Redistribution (Australia)
Encyclopedia
The term redistribution is used in Australia to mean a redrawing of electoral boundaries
. It is equivalent to the term redistricting
in the United States
.
In the House of Representatives
each State and Territory
is divided into electoral divisions. The number of these divisions is determined by population. To ensure equal representation, the boundaries of these divisions have to be redrawn or redistributed periodically. A redistribution (or redrawing) of the geographic boundaries of these divisions takes place at least once every seven years to make sure that there is, as near as practicable, the same number of electors in each division within a State/Territory.
In deciding where the boundaries should be drawn, many factors are taken into consideration by the AEC.
A redistribution is necessary in three circumstances: when the number of parliamentary representatives to which a State or Territory is entitled has changed; the number of electors in more than one third of the divisions in a State or one of the divisions in the ACT or Northern Territory deviates from the average divisional enrolment by over 10% for a period of more than two months; or a period of 7 years has elapsed since the previous redistribution. However, a redistribution is postponed if it would begin within one year of the expiration of the House of Representatives to help prevent a general election from occurring during a redistribution.
A redistribution is undertaken by a committee consisting of the Electoral Commissioner, the Australian Electoral Officer for the State concerned (in the ACT, the senior Divisional Returning Officer), the State Surveyor-General and the State Auditor-General. As soon as possible after the redistribution process commences, the Electoral Commissioner invites public suggestions on the redistribution which must be lodged within 30 days. A further period of 14 days is allowed for comments on the suggestions lodged. The Redistribution Committee then divides the State or Territory into divisions and publishes its proposed redistribution. A period of 28 days is allowed after publication of the proposed redistribution for written objections. A further period of 14 days is provided for comments on the objections lodged. These objections are considered by an augmented Electoral Commission consisting of the four members of the Redistribution Committee and the two part-time members of the Electoral Commission. At the time of the redistribution the number of electors in the divisions may vary up to 10% from the 'quota' or average divisional figure but at a point 3.5 years after the expected completion of the redistribution, the figures should not vary from the average projected quota by more or less than 3.5%. Thus the most rapidly growing divisions are generally started with enrolments below the quota while those that are losing population are started above the quota.
The Parliament has no power to reject or amend the final determination of the augmented Electoral Commission.
and for the six state and two territorial legislatures are drawn up by independent authorities - at the federal level by the Australian Electoral Commission
(AEC) and in the states and territories by their equivalent bodies. Politicians have no influence over the process, although they, along with any other citizen or organization, can make submissions to the independent authorities suggesting changes.
Interference in the redistribution process by politicians, of the kind which is common in the United States
, would be a criminal offence in Australia. In 1977, federal Cabinet minister Reg Withers
was forced to resign for suggesting to another minister that the name of a federal electorate be changed to suit a political ally.
Boundary delimitation
Boundary delimitation, or simply delimitation, is the term used to describe the drawing of boundaries, but is most often used to describe the drawing of electoral boundaries, specifically those of precincts, states, counties or other municipalities...
. It is equivalent to the term redistricting
Redistricting
Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In the House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
each State and Territory
States and territories of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a union of six states and various territories. The Australian mainland is made up of five states and three territories, with the sixth state of Tasmania being made up of islands. In addition there are six island territories, known as external territories, and a...
is divided into electoral divisions. The number of these divisions is determined by population. To ensure equal representation, the boundaries of these divisions have to be redrawn or redistributed periodically. A redistribution (or redrawing) of the geographic boundaries of these divisions takes place at least once every seven years to make sure that there is, as near as practicable, the same number of electors in each division within a State/Territory.
In deciding where the boundaries should be drawn, many factors are taken into consideration by the AEC.
A redistribution is necessary in three circumstances: when the number of parliamentary representatives to which a State or Territory is entitled has changed; the number of electors in more than one third of the divisions in a State or one of the divisions in the ACT or Northern Territory deviates from the average divisional enrolment by over 10% for a period of more than two months; or a period of 7 years has elapsed since the previous redistribution. However, a redistribution is postponed if it would begin within one year of the expiration of the House of Representatives to help prevent a general election from occurring during a redistribution.
A redistribution is undertaken by a committee consisting of the Electoral Commissioner, the Australian Electoral Officer for the State concerned (in the ACT, the senior Divisional Returning Officer), the State Surveyor-General and the State Auditor-General. As soon as possible after the redistribution process commences, the Electoral Commissioner invites public suggestions on the redistribution which must be lodged within 30 days. A further period of 14 days is allowed for comments on the suggestions lodged. The Redistribution Committee then divides the State or Territory into divisions and publishes its proposed redistribution. A period of 28 days is allowed after publication of the proposed redistribution for written objections. A further period of 14 days is provided for comments on the objections lodged. These objections are considered by an augmented Electoral Commission consisting of the four members of the Redistribution Committee and the two part-time members of the Electoral Commission. At the time of the redistribution the number of electors in the divisions may vary up to 10% from the 'quota' or average divisional figure but at a point 3.5 years after the expected completion of the redistribution, the figures should not vary from the average projected quota by more or less than 3.5%. Thus the most rapidly growing divisions are generally started with enrolments below the quota while those that are losing population are started above the quota.
The Parliament has no power to reject or amend the final determination of the augmented Electoral Commission.
Management
Boundaries for the Australian House of RepresentativesAustralian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
and for the six state and two territorial legislatures are drawn up by independent authorities - at the federal level by the Australian Electoral Commission
Australian Electoral Commission
The Australian Electoral Commission, or the AEC, is the federal government agency in charge of organising and supervising federal elections and referendums. State and local government elections are overseen by the Electoral Commission in each state and territory.The Australian Electoral Commission...
(AEC) and in the states and territories by their equivalent bodies. Politicians have no influence over the process, although they, along with any other citizen or organization, can make submissions to the independent authorities suggesting changes.
Interference in the redistribution process by politicians, of the kind which is common in the United States
Gerrymandering
In the process of setting electoral districts, gerrymandering is a practice that attempts to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating geographic boundaries to create partisan, incumbent-protected districts...
, would be a criminal offence in Australia. In 1977, federal Cabinet minister Reg Withers
Reg Withers
Reginald Greive 'Reg' Withers is a former long-serving member of the Australian Senate, a former government minister, and former Lord Mayor of Perth....
was forced to resign for suggesting to another minister that the name of a federal electorate be changed to suit a political ally.
History of Redistributions
- For an electoral history of each Division since Federation in 1901, see Adam Carr's Electoral Archive: Index of House of Representatives Divisions 1901-2001