COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
SPEECH BY
The Rt Hon. W. MeMAHON, M. P.
Prime Minister
ON
Redistribution of States into Electoral Divisions
Ministerial Statement
[ From the ' Parliamentary Debates', 28 September 1972]
Mr McMAHON ( Lowe-Prime Minister)
-by leave-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 30th 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
Representatives 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 aftcr
that State has been redistributed into
electoral divisions. Section 25 of the Commonwealth
Electoral Act provides:
25( 1.) 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 madewhenever
an alteration is made in the number
of members of the House of Representatives
to be elected for the State; and
20374172 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 part to a greater extent
than one-filth 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 25
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 appointmeint
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. W. G. MuRRAy, Government Printer, Canberra