The ACT and Victoria are the big winners following an electoral redistribution by the Australian Electoral Commission.
“The figures show the population has increased sufficiently to result in Victoria and the ACT each increasing their entitlement by one seat. At the same time the entitlement for South Australia will decrease by one seat,” Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers said.
South Australia’s seat count will go from 11 seats down to 10 in line with its shrinking population based on the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Victoria’s unprecedented population growth will increase its count from 37 seats to 38, and the ACT will have three seats instead of two in the lower house for the first time since 1998.
The changes will take the total number of members elected to the House of Representatives to 151 instead of 150 - the first increase in 17 years.
