Commencement of the redistribution of federal electoral divisions in the Northern Territory

The redistribution of federal electoral divisions in the Northern Territory has commenced today.

Australian Electoral Commissioner, Tom Rogers, said the Northern Territory redistribution is occurring as more than seven years have elapsed since the last federal redistribution.

“A determination on 27 July 2023, based on published population figures, provided that the House of Representatives entitlement for the Northern Territory remains unchanged at two members,” Mr Rogers said.

An independent Redistribution Committee will be appointed to undertake the redistribution in the Northern Territory and the Committee will be supported by a small secretariat of staff from the AEC.

The redistribution process provides opportunities for individuals and organisations to propose where the electoral division boundaries could be located, or the name of an electoral division.

Members of the public will be invited to submit their suggestions about the redistribution. Guidelines are available to assist people or organisations interested in submitting their suggestions.

An indicative timetable for the federal redistribution process in the Northern Territory is available at https://www.aec.gov.au/Electorates/Redistributions/2024/nt/timetable.htm

Editor’s notes:

• The redistribution of the Northern Territory has not been affected by the recent ABS enrolment data projections error.
• A redistribution is a redrawing of electoral division boundaries to ensure that, as near as is practicable, there is a similar number of electors in each electoral division for a given state or territory.
• The Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 requires a redistribution of federal electoral boundaries to occur once seven years has elapsed since the last redistribution. As the previous federal redistribution of the Northern Territory was determined on 7 February 2017, a new redistribution must commence within thirty days – before 9 March 2024.
• Further Information about federal redistribution processes.
• The redistribution will not be affected by the Territory election to be held on 24 August 2024.