Liberal Party argues proposed changes to electoral boundaries go too far
A new boundary redraw could move one in five voters and boost Labor’s chances of winning the next State Election. And now the Liberals have responded.
SA News
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The Liberals have asked the state’s boundary commission to rejig its to planned overhaul of state electorates arguing the changes split a number of communities and create unnecessary confusion.
Last month the Electoral Districts Boundaries Commission released a draft redistribution report that outlines changes it believes should be made before the next election including shifting one in five voters to new electorates.
The plan also gave Labor’s bid to make Steven Marshall a one-term Premier has been given a slight boost with a 1.9 per cent swing to the Opposition could see them win enough seats to form government.
The plan does not shift the fact that if everyone was to vote exactly as they did in the 2018 election the Liberals would still win.
However, in a new 30-page submission to the Commission, from Liberal Party State Director Sascha Meldrum, the party has argued the changes “go too far”.
Ms Meldrum said that the legislation underpinning changes requires the Commission “to have regard as far as practicable to the desirability of making the electoral redistribution so as to reflect community of interest of an economic, social, regional and other kind.”
“This would suggest that, where are a group of electors identify themselves as part of an existing ‘community’, effort should be made to avoid dividing them between divisions.
“The draft boundaries work against the communities of interest in many electorates.
Ms Meldrum makes particular reference to changes made to the marginal seats of Newland and King, held by first time MPs Richard Harvey and Paula Luethen, and Schubert held by former Minister Stephan Knoll.
In separate submission Stuart MP Dan van Holst Pellekaan, who is now facing a potential challenge from independent Geoff Brock who may shift from the electorate of Frome to continue to represent the people that have supported him for a number of elections, has raised concerns about the level of disruption.
Former Liberal MP turned independent Waite MP Sam Duluk, has also raised concerns about the impact changes will have on his electorate, especially the impact on the Mitcham community.