Media release: Proposed federal electoral divisions for NT released

The Redistribution Committee for the Northern Territory (NT) today published its report proposing new boundaries for the NT’s two federal electoral divisions of Lingiari and Solomon.

The Chair of the Committee and Electoral Commissioner, Tom Rogers said the redistribution was required under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (Electoral Act) as more than seven years had elapsed since a federal redistribution was last undertaken in the NT.

In making its proposal, the Redistribution Committee was required to consider enrolment numbers, public suggestions and comments, communities of interest, communication and transport links, geographic or constructed features able to be used as electoral boundaries and the current federal electoral boundaries.

The proposal will see:

• the entirety of the Litchfield Municipality located in the proposed Division of Lingiari
  • This will involve the transfer of the suburbs of Holtze, Knuckey Lagoon, Mickett Creek and part of Shoal Bay from the Division of Solomon to the proposed Division of Lingiari.
• parts of the Palmerston Municipality located in the proposed Division of Lingiari
  • This will involve the transfer of the suburbs of Farrar, Johnston, Mitchell, Zuccoli and part of Yarrawonga from the Division of Solomon to the proposed Division of Lingiari.

The proposed changes reflect faster population and enrolment growth trends in the Darwin City and Palmerston areas, as well taking into account the projected enrolment in both divisions through to a target date of 7 August 2020.

Mr Rogers said that the Committee faced a situation where by mid-2020 the enrolment totals for the two NT federal electoral divisions would differ to the extent that neither would meet the numerical rules and requirements under the Electoral Act. 

“The status quo cannot be maintained, because without boundary adjustment, electoral enrolment in the Division of Lingiari will become comparatively too small and in the Division of Solomon too large,” Mr Rogers said.

For further details, please see the full proposal report including factors considered by the NT Redistribution Committee and maps of the proposed electoral divisions.

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

Written objections must be lodged no later than 6pm ACST Friday 7 October 2016. The best way to lodge an objection is online. Objections can also be submitted via:

• Email: FedRedistribution-NT@aec.gov.au;
• In person: The Australian Electoral Commission (Att: Redistribution Secretariat),  Level 7, TCG Centre, 80 Mitchell Street, Darwin (business hours only)
• Mail: The Australian Electoral Commission (Att: Redistribution Secretariat), GPO Box 21, Darwin NT 0801 or
• Fax: (08) 6363 8016

All objections received by the deadline will be available for public inspection at Level 7, TCG Centre, 80 Mitchell Street, Darwin, NT and on the AEC website from Monday 10 October 2016.

Comments on the objections will then be accepted until 6pm ACST Friday 21 October 2016. All comments on objections received by the deadline will be available for public inspection at Level 7, TCG Centre, 80 Mitchell Street, Darwin, NT and on the AEC website from Monday 24 October 2016.

Editors’ notes:

• Further information about the redistribution process, including guidelines for making submissions

Proposed changes to federal electoral boundaries for the NT