REDISTRIBUTION OF STATES INTO ELECTORAL DIVISIONS
Statement by the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. William McMahon, CH, MP,
in the House of Renresentatives 23 September 1972
I desire to inform the House that as required by the
Representation Act 1905-1964, the Chief Electoral Officer has
ascertained the numbers of the people of the Commonwealth and the
numbers of the people of the several States consequent upon the taking
of the Census on 30 June 1971. Copies of the Chief Electoral Officer's
certificate specifying the said numbers have been tabled.
Pursuant to Sections 9 and 10 of the Representation Act, the
Chief Electoral Officer has determined the number of members of the
House of Representatiaves to be chosen for the several. States. As a
result of that determination the representation for Western Australia
will be increased by one member as from the first general election
held after that State has been redistributed into electoral divisions.
Section 25 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act provides as
follows-A re-distribution of any State into divisions
shall be made in the manner hereinbefore provided
whenever directed by the Governor-General by
proclamation. Such proclamation may be made
whenever an alteration is made in the number
of members of the House of Representatives
to be elected for the State; and
whenever in one-fourth of the divisions of
the State the number of the electors differs
from a quota ascertained in the manner provided
in this nart to a greater extent than
one-fifth more or one-fifth less; and
at such other times as the Governor-General
thinks fit.
It will be noted that Western Australia qualifies for a
redistribution under the provisions of Section
2.
The Chief Electoral Officer has advised the Government that
there is not now sufficient time to give effect to a redistribution
of any State before the forthcoming House of Representatives elections.
Nevertheless,-the Government believes that it has an obligation to
set in motion the machinery for a redistribution of Western Australia
so as to ensure that that State gains its entitlement of an extra
member from-the beginning of the 29th. Parliament. The Government
therefore proposes to recommend to the Governor-General the appointment
of distribution commissioners for Western Australia.
Although there has been some shift of population in the
other States, there is no requirement at ' present for a redistribution
in any State other than Western Australia and consideration in respect
of those States will be deferred for the time being.