Proposed federal electoral divisions for WA released

The Redistribution Committee for Western Australia today published its report proposing names and boundaries for the state’s federal electoral divisions.

The Chair of the Committee and Electoral Commissioner, Tom Rogers, said the WA redistribution was required to enable a decrease from 16 to 15 federal electoral divisions.

“Under the proposal some significant changes would occur, with the boundaries of WA divisions being amended to accommodate the decrease,” Mr Rogers said.

“Fifteen of the existing 16 division names would be retained.

“The Division of Stirling would be abolished and the basis for naming the Division of Canning would be expanded to acknowledge Sadie Miriam Canning – in recognition of her work to improve Indigenous and rural healthcare in Western Australia.”

Proposed boundaries

Mr Rogers said the Committee had been faced with a situation where a WA division had to be abolished and, as a consequence, 11 of the existing 16 divisions were outside the permissible numerical requirements.

The proposal would see:

• the adjustment of the regional Divisions of Durack and O’Connor, both of which need to gain electors

• the transfer of electors in 15 Wheatbelt shires from Durack to O’Connor, and the transfer of six Wheatbelt shires from the existing Division of Pearce to the Divisions of Durack and O’Connor, resulting in all WA Wheatbelt shires being included in two divisions (not three as currently)

• the abolition of the Division of Stirling and transfer of electors to the surrounding Divisions of Cowan, Curtin, Moore and Perth

• the uniting of the northern Perth suburbs of Girrawheen, Koondoola, Balga and Mirrabooka in the proposed Division of Cowan.

Sadie Miriam Canning

Sadie Canning was Western Australia’s, and possibly Australia’s, first Indigenous nurse and matron. As Indigenous women were barred from nurse training in WA, at the age of 19 she travelled to Melbourne to undertake training before returning to work in her home state. Following appointment to the position of Sister at the Leonora District Hospital in 1956, Sadie Canning was subsequently promoted to the position of Matron in 1958. By the end of her first year as Matron, full integration of patients had been achieved.

In her retirement, Sadie Canning served as a member of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and the WA State Reconciliation Committee, and on the board of the Australian Children’s Trust. She was also a patron of the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and a consultant to the Aboriginal Affairs Department in WA.

Objections

The consultative nature of the redistribution process continues, with individuals and organisations now able to lodge objections to the Committee’s proposed divisions.

Written objections must be lodged no later than 6pm (AWST) on Friday 16 April 2021. The best way to lodge an objection is online. Objections can also be submitted via:

• Email – FedRedistribution-WA@aec.gov.au
• Post – Australian Electoral Commission (Att: WA Redistribution Secretariat), Locked Bag 4007, Canberra ACT 2601
• Fax – 02 6293 7658.

All objections received by the deadline will be available for public inspection on the AEC website and at Level 13, 200 St Georges Terrace, Perth, from Monday 19 April 2021.

Comments on the objections will then be accepted until 6pm (AWST) on Friday 30 April 2021. All comments on objections received by the deadline will also be made available for public inspection from Monday 3 May 2021.

Editor’s notes:

• For further details, including the factors considered by the Redistribution Committee for WA, see the full redistribution proposal report and maps of the proposed electoral divisions
• The proposed electorates for the Victorian federal redistribution are also being released today
• Further information about the redistribution process
• Guidance on making submissions.