Initial Redistribution Proposal Reasons

The Redistribution Committee considered various approaches before arriving at proposed boundaries for the 15 new electorates.

At the outset, particular mention is made of an approach that offered some initial attraction. This scenario involved taking the 5 existing House of Representatives/Assembly divisions and dividing each one into three new Legislative Council divisions. If found to be practicable this approach would offer some benefit to electors and members by simplifying electoral boundaries.

However, when a model was developed for the Redistribution Committee a number of difficulties emerged. For example, if the division of Franklin were divided in this way part of Kingston would of necessity be in the same new Legislative Council division as Howrah, Rokeby and Lauderdale. Again, in the case of Lyons, the west coast would be forced to join with communities in the east, presenting difficulties in terms of community of interest.

After careful consideration the Redistribution Committee agreed that this approach was unacceptable for use at the current Redistribution.

It may be that this option could be usefully revisited in the context of the Redistribution of House of Representatives/Assembly Divisions due to take place in 1999. At that time the new Legislative Council Divisions will likely have been determined and it may be possible to group them into 3’s to create 5 new divisions for both lower houses.

While the Act clearly makes numbers the first priority, the Redistribution Committee believes that the existence of distinct natural boundaries imposes strict limitations on the areas from which those numbers can be drawn.

Despite the above constraints, the Redistribution Committee used various opportunities to introduce community of interest factors into its Initial Redistribution Proposal.

Community of interest considerations were used when refining boundary detail, particularly where urban and rural interests overlapped, and in the grouping of communities where options were available.

The Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment is currently developing formal definitions of suburb and locality boundaries as part of the Land Information System Tasmania (LIST).

When these new statutory locality boundaries are in place the Redistribution Committee believes they will provide a stable ongoing indicator of community of interest which will assist in determining better electoral boundaries.

In selecting boundaries for proposed divisions, the Redistribution Committee considered the latest available information on suburb and locality boundaries. These boundaries have been utilised as far as possible when they were compatible with numerical and other criteria.

On the matter of names, the Redistribution Committee was cautious, being aware that using existing names for new divisions could signal possible transition arrangements in some eyes. It was the Committee’s view that such matters are properly for consideration and determination by the Redistribution Tribunal at a later time.

However, for the purpose of the Initial Redistribution Proposal, the suggesting of names could not be avoided.

In proposing names for new divisions the Redistribution Committee use the following general principles—

Where the great majority of electors of an existing division are contained in a proposed division and there is no significant change in the nature of the proposed division, existing names were suggested. (Derwent, Huon, Mersey, Murchison, Pembroke and Roland)

Where the nature of a proposed division was significantly different to existing divisions comprised within it, new names were suggested. (Apsley, Elwick, Montgomery, Nelson, Paterson, Rosevears, Rumney, Wellington and Windermere)

Where new names were proposed, names of well-recognised geographical features closely associated with proposed divisions were used. In some cases proposed names also carry an accepted historical reference to proposed divisions.

Murchison The proposed division of Murchison contains the whole of the existing division of that name. To meet numerical requirements the proposed division takes in the Waratah/Wynyard area and the west side of the City of Burnie.

The Redistribution Committee believes this solution acknowledges community of interest between the west coast and Burnie, as a port and business centre.

Montgomery and Mersey The proposed new divisions of Montgomery and Mersey are drawn largely from coastal areas, with an urban community of interest.

RolandThe division of Roland is proposed as largely non-urban. In order to satisfy numerical requirements the division extends from Port Sorell to beyond Bothwell in the south.

Rosevears, Windermere and Paterson—These three proposed divisions comprise all of urban Launceston as well as the Tamar valley.

After careful consideration of various options for the containment of urban Launceston this configuration was clearly preferred by the Redistribution Committee. Community of interest for the 3 proposed divisions exists at both urban and regional levels.

The Redistribution Committee believes this treatment gives the most satisfactory outcome in terms of community of interest for the greater Launceston area and surrounding divisions.

Apsley—The size of this proposed division is large. This is primarily due to the numerical imperative to meet the quota. Apsley is coastal and rural in nature, factors which the Redistribution Committee took into account when choosing to extend the division south rather than in other directions. The relationship of the Coal River valley with communities to its north strengthened the Redistribution Committee’s view.

Huon—The proposed Huon division is basically a numerical extension of the existing division within geographic constraints to the east and west. The northern urban boundary generally follows the locality boundary between Blackmans Bay and Kingston.

Nelson, Wellington and Elwick—These three proposed divisions comprise the majority of urban Hobart. Boundaries acknowledging likely suburban statutory delineations have been suggested wherever practicable for these divisions.

Road access to the Huon valley was taken into account in establishing suitable boundaries, including Fern Tree, for the proposed Nelson division.

Pembroke—This proposed eastern shore division is largely urban. It includes all of the existing Pembroke together with further residential areas including Tranmere in the south.

Rumney—In developing this proposed division the Redistribution Committee began with the Tasman Peninsula, extending north and north east to appropriately satisfy numerical requirements. Likely locality definitions were utilised where this division shares boundaries with the proposed divisions of Apsley and Pembroke.

Derwent—This proposed division comprises significant elements of the existing Derwent in population and river catchment. Boundaries have been adjusted in urban areas to satisfy numerical constraints and in the north and east to form acceptable boundaries with the adjoining divisions.