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

The Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (Electoral Act) outlines the required processes for redistributions.

Who will make the final redistribution of the Australian Capital Territory?

The final redistribution will be made by the augmented Electoral Commission for the Australian Capital Territory.

For each redistribution of a state or territory, the Electoral Act (section 70) requires the establishment of an augmented Electoral Commission for that state or territory. The Electoral Act also specifies the membership of the augmented Electoral Commission will be:

• the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission
• the non-judicial member of the Electoral Commission
• the members of the Redistribution Committee for the Australian Capital Territory.

The names of members will be published when the augmented Electoral Commission for the Australian Capital Territory is constituted.

What is the augmented Electoral Commission for the Australian Capital Territory responsible for?

The augmented Electoral Commission for the Australian Capital Territory is responsible for:

• considering all feedback to the Redistribution Committee’s proposed redistribution and all ideas and feedback received within the specified timeframes
• developing a proposed redistribution of the Australian Capital Territory
• conducting an inquiry into ideas, if required
• determining the final names and boundaries of electorates in the Australian Capital Territory
• making public the reasons for its final determination.

What factors will the augmented Electoral Commission for the Australian Capital Territory consider when making their redistribution of the Australian Capital Territory?

The Electoral Act requires the augmented Electoral Commission for the Australian Capital Territory to comply with the following factors when making its redistribution:

• the Australian Capital Territory is to be divided into the same number of federal electorates as the number of members of the House of Representatives to be chosen in the Australian Capital Territory at a general election (sub-section 73(3) of the Electoral Act)
  • the Australian Capital Territory is entitled to the three members of the House of Representatives, as determined by the Electoral Commissioner on Thursday 27 July 2023. The augmented Electoral Commission will therefore propose three electorates for the Australian Capital Territory.
• consideration of all ideas and feedback on ideas received by the lodgement time (sub-section 72(1) of the Electoral Act)
• as far as practicable, the number of electors enrolled in each federal electorate in the Australian Capital Territory 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 73(4)(a) of the Electoral Act)
• the number of electors enrolled in each federal electorate in the Australian Capital Territory would not be more than plus 10 per cent, or less than minus 10 per cent, of the redistribution quota (sub-section 73(4) of the Electoral Act)
• in relation to each proposed federal electorate, give due consideration to:
1. community of interests within the proposed federal electorate, including economic, social and regional interests
2. means of communication and travel within the proposed federal electorate
4. the physical features and area of the proposed federal electorate, and
5. the boundaries of existing federal electorates in the Australian Capital Territory, with this factor being subordinate to the consideration of i, ii and iv (paragraph 73(4)(b) and sub-section 73(4A) of the Electoral Act).

Note: Previous amendments to the Electoral Act have removed sub-paragraph 73(4)(b)(iii).