Note: * indicates electoral division which, on the boundaries in place at the start of the redistribution, met the numerical requirements of the Electoral Act. Changes were proposed to the boundaries of these electoral divisions as a consequence of changes proposed to the boundaries of adjoining electoral divisions.

Detailed information about the make-up of the Redistribution Committee’s proposed electoral divisions can be found in Chapter 2 and Appendix M of the Redistribution Committee’s report of May 2024.

Maps of the Redistribution Committee’s proposed electoral divisions are also available.

Augmented Electoral Commission's conclusion on objections

An overview of the augmented Electoral Commission's conclusions on the majority of issues raised in objections to the proposed redistribution is presented on this page. A number of objections were unable to be implemented by the augmented Electoral Commission because of the requirement that the number of electors in the 16 electoral divisions in Western Australia meet the two numerical requirements of the Electoral Act.

Objections and comments on objections which have not been discussed below will be discussed in the augmented Electoral Commission’s report when it is released. 

This section presents:

• the augmented Electoral Commission's conclusions on objections relating to the names of electoral divisions, and
• the augmented Electoral Commission's conclusions on objections relating to the placement of electoral divisions and divisional boundaries.

Augmented Electoral Commission's conclusions on objections relating to the names of electoral divisions

Objections discussed in this section concern the:

• name of the proposed Division of Bullwinkel.

The name of the proposed Division of Bullwinkel

Objections referring to this matter: More than 25 objections concerned with the name of this proposed electoral division were received. These will be listed individually in the augmented Electoral Commission’s report when it is published.

Comments on objections referring to this matter: COB1 – Benjamin Close, COB2 – Rosemary Stewart, COB3 – Dr D H Stewart, COB4 – Natalie Marino, COB5 – Daniel Ross, COB6 – James Stewart, COB8 – John Lyon, COB9 – Dorothy Deacon, COB10 – Leon Hamilton, COB11 – Darren McSweeney, COB12 – Allan Henshaw, COB13 – Hon Mia Davies MLA, COB14 – Liberal Party of Australia (W.A. Division), COB15 – Angela Boulter

Redistribution Committee’s proposed redistribution: More than 20 different names for the new electoral division were advocated in suggestions to the redistribution and comments on suggestions. While acknowledging the merit of these names and the contribution to Australian society of those individuals who had been advocated, the Redistribution Committee noted there would be benefits in considering a wider range of potential names, including those of prominent women.

After considering an additional 16 potential names for the new electoral division, the Redistribution Committee proposed to name the new electoral division ‘Bullwinkel’ in honour of Vivian Statham (née Bullwinkel) AO MBE ARRC ED FNM FRCNA (1915–2000). The Redistribution Committee was of the view that naming an electoral division after Vivian Bullwinkel recognised her work to:

• move Australian nursing education from hospitals to universities,
• honour military personnel, especially nurses, and the victims of war crimes,
• commemorate those who died when the Vyner Brooke sunk or were subsequently killed on Bangka Island, returning to the Island in 1993 for the unveiling of a memorial honouring all 65 nurses on the Vyner Brooke, and unveiling the Nurses Memorial at Point Walter in Western Australia in 1999, and
• highlight the treatment of prisoners of war during World War II.

The Redistribution Committee recognised Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel’s important connection to Western Australia formed during her 23-year residence in the state. During this time she was active in the military community, the Returned Services League of WA and other returned services organisations and numerous charities. Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel made many speeches at nursing events, military functions and schools.

The Redistribution Committee further observed that naming an electoral division after Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel recognised her dedication to honouring victims of war crimes and her service to nursing and the community, in both her civilian and military service. This electoral division name also honours the contribution of military medical personnel and recognises those who were prisoners of war.

Ideas in objections and comments on objections: A small number of objections to the proposed redistribution, comments on objections and submissions to the inquiry supported the Redistribution Committee’s proposal to name the new electoral division to recognise Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel.

