ACT electoral boundary redistribution favours Canberra Liberals

The proposed boundaries apply to the ACT election in 2020, not the imminent federal election. Under the change, the suburbs of Yarralumla and Deakin would move from the inner-city seat of Kurrajong to Murrumbidgee, which also includes the Woden Valley, Weston Creek and Molonglo Valley.

Deakin recorded the best vote for the Liberals at the 2016 election: a 57 per cent first preference vote.

In Yarralumla, 42.2 per cent of first preferences for the Kurrajong electorate went to the Liberals.

These suburbs would be added to the electorate that recorded the highest first-preference vote for the Canberra Liberals, at 42.8 per cent, in 2016.

In the party's submission, the Liberals had suggested moving Deakin to Murrumbidgee, although the move has been opposed by Deakin Residents Association and the Inner South Community Council.

The Weston Creek Community Council also opposed moving inner-south suburbs into the Murrumbidgee electorate.

Murrumbidgee's borders would also change on the seat's southern edge. Half of Kambah west of Drakeford Drive will move to the southern electorate of Brindabella.

In the north, the only proposed change is to move the Belconnen suburbs of Evatt, Mackellar and Lawson from the electorate of Yarrabi, to Ginninderra.

Ginninderra would now include all suburbs of Belconnen except Giralang and Kaleen, which are in Yerrabi with the suburbs of Gungahlin.

ACT Labor and the Canberra Liberals had proposed moving Evatt and Mackellar to Ginninderra.

Each electorate will still elect five members under the Hare Clark system, where parties are required to meet a quota of votes in order for MPs to be elected.

The proposed distribution is available for public comment until June 3 and any objections must be submitted to Elections ACT.

The finalised boundaries will be in place for the 2020 ACT election, as ACT legislation requires a redistribution before every election.

A larger version of the map is available here.