Surge in population sees Victoria gain an extra seat in Canberra

Victoria’s surging population means it’s on track to gain an extra seat in Canberra ­before the next federal election, ­parliamentary researchers say.

Victoria’s surging population means it’s on track to gain an extra seat in Canberra ­before the next federal election, ­parliamentary researchers say.

The extra seat — which would take Victoria’s numbers in the lower house from 38 to 39 — is likely to come at the expense of Western Australia or the Northern Territory.

In a paper from the Parliamentary Library, released ­yesterday, researchers say that if present population trends ­continue, Victoria’s representation in Canberra will rise to levels last seen in the 1980s.

The extra seat — which would take Victoria’s numbers in the lower house from 38 to 39 — is likely to come at the expense of Western Australia or the Northern Territory.

Before the last election, ­Victoria was given an extra seat when the House of ­Representatives was expanded to 151 MPs.

MORE JAMES CAMPBELL STORIES

PAULINE HANSON SLAMS ‘SKINT’ BARNABY JOYCE

FAST NEWS: TODAY’S TOP STORIES

But according to the paper, present trends will see the numbers drop back to 150 MPs with WA likely to drop from 16 to 15 seats and the NT likely to lose one of its two electorates.

Under electoral law, the Electoral Commissioner will order the changes in the states’ representation in the House of Representatives if the ABS population numbers have changed sufficiently by July next year.

The NT has previously fallen below the population required to keep its two seats but on that occasion parliament intervened to make sure it kept its two lower house MPs.

Originally published as Surge in population sees Victoria gain an extra seat in Canberra