A substantial proportion of objections to the redistribution, comments on objections and submissions to the inquiry argued that while Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel was a notable individual, the new electoral division should not be named to recognise:

• a person who was not a Western Australian but an ‘eastern stater’,
• a person who relocated to Perth only in her later life,
• a person without any connection to the new electoral division,
• an Army officer, or
• someone whose contributions had been overstated.

A number of objections to the proposed redistribution and comments on objections argued that ‘Bullwinkel’ should be used as the name of an electoral division in a state other than Western Australia on the basis that she was not born in Western Australia and only spent 23 years of her life as a resident in the state.

Several names were offered as an alternative to the name ‘Bullwinkel’ should the augmented Electoral Commission decide against using this name.

Augmented Electoral Commission's conclusions: The augmented Electoral Commission noted the commendable contributions of the alternative individuals advocated for in objections and comments on objections. In particular, the focus on female nursing and other medical professionals who served during the Second World War highlights the under-representation of this group among those who are generally recognised and honoured.

In noting the views expressed by those arguing for an alternative name for the new electoral division, the augmented Electoral Commission observed:

• naming the new electoral division ‘Bullwinkel’ would be consistent with the naming guidelines for federal electoral divisions,
• the primary consideration in these guidelines is the extent of a person’s contribution to the country as a whole,
• there is no requirement in the naming guidelines that a person have a connection with the area covered by the electoral division named in their honour, and
• in any event, a connection between an electoral division name and the electoral division itself may change over time, as boundaries shift over the course of redistributions.

The augmented Electoral Commission considers the name ‘Bullwinkel’ represents not only Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel, but also the 21 Australian nurses who died on Radji Beach on Bangka Island, including the four Western Australian nurses, Sister Gp1 Alma May Beard, Sister Gp1 Peggy Everett Farmaner, Sister Gp1 Minnie Ivy Hodgson and Sister Bessie Wilmott.

The augmented Electoral Commission concluded that:

• the Redistribution Committee's proposal was sound and follows the naming guidelines for federal electoral divisions, and
• for these reasons, the Redistribution Committee's proposal should stand unchanged.

The augmented Electoral Commission proposes the electoral division will be known as the Division of Bullwinkel.

Augmented Electoral Commission's conclusions on objections relating to the placement of electoral divisions and divisional boundaries

Objections discussed in this section concern the:

• boundaries of the proposed Division of Bullwinkel,
• boundary between the proposed Division of Cowan and proposed Division of Hasluck,
• boundary of the proposed Division of Fremantle and proposed Division of Tangney,
• electoral division in which the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup is located, and
• electoral division in which the Shire of Waroona is located.

The boundaries of the proposed Division of Bullwinkel

Objections referring to this matter: OB1 – Benjamin Close, OB3 – Leon Shinkai, OB4 – Benjamin Close, OB7 – Connie Saffioti, OB9 – Nick, OB30 – Darren McSweeney, OB36 – WA Labor, OB42 – Anonymous 2
Comments on objections referring to this matter: COB11 – Darren McSweeney, COB14 – Liberal Party of Australia (W.A. Division)

Redistribution Committee’s proposed redistribution: The Redistribution Committee proposed creating the new electoral division to the east of Perth, specifically around the Perth Hills and expanding east to include several semi-rural local government areas. The new electoral division incorporates electors from:

• the rural local government areas of the Shire of Beverley, Shire of Northam, Shire of Toodyay, and Shire of York, and
• the eastern areas of the City of Armadale, City of Gosnells, City of Kalamunda, Shire of Mundaring and City of Swan.

The Redistribution Committee considered creating a new electoral division in the outer eastern suburbs of Perth reflected the significant growth in the outer suburban areas of the Perth metropolitan area and relatively even population growth to the north and south of the Swan River, together with the strong communities of interests among the Perth hills communities.

Ideas in objections and comments on objections: A number of objections supported the Redistribution Committee’s proposal to create a new electoral division in the outer eastern Perth suburbs and the inclusion of semi-rural local government areas. Other objections agreed with the proposal, however, with variations as to which of the semi-rural areas were included.

