2007 Redistribution

Updated 6 Jan 2015

The Electoral Act 1992 requires a redistribution of electoral boundaries to be conducted before each general election for the ACT Legislative Assembly. On 31 May 2007 the ACT Redistribution Committee published its proposed boundaries for the 2008 election. The Committee proposed transferring the Woden Valley suburb of Farrer from the electorate of Molonglo to the electorate of Brindabella, and transferring the Gungahlin suburb of Palmerston from Molonglo to the electorate of Ginninderra.

After the conclusion of the objection period, a public hearing was held to further discuss the possible alterations to the electoral boundaries. After considering the objections the Augmented Electoral Commission proposed transferring only the Woden Valley suburb of Farrer from the electorate of Molonglo to the electorate of Brindabella and leaving the electorate of Ginninderra unchanged.

A new objection period commenced on 26 July 2007. By the conclusion of the objection period on 23 August 2007, the Augmented ACT Electoral Commission had received four written objections.

After considering the objections the Augmented ACT Electoral Commission decided to alter the existing electoral boundaries by transferring the suburb of Farrer from the electorate of Molonglo to the electorate of Brindabella. This change has been made to ensure that each of the ACT's three electorates will be within 5% of the enrolment quota at the time of the 2008 election. The electorate of Ginninderra has not been changed.

The redistribution of electoral boundaries was formally completed by notification of an official instrument on 11 September 2007. A formal report was tabled in the ACT Legislative Assembly on  16 October 2007.

Summary of the 2007 redistribution process

The redistribution process commences 2 years before each ACT Legislative Assembly election. The first step in the process is the appointment, by the ACT Electoral Commission, of a Redistribution Committee consisting of the Electoral Commissioner, the ACT Planning and Land Authority, the ACT Commissioner for Surveys and a fourth member. In preparation for the 2008 election, a Redistribution Committee was formed on 12 December 2006, with the appointment of the ACT Regional Director of the Australian Bureau of Statistics as the fourth member. Written suggestions and written comments on suggestions were invited on 8 February 2007. Five suggestions were received by the Redistribution Committee with two further public comments received in response to the initial suggestions. Written objections to the Redistribution Committee's proposal were then invited on 31 May 2007. Eight written objections were received.

The Augmented ACT Electoral Commission, consisting of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, the Electoral Commission's member and the members of the Redistribution Committee was established. A public hearing was conducted by the Augmented ACT Electoral Commission to discuss these objections and a new proposal agreed upon. Objections to this new proposal were called on 26 July 2007. By the closing date of 23 August 2007 four objections were received. The Augmented ACT Electoral Commission considered these objections and decided not to uphold the objections.

On 11 September 2007 an instrument setting out the Augmented ACT Electoral Commission final determination was notified in the ACT Legislation Register.

All public suggestions, comments and objections are available for inspection at the ACT Electoral Commission office and on the webpage below.

2007 Redistribution

2007 Redistribution Augmented Commission's Final determination

2007 Redistribution Augmented Electoral Commission's Proposed Report

2007 Redistribution Committee's Proposed Report

2007 Redistribution Public submissions

Suggestions

Comments

Objections

Public objections to Augmented Electoral Commission's proposal

2007 Redistribution Statistics

2007 Redistribution Timetable

Formation of Redistribution Committee 12 December 2006
Suggestions period opens 8 February 2007
Suggestions period closes 8 March 2007
Comments period opens 9 March 2007
Comments period closes 22 March 2007
Proposed Redistribution by the Redistribution Committee published 31 May 2007
Objections period closed 28 June 2007
Public hearing into objections 10 am - 12pm, 18 July 2007
Proposed Redistribution by the Augmented Electoral Commission published 26 July 2007
Objections period closes for second proposal 23 August 2007
Announcement of final redistribution 11 September 2007
Determination of redistribution 10 September 2007
Report submitted to Minister 28 September 2007
Report tabled in the Legislative Assembly 16 October 2007