New South Wales has had an electoral redistribution, meaning the borders of a number of electorates has changed.
This change arises because the state’s representation in the House of Representatives has been reduced from 47 to 46 seats, leading to adjustments across multiple electorates. One significant change is the abolition of the seat of North Sydney, which was held by Independent Kylea Tink.
Why is New England Changing?
Each electorate in Australia (outside of Tasmania and the Northern Territory) must meet a voter enrolment quota. The new quota for electorates is 121,011 voters. Prior to the redistribution, projections showed that New England’s enrolment was set to fall below the minimum allowed variance. To ensure the electorate remains compliant, its boundaries have been expanded to include new areas.
Areas Transferred to New England
To increase its voter base, New England has gained several localities from neighbouring electorates:
- From Parkes to New England
- The remainder of the Gwydir Shire, which was previously split between the two electorates, including:
- Balfours Peak,
- Blue Nobby,
- Boonal,
- Crooble,
- Gineroi,
- North Star,
- Warialda,
- Warialda Rail, and
- Yallaroi.
- Parts of Bingara, Biniguy, Boggabilla, Coolatai, Croppa Creek, Delungra, Graman, Gravesend, Myall Creek, Pallamallawa, and Tulloona that are within in Gwydir Shire
- The remainder of the Gwydir Shire, which was previously split between the two electorates, including:
- From Hunter to New England:
- The entire Muswellbrook Shire Council area.
New Boundaries of New England
Following these changes, the Division of New England now consists of the following local government areas:
- Armidale Regional Council
- Glen Innes Severn Council
- Gwydir Shire Council
- Inverell Shire Council
- Liverpool Plains Shire Council
- Muswellbrook Shire Council
- Tamworth Regional Council
- Tenterfield Shire Council
- Upper Hunter Shire Council
- Uralla Shire Council
- Walcha Council
No part of any of these Council areas is in another electorate.
The expanded New England electorate now covers approximately 75,237 square kilometres, around 600km from end to end, making it one of the largest regional electorates in New South Wales.
The next federal election due in May of this year will be the first to reflect these revised boundaries.
Implications of the Redistribution
Exact voter numbers will be finalised once the election is called, but it is projected New England will increase from 115,792 voters to 129,663 voters.
With the inclusion of Muswellbrook and additional areas from Parkes, the electorate now encompasses a broader mix of agricultural, regional, and semi-urban communities, and the conflicting interests of the coal community of the Hunter, and the renewable energy zone communities of New England. There is also no common issue profile for the Hunter Valley and New England residents, with vastly different access to transport, education, health care, and other amenities that normally dominate political debate.
These changes will likely impact the political landscape of New England by shifting demographic dynamics and altering the voter composition. Significantly more Labor voters have been transferred in to the electorate. However, the redistribution does not change the nominal position of the electorate as a safe National Party seat. The margin in New England as a result of these changes has shifted from 16.4 to 15.2 in favour of the incumbent Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce.
How does this affect me?
If you are in one of the areas that has moved electorates, you do not have to do anything or update your enrolment. The AEC has automatically moved you into the new electorate, and will send you some information in the mail.
You may have to vote at different polling booths than you are used to. For example, if you live on a property on the Gwydir side of Pallamallawa, and normally vote when in town in Moree, you will likely have to go to one of the special booths that is set up to take New England votes, rather than any polling booth. Most border polling booths will accept votes for both seats. Check the AEC website closer to election day, and New England Times will have information as well once the details are available, to find out where you can vote.
If you are not sure which electorate you are in, look up your details here https://check.aec.gov.au/
The next federal election will be the first to reflect these revised boundaries, shaping the region’s representation in Canberra.
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