Objections to WA electoral review

July 31, 2007, 10:27pm,  300 views

Objections to the proposed WA electoral boundaries closed on Monday afternoon. There were 59 submissions, or 60 if you count the late one I heard about today from the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, which isn’t listed yet.

In relation to the south-eastern part of the state, which is my area of interest, there are unlikely to be any changes to the proposals put forward by the commissioners.

The Labor and Liberal Parties have essentially endorsed the new boundaries. The ALP expressed misgivings about moving Esperance and Ravensthorpe into the Mining and Pastoral region, but acknowledged it was too difficult to come up with a viable alternative.

It’s unclear if Independent MP John Bowler will contest the new electorate of Eyre, where he would be up against popular Liberal incumbent Graham Jacobs. Eyre will be an interesting seat to watch. If Bowler does stand it will be a four-way contest between him, the Nationals, the ALP and Jacobs.

The only objections regarding the Kalgoorlie-based seat of Goldfields were suggestions from the Liberal Party, the Kalgoorlie Miner and the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder that the Kalgoorlie name be retained.

If I get a chance to read some of the other objections I will comment on them later.