New South Wales Consolidated Acts

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTORATES AND ELECTIONS ACT 1912 - SECT 17A

17A Criteria for distributions

(1) In carrying out a distribution, the commissioners shall, subject to complying with section 28 of the Constitution Act 1902 :

(a) have regard to demographic trends within the State and, as far as practicable, endeavour to ensure on the basis of those trends that, at the relevant future time, the number of electors enrolled in each electoral district will be equal (within a margin of allowance of 3 per cent more or less of the average enrolment in electoral districts at that future time), and

(b) subject to paragraph (a), give due consideration, in relation to each electoral district, to:

(i) community of interests within the electoral district, including economic, social and regional interests,

(ii) means of communication and travel within the electoral district,

(iii) the physical features and area of the electoral district,

(iv) mountain and other natural boundaries, and

(v) the boundaries of the existing electoral districts.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) (a), the relevant future time is 4 years from the day of the return of the writs for choosing the Legislative Assembly that exists at the time the distribution is carried out.