Proposed Redistribution of Queensland
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2006 PROPOSED REDISTRIBUTION OF QUEENSLAND INTO 29 ELECTORAL DIVISIONS REPORT OF THE REDISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE COMMONWEALTH ELECTORAL ACT 1918 SECTION 68 CONTENTS Reasons for the proposed redistribution of Queensland 1 Statistical summary: Determination of quota 31 Enrolment projections of existing Divisions 32 Summary of proposed Divisions 33 Summary of movement of electors between Divisions 34 General description of the manner in which each proposed Division 35 has been constituted. Description of each proposed division 36 (each commencing on a new page) Enclosures Four maps showing the proposed Electoral Divisions. Compact Disc containing Public Suggestions to the Redistribution Committee and Comments on the Suggestions. This report is published under Section 68 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918. Queensland Proposed Redistribution into Electoral Divisions 2006 REASONS FOR THE PROPOSED REDISTRIBUTION OF THE STATE OF QUEENSLAND Representation of Queensland in the House of Representatives 1. On 17 November 2005 the Electoral Commissioner made a determination of State and Territory representation entitlements under section 48(1) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918. Under the determination, Queensland is entitled to 29 Members of the House of Representatives, one more than its previous entitlement. Direction for a redistribution of Queensland electoral divisions 2. Section 59(2) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 provides that a redistribution shall be directed whenever a determination under section 48(1) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 results in an alteration of the number of members of the House of Representatives to be chosen in a State. Consequently, on 2 December 2005, the Australian Electoral Commission (the Electoral Commission) directed by notice published in the Gazette1, that a redistribution was to commence in Queensland. 3. At the end of 2 December 2005, the day determined by the Electoral Commission for the redistribution to begin, the number of electors enrolled for the State was 2 471 372 (refer Table 1). 4. Redistribution 2006 Statistics which show the electoral enrolment figures as at 2 December 2005 were made available on Compact Disc and on the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website. In addition, copies were printed upon request at all Queensland AEC offices. The statistics were given at the following levels: Census Collector District (CCD) Statistical Local Area (SLA) Electoral Division State Quota 5. Under Section 65(2) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, the Electoral Commissioner determined that the quota of electors for Queensland was 85 220 (2 471 372 divided by 29 Members). The permitted range of the margin of allowance of 10% below and above the quota would be 76 698 to 93 742 respectively. In making its proposal for Queensland, the Redistribution Committee is not permitted to propose electoral divisions that exceed those ranges. 1 Gazette S226 Friday 2 December 2005 1 Queensland Proposed Redistribution into Electoral Divisions 2006 Enrolment projections 6. Section 66(3)(a) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 requires the Committee to “…as far as practicable, endeavour to ensure that, if the State or Territory were redistributed in accordance with the proposed redistribution, the number of electors enrolled in each Electoral Division in the State or Territory would not, at the projection time determined under Section 63A, be less than 96.5% or more than 103.5% of the average divisional enrolment of that State or Territory at that time…”. 7. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) supplied enrolment projections to the AEC using AEC enrolment data as the base and a cohort-component method to project the enrolment of each Census Collector District (CCD) to 30 November 2007. The Electoral Commission determined a projection date that is one year, being 30 November 2007, after the expected determination of the redistribution, being 30 November 2006 (refer Table 2). The Electoral Commission determined the shorter projection time because it believed the trend of population change indicates that Queensland is likely to gain an entitlement to a further electoral division at the next entitlement determination, expected in November 2008. Such a gain will necessitate a further redistribution to accommodate a 30th electoral division for Queensland at that time. Otherwise, the projection time would have been 30 May 2010. 8. Divisional Returning Officers (DROs) of the AEC examined the ABS projections in the light of their local knowledge and experience, and where appropriate, substituted their own projections2. DROs made use of information supplied by relevant Local Authority planning and statistical groups, as well as their own resources in undertaking this task. The Australian Electoral Officer for Queensland also reviewed the projections. 