Some objections and comments on objections to the proposed redistribution, argued that the new division should be contained only within the Perth metropolitan area, excluding the Shires of Beverley, Northam, Toodyay and York on communities of interests considerations.

Augmented Electoral Commission's conclusions: The augmented Electoral Commission supported the co-location in one electoral division of the four geographically large and semi-rural Shires of Beverley, Northam, Toodyay and York due to their shared communities of interests.

The augmented Electoral Commission concluded that:

• the Redistribution Committee's proposal was sound,
• the inclusion of one or more of the semi-rural shires in a different electoral division would require large compensating changes to a number of electoral divisions which would have similarly strong claims regarding the electoral division they should be placed in,
• any alternatives proposed or other adjustments necessary to accommodate these changes within the requirements of the Electoral Act would not result in an improved outcome at this time and would have significant consequential effects on the rest of the redistribution, and
• for these reasons, the Redistribution Committee's proposal should stand unchanged.

The Shires of Beverley, Northam, Toodyay and York will be located in the proposed Division of Bullwinkel.

The boundary between the proposed Division of Cowan and proposed Division of Hasluck

Objections referring to this matter: OB1 – Benjamin Close, OB3 – Leon Shinkai, OB30 – Darren McSweeney

Comments on objections referring to this matter: COB14 – Liberal Party of Australia (W.A. Division)

Redistribution Committee’s proposed redistribution: The Redistribution Committee proposed changes to the boundary between the Divisions of Cowan and Hasluck, moving the boundary further west to transfer the suburbs of Beechboro, Kiara, Lockridge, Malaga, Morley (part) and Noranda. This change assisted the Division of Hasluck in meeting the numerical requirements of the Electoral Act, which was required to transfer a significant number of electors to the new electoral division.

Ideas in objections and comments on objections: Several objections and comments on objections noted that the suburb of Malaga contained a minimal number of electors and retaining it within the proposed Division of Cowan enabled a stronger boundary to be formed using the Reid Highway.

Augmented Electoral Commission's conclusions: The augmented Electoral Commission noted that this change could be accommodated within the two numerical requirements of the Electoral Act. As this change would provide strong and identifiable electoral division boundaries through the use of the Reid Highway, the augmented Electoral Commission concluded the Redistribution Committee’s proposal could be improved by placing:

• in the proposed Division of Cowan:
• the suburb of Malaga

The boundary between the proposed Division of Fremantle and proposed Division of Tangney

Objections referring to this matter: OB1 – Benjamin Close, OB3 – Leon Shinkai, OB32 – Liberal Party of Australia (W.A. Division), OB40 – Cr Jennifer Spanbroek

Comments on objections referring to this matter: COB11 – Darren McSweeney, COB14 – Liberal Party of Australia (W.A. Division)

Redistribution Committee’s proposed redistribution: On the boundaries in place at the start of the redistribution, both of the Divisions of Fremantle and Tangney were required to transfer electors to other electoral divisions to ensure the two numerical requirements of the Electoral Act would be met.

The Redistribution Committee proposed changes to the boundary between the Division of Fremantle and the Division of Tangney to reduce the number of electoral divisions the City of Melville was split across. This involved including the suburb of Kardinya within the proposed Division of Tangney and splitting the suburb of Leeming between the proposed Division of Tangney and the proposed Division of Fremantle, to run along the current local government area boundary.

Ideas in objections and comments on objections: Several objections and comments on objections observed that, due to historic issues with the location of the local government area boundary, the proposed boundary resulted in a small part of the suburb of Leeming being geographically cut off from the rest of the proposed Division of Fremantle by the Roe Highway. It was argued that this part of the suburb of Leeming could be retained in the proposed Division of Tangney if a small portion of the suburb of Kardinya south of South Street and west of North Lake Road was retained in the proposed Division of Fremantle.

Augmented Electoral Commission's conclusions: The augmented Electoral Commission noted that these changes could be accommodated within the two numerical requirements of the Electoral Act. Further, these changes would better reflect communities of interest and would enable the use of roads to provide more readily identifiable boundaries than many of the locality and/or local government area boundaries in this part of Perth.

