Who makes the proposed redistribution and what factors do they consider?

Who will make the proposed redistribution of Victoria?

The proposed redistribution will be made by the Redistribution Committee for Victoria.

Section 60 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (the Electoral Act) requires that for each redistribution of a state or territory, a Redistribution Committee for that state or territory will be appointed. The Electoral Act also specifies the membership of the Redistribution Committee for a state or territory will be the:

• Electoral Commissioner;
• Australian Electoral Officer for the state or territory (or in the case of the ACT – the senior Divisional Returning Officer for the ACT);
• Surveyor-General for the state or territory; and
• Auditor-General for the state or territory.

Provisions are made in the Electoral Act in the event that the Surveyor-General or Auditor-General is not available to serve as a member of a Redistribution Committee.

What factors will the Redistribution Committee for Victoria consider when making their proposed redistribution of Victoria?

The Electoral Act requires the Redistribution Committee for Victoria to comply with the following factors when making their proposed redistribution:

• Victoria is to be divided into the same number of federal electoral divisions as the number of members of the House of Representatives to be chosen in Victoria at a general election (sub-section 66(2) of the Electoral Act)
• As Victoria is entitled to 39 members of the House of Representatives, determined by the Electoral Commissioner on Friday 3 July 2020, the Redistribution Committee will propose 39 electoral divisions for Victoria.
• all suggestions and comments on suggestions received by the lodgement time (sub-section 64(4) of the Electoral Act)
  • All written suggestions received by 6pm AEDT Friday 16 October 2020 and all written comments on suggestions received by 6pm AEDT Friday 30 October 2020 will be considered by the Redistribution Committee in the development of their proposed redistribution.
• as far as practicable, the number of electors enrolled in each federal electoral division in Victoria at the projection time would not be more than plus 3.5 per cent or less than minus 3.5 per cent of the projected enrolment quota (paragraph 66(3)(a) of the Electoral Act)
  • As far as practicable, the number of electors enrolled in each federal electoral division in Victoria at the projection time of Sunday 26 January 2025 must be between 113,009 and 121,205.
• the number of electors enrolled in each federal electoral division in Victoria  would not be more than plus 10 per cent or less than minus 10 per cent of the current enrolment quota (sub-section 66(3) of the Electoral Act)
  • The number of electors enrolled in each federal electoral division in Victoria must be between 98,119 and 119,923.
• in relation to each proposed federal electoral division, give due consideration to:
  1. community of interests within the proposed federal electoral division, including economic, social and regional interests
  2. means of communication and travel within the proposed federal electoral division
  4. the physical features and area of the proposed federal electoral division, and
  5. the boundaries of existing federal electoral divisions in Victoria, with this factor being subordinate to the consideration i, ii and iv (paragraph 66(3)(b) and sub-section 66(3A) of the Electoral Act)