9. The projections were made available on Compact Disc and on the AEC website as an aid to persons and organisations interested in using them to assist with the preparation of Suggestions or Comments on Suggestions. In addition, copies were printed upon request at all Queensland AEC offices. 10. The projected total enrolment for Queensland at 30 November 2007 is 2 598 034. The average enrolment of twenty-nine divisions at that time is 89 587. The 3.5% tolerance below and above that average, results in 86 452 and 92 722 being the lower and upper range of electors for all proposed electoral divisions (refer Table 2). Appointment of the Redistribution Committee for Queensland 11. In accordance with Section 60 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, the Electoral Commission appointed the Redistribution Committee for Queensland on 14 March 2006. 2 As noted in the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters report “Report on the Effectiveness and Appropriateness of the Redistribution Provisions of Parts III and IV of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (December 1995) 2 Queensland Proposed Redistribution into Electoral Divisions 2006 12. The Redistribution Committee (the Committee) consists of the following members: Electoral Commissioner Mr Ian Campbell Australian Electoral Officer Ms Anne Bright for Queensland Director General Mr Bob McCarthy * Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water Auditor-General of Queensland Mr Glenn Poole *Note: Mr McCarthy’s role includes that of Surveyor-General for Queensland 13. Three Members of the Committee met to discuss preliminary matters on 21 March 2006. Mr Poole was unable to be at that meeting owing to commitments overseas. Formal meetings of the Committee were held on 20 & 21 April, 9 May and 26 May 2006. Invitation to submit Suggestions and Comments 14. In accordance with Section 64 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, the Electoral Commissioner invited written Suggestions and written Comments on those Suggestions by notice published in the Gazette3, and in The Courier Mail and The Sunday Mail newspapers on 4 February 2006 and 5 February 2006 respectively. 15. At the stipulated closing time on 3 March 2006, Suggestions had been received from: Mr Marcus Ringuet Aramac Shire Council Mundubbera Shire Council Kolan Shire Council The Hon Bob Katter MP, Member for Kennedy Fiona Simpson MP, Member for Maroochydore Mr Bob Irwin Liberal Party of Australia - Qld Division Mr William A Green Australian Labor Party – Qld Branch The Nationals – Queensland 16. In accordance with the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, Comments on those Suggestions closed on 17 March 2006. At that date Comments were received from: The Hon Bruce Scott MP, Member for Maranoa Mr Cameron Thompson MP, Member for Blair Ms Anne Jones 3 Gazette S20 Wednesday 1 February 2006 3 Queensland Proposed Redistribution into Electoral Divisions 2006 Mr D C Fraser Wambo Shire Council Mr MG & Mrs LA Hull The Hon Peter Slipper MP, Member for Fisher Ms Rae Norris Ms Judith Timms Caboolture Shire Council Mr Stephen A Gapsa The Helidon Sandstone Association Inc The Nationals The Greens (The Greens) Liberal Party of Australia – Qld Division (The Liberal Party) Petition to keep Stafford as part of the electorate of Brisbane Ms Alison Ezzy, Mr Brendon Russell et al The Hon Arch Bevis MP, Member for Brisbane Flinders Shire Council Mr Darryl Rosin Australian Labor Party – Queensland Branch (The ALP) Gatton Shire Council Mr C W & Mrs J B Sallows Mr G & Mrs A Jones Ms E McCann Ipswich & Regional Area Consultative Committee Inc 17. A further ten Comments on Suggestions were received at various dates after the official closing time. Statutory requirements for the making of a proposed redistribution 18. Section 66(1) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 requires the Redistribution Committee for Queensland to make a proposed redistribution of the State. 19. Sections 66(3) and 66(3A) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 prescribe that: (3) In making the proposed redistribution, the Redistribution Committee: (a) shall, as far as practicable, endeavour to ensure that, if the State or Territory were redistributed in accordance with the proposed redistribution, the number of electors enrolled in each Electoral Division in the State or Territory would not, at the projection time determined under Section 63A, be less than 96.5% or more than 103.5% of the average divisional enrolment of that State or Territory at that time; and (b)subject to paragraph (a), shall give due consideration, in relation to each proposed Electoral Division, to: (i) community of interests within the proposed Electoral Division, including economic, social and regional interests; (ii) means