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

Who will make the proposed redistribution of Western Australia?

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

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 Western Australia consider when making their proposed redistribution of Western Australia?

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

• Western Australia 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 Western Australia at a general election (sub-section 66(2) of the Electoral Act)
  • As Western Australia is entitled to 15 members of the House of Representatives, as determined by the Electoral Commissioner on Friday 3 July 2020, the Redistribution Committee will propose 15 electoral divisions for Western Australia.
• 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 AWST Friday 23 October 2020 and all written comments on suggestions received by 6pm AWST Friday 6 November 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 Western Australia 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 WA at the projection time of Sunday 2 February 2025 must be between 112,749 and 120,927.
• the number of electors enrolled in each federal electoral division in Western Australia 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 WA must be between 100,955 and 123,389.
• 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
  3. the physical features and area of the proposed federal electoral division, and
  4. the boundaries of existing federal electoral divisions in Western Australia, with this factor being subordinate to the consideration i to iii (paragraph 66(3)(b) and sub-section 66(3A) of the Electoral Act)