The augmented Electoral Commission concluded the Redistribution Committee’s proposal could be improved by placing:

• in the proposed Division of Fremantle:
• that part of the suburb of Kardinya located to the south of South Street and west of North Lake Road
• in the proposed Division of Tangney:
• that part of the suburb of Leeming located to the north of the Roe Highway

The electoral division in which the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup is located

Objections referring to this matter: OB1 – Benjamin Close, OB3 – Leon Shinkai, OB4 – Benjamin Close, OB6 – Wendy Trow, OB11 – Karyn Connor, OB12 – Balingup Progress Association, OB16 – Anonymous 1, OB28 – Iain Massey, OB30 – Darren McSweeney, OB33 – Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup and OB42 – Anonymous 2.

Comments on objections referring to this matter: COB1 – Benjamin Close, COB11 – Darren McSweeney, COB14 – Liberal Party of Australia (W.A. Division).

Redistribution Committee’s proposed redistribution: The Redistribution Committee proposed moving the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup from the Division of Forrest to the proposed Division of O’Connor. This change was proposed to enable the proposed Division of O’Connor to meet the numerical requirements of the Electoral Act. With the requirement to create a new electoral division, the Redistribution Committee was required to make a series of consequential changes to other electoral divisions, including the Division of O’Connor, to ensure that all proposed electoral divisions in Western Australia would meet the two numerical requirements of the Electoral Act.

Ideas in objections and comments on objections: While there was some support for the Redistribution Committee’s proposal, several objections to the proposed redistribution argued that the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup should be retained in the Division of Forrest. These objections were based on arguments about communities of interests, specifically whether the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup shared economic and social communities of interest with the Division of Forrest or the Division of O’Connor.

Augmented Electoral Commission's conclusions: The augmented Electoral Commission noted that due to required changes in other parts of the State, retaining the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup within the Division of Forrest could not be accommodated within the two numerical requirements of the Electoral Act without significant change to the proposal.

The augmented Electoral Commission concluded that:

• the Redistribution Committee's proposal was sound,
• the inclusion of the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup in a different electoral division would require large compensating changes to a number of electoral divisions which would have similarly strong claims regarding the electoral division they should be placed in,
• any alternatives proposed or other adjustments necessary to accommodate these changes within the requirements of the Electoral Act would not result in an improved outcome at this time and would have significant consequential effects on the rest of the redistribution, and
• for these reasons, the Redistribution Committee's proposal should stand unchanged.

The Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup will be located in the proposed Division of O’Connor.

The electoral division in which the Shire of Waroona is located

Objections referring to this matter: OB1 – Benjamin Close, OB3 – Leon Shinkai, OB4 – Benjamin Close, OB31 – Shire of Waroona, OB42 – Anonymous 2

Comments on objections referring to this matter: COB11 – Darren McSweeney, COB14 – Liberal Party of Australia (W.A. Division)

Redistribution Committee’s proposed redistribution: The Redistribution Committee proposed moving the Shire of Waroona from the Division of Canning to the proposed Division of Forrest due to consequential boundary changes required to ensure all electoral divisions in Western Australia met the two numerical requirements of the Electoral Act following the creation of the new division.

Ideas in objections and comments on objections: Arguments were made in objections that the Shire of Waroona should remain in the Division of Canning based on communities of interests links, specifically those shared with other shires responsible for the management of the Peel-Harvey Estuary.

Augmented Electoral Commission's conclusions: The augmented Electoral Commission acknowledged the arguments made with respect to the shared communities of interests.

The augmented Electoral Commission noted that:

• retaining the Shire of Waroona in the Division of Canning could be accommodated within the numerical requirements of the Electoral Act without making adjustments to any other proposed electoral divisions, and
• retaining the Shire of Waroona in the Division of Canning would minimise elector movement.

The augmented Electoral Commission concluded the Redistribution Committee’s proposal could be improved by retaining:

• in the proposed Division of Canning:
• the Shire of Waroona.