A public hearing to consider an objection to the proposed ACT Legislative Assembly electoral boundaries will be held by the Augmented ACT Electoral Commission (The Commission) on Thursday, 17 August 2023.

The ACT Redistribution Committee (the Committee) published a proposed redistribution of the ACT on 12 May 2023 and invited objections to the proposal by 9 June 2023. The Committee proposed transferring the Canberra Central District suburbs of Forrest and Red Hill from the electorate of Kurrajong to the electorate of Murrumbidgee. The Committee also proposed that the part of the suburb of Kambah east of Drakeford Drive be transferred from Murrumbidgee into the electorate of Brindabella.

Five objections to the proposed redistribution were received and made available for public viewing on the Electoral Commission’s website on 13 June 2023.

The Electoral Act requires that the Commission hold a public hearing into an objection if the objection raises matters that were not raised in suggestions or comments given to the Redistribution Committee during earlier redistribution proceedings.

The Commission concluded that four of the five objections only raised matters (or substantially the same matters) that were raised in the public suggestions and comments given to the Redistribution Committee, and therefore did not require a public hearing.

“The objection submitted by Ms Susanne Tongue raised matters not previously raised in the public suggestions and comments given to the Committee, necessitating a public hearing into Ms Tongue’s objection”, the Chair of the Augmented Electoral Commission, Mr David Kalisch, said today.

Ms Tongue objected to the proposal to transfer Forrest and Red Hill from Kurrajong to Murrumbidgee.

The public hearing will be held in the Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMAG) Theatrette, 176 London Circuit, Canberra City on Thursday 17 August 2023 commencing at 2:00 pm.

As determined by the Commission in accordance with section 49 of the Electoral Act 1992, at the public hearing, submissions to the Commission may only be made in relation to the objection submitted by Ms Tongue, and may only be made —

1. by or on behalf of a person who made—
   1. an objection to the Redistribution Committee’s proposal; or
   2. a suggestion or comment about the electoral boundaries given to the Redistribution Committee; or
2. by a person making a submission in relation to an objection.

Participants wishing to appear must register with Elections ACT by 2pm, Wednesday 16 August 2023. To register contact Elections ACT by phone or email. Participants will be given a maximum of 15 minutes to present to the Commission. Virtual or remote attendance by those making submissions and other members of the community will be available.

Details regarding the public hearing will also be published in the Canberra Times on Monday, 7 August 2023.

Information regarding attendance at the hearing, the redistribution process, copies of submissions, enrolment numbers, future enrolment projections, maps of existing boundaries and the Redistribution Committee’s proposed boundaries may be obtained by visiting the Elections ACT’s website at:  www.elections.act.gov.au

The Augmented Electoral Commission for the Australian Capital Territory consists of the Electoral Commission’s Chairperson, David Kalisch, the Electoral Commissioner, Damian Cantwell AM CSC; the Electoral Commission’s Member, Ed Killesteyn PSM, the planning and land authority, Ben Ponton, the ACT Surveyor-General, Greg Ledwidge and the Director of Demography, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Beidar Cho.