VOTERS in four Mornington Peninsula towns have been moved from one state electoral district to another.
The Electoral Boundaries Commission last week released a map showing that Merricks Beach, Balnarring, Balnarring Breach and Somers from the next state election will be included in the Hastings district, now held by Liberal MP Neale Burgess.
The four towns are now in Nepean, held my Labor’s Chris Brayne.
Cranbourne South, Devon Meadows Pearcedale, Canons Creek and Warneet in the northern section of the Hastings district have been moved into Bass.
Boundaries for the seat of Mornington held by Liberal David Morris are unchanged.
With the next election due in November next year, voting patterns from the previous state election give Labor a small winning margin in Hastings and Nepean (“Labor ‘wins’ with boundary changes” The News 5/7/21).
However, the changes have clipped the winning margins in Hastings and Nepean, with Mr Burgess losing his lead altogether and Mr Brayne seeing his reduced from 0.9 per cent to 0.6 per cent.
Mr Morris won the last election by 5 per cent.
“Redivisions are a key part of Victoria’s electoral system, as they ensure fair representation and an equal voice for all voters in state elections,” electoral commissioner Warwick Gately said.
“The EBC released proposed boundaries on Wednesday 30 June 2021 and invited public comment. After considering the written suggestions and objections and holding two public hearings, the EBC has amended the proposed boundaries in 38 areas, transferring 127,425 electors to different electoral districts.”
The EBC’s report and an interactive map of the new state electoral boundaries are at ebc.vic.gov.au
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 2 November 2021
