Comment on objections to electorate changes

THE deadline for written objections to the proposed redistribution of Cowper electorate has passed.

Picture: Contributed

THE deadline for written objections to the proposed redistribution of Cowper electorate has passed.

The public had until 6pm last night to make written objections to the changes, which would have split the federal divisions of Cowper and Page at Sapphire Beach.

The objections will be available for the public to view on the Australian Electoral Commission website from Monday.

During this further consultation period, the public has two weeks to submit written comments on the objections received.

An AEC spokesman said the commission could not speculate how public submissions would affect the proposal, but that redistributions in other states might provide some insight.

“Looking at the recent announcement for final boundaries for WA, there were a few changes made to the proposal following the objections period,” he said.

“If you look further back to the Victorian redist- ribution in 2010, there were significant changes made to almost all the proposed boundaries, which triggered a further objections period.”

Under the current proposal, the Coffs Harbour local government area would be divided, with towns including Woolgoolga, Coramba and Maclean shifting to Page, and Port Macquarie and Crescent Head to Cowper.

The redistribution would cost NSW one seat in the House of Representatives.

The AEC previously said it had “no option but to split the Coffs Harbour LGA to satisfy the numerical requirements of the Electoral Act”.

A final decision on the boundaries will be published on February 25.

To comment on the objections, visit www.aec.gov.au/nsw-redistribution from Monday.

For more information phone [phone].