to this matter: O179 – The Nationals Forbes Branch; O180 – Bruce and Margaret Adams; O181 – Forbes Neighbourhood Watch Inc.; O182 – Country Women’s Association of NSW Forbes Branch; O393 – Darren McSweeney; O401 – Dr Mark Mulcair; O409 – Rob Priest; O699 – Austin Evans; O704 – The Nationals. Comments on objections which referred to this matter: COB13 – Jacquie Grallelis; COB17 – Bruce and Margaret Adams; COB18 – Forbes Neighbourhood Watch Inc.; COB19 – Forbes Branch Nationals NSW; COB20 – Forbes Shire Council; COB22 – Griffith City Council; COB23 – The Nationals. IS9 – Bruce Adams and IS25 – Rob Priest referred to this matter.
  21. Objections referring to this matter: O19 – Jeff Waddell; O23 – Janet Turner; O41 – Kate and Royce Bennett; O43 – Richard Guest; O58 – Don Clinch; O59 – Shaun Messer; O99 – Robyn Rooth; O107 – Lyle Eder; O126 – Simon Caldwell; O207 – Joan Holmes; O393 – Darren McSweeney; O662 – Anne and Eddie Broomfield; O679 – Jodie Blackmore; O721 – Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division). Comments on objections referring to this matter: COB6 – Russell and Helen Jones; COB7 – Jeff Waddell; COB11 – Dr Mark Mulcair; COB21 – Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division); COB23 – The Nationals; COB24 – Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch).
  22. Redistribution Committee for New South Wales, op. cit., page 7
  23. Redistribution Committee for New South Wales, op.cit., page 26
  24. The Division of Throsby came into being in 1984.
  25. On Tuesday 24 November 2015, the augmented Electoral Commission for the Australian Capital Territory announced the Division of Fraser would become the Division of Fenner from Thursday 28 January 2016.
  26. Redistribution Committee for New South Wales, op.cit., page 25–26
  27. O405 – Great Lakes Council; O407 – Mayor of Maitland; O487 – Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch); and COB14 – Anonymous Pseudonym made this argument.
  28. Redistribution Committee for New South Wales, op.cit., page 7
  29. Those who advocated renaming each of these electoral divisions are displayed in Table Q.