The Electoral Boundaries Commission map shows the existing electorate of Bass (grey) with the proposed Bass electorate bounded by the red lines.
By Catherine Watson
A PROPOSED Victorian electoral boundary realignment would see Inverloch transferred from the seat of Bass to Gippsland South, effectively dividing the shire into two state electorates.
The proposed changes were announced on Wednesday by the Electoral Boundaries Commission.
Bass Coast Mayor Brett Tessari said having the shire divided into two state electorates was not ideal. “But we will deal with whatever situation we have to. We have operated with two representatives before.”
Bass has always been an unwieldy seat with bits and pieces of several shires and councils tacked together in one electorate, with little common interest between the coastal towns of Bass Coast and outer suburban estates of Pakenham.
A PROPOSED Victorian electoral boundary realignment would see Inverloch transferred from the seat of Bass to Gippsland South, effectively dividing the shire into two state electorates.
The proposed changes were announced on Wednesday by the Electoral Boundaries Commission.
Bass Coast Mayor Brett Tessari said having the shire divided into two state electorates was not ideal. “But we will deal with whatever situation we have to. We have operated with two representatives before.”
Bass has always been an unwieldy seat with bits and pieces of several shires and councils tacked together in one electorate, with little common interest between the coastal towns of Bass Coast and outer suburban estates of Pakenham.
The revised version is no easier. While Bass loses suburban Pakenham it gains a chunk of the City of Casey, including the suburbs of Carrum Downs, Pearcedale and a portion of Cranbourne South, and several small villages from Baw Baw Shire.
Election analyst Antony Green found the proposed changes in Bass would favour the Liberal Party (Liberal 52.5 per cent to Labor 47.6 per cent based on 2018 booth figures), although it remained marginal.
The proposed realignment also means the current Labor MP for Bass, Jordan Crugnale, would reside outside her own electorate and in the seat of Gippsland South, held by Nationals MP Danny O’Brien.
Ms Crugnale said the EBC had a difficult task juggling the numbers. Bass is currently more than 42 per cent over quota – the most populous electorate in Victoria – while Cranbourne is the next most populous, also more than 40 per cent over quota.
The commission is required to ensure that enrolments for all the districts and regions are within 10 per cent of the average. It must also give due consideration to:
The commission received 58 submissions – five from political parties (the ALP, Liberal Party, The Nationals, Australian Greens and One Nation), 15 from organisations and community groups (including four councils) and 38 from individuals.
The ALP submission to the EBC argued that the Bass electorate should retain all of Bass Coast Shire.
Ms Crugnale points out that in 2013 the EBC also proposed to hive Inverloch off to Gippsland South but Inverloch was back in the Bass fold when the final boundaries came out.
“I expect there will be many submissions. I encourage people to look at the maps, their local area and surrounds and have their say.”
The council did not make a submission during the initial consultation and has not yet discussed the situation formally. CEO Ali Wastie said the council would need some time to review the recommendations.
“We understand that any proposed changes will be of interest to members of our community; however, this is a State-led review and we will follow the processes in place if council is to make a submission.”
The shire was divided between the two federal electorates of Flinders (Phillip Island) and McMillan (the rest of the shire) until the most recent federal redistribution when the shire was reunited in the new seat of Monash.
Any person or organisation can lodge a written submission about the proposed boundaries with the EBC until July 30. Written submissions become public documents available for inspection on the EBC website.
The EBC will receive submissions in the following ways:
The EBC may also hold one or more public hearings in August. After taking account of public feedback, the EBC will release final boundaries in late October and they will come into effect at the State election on November 26 2022.
Election analyst Antony Green found the proposed changes in Bass would favour the Liberal Party (Liberal 52.5 per cent to Labor 47.6 per cent based on 2018 booth figures), although it remained marginal.
The proposed realignment also means the current Labor MP for Bass, Jordan Crugnale, would reside outside her own electorate and in the seat of Gippsland South, held by Nationals MP Danny O’Brien.
Ms Crugnale said the EBC had a difficult task juggling the numbers. Bass is currently more than 42 per cent over quota – the most populous electorate in Victoria – while Cranbourne is the next most populous, also more than 40 per cent over quota.
The commission is required to ensure that enrolments for all the districts and regions are within 10 per cent of the average. It must also give due consideration to:
- area and physical features of terrain
- means of travel, traffic arteries and communications
- community or diversity of interests
- the likelihood of changes in the number of electors in the various localities.
The commission received 58 submissions – five from political parties (the ALP, Liberal Party, The Nationals, Australian Greens and One Nation), 15 from organisations and community groups (including four councils) and 38 from individuals.
The ALP submission to the EBC argued that the Bass electorate should retain all of Bass Coast Shire.
Ms Crugnale points out that in 2013 the EBC also proposed to hive Inverloch off to Gippsland South but Inverloch was back in the Bass fold when the final boundaries came out.
“I expect there will be many submissions. I encourage people to look at the maps, their local area and surrounds and have their say.”
The council did not make a submission during the initial consultation and has not yet discussed the situation formally. CEO Ali Wastie said the council would need some time to review the recommendations.
“We understand that any proposed changes will be of interest to members of our community; however, this is a State-led review and we will follow the processes in place if council is to make a submission.”
The shire was divided between the two federal electorates of Flinders (Phillip Island) and McMillan (the rest of the shire) until the most recent federal redistribution when the shire was reunited in the new seat of Monash.
Any person or organisation can lodge a written submission about the proposed boundaries with the EBC until July 30. Written submissions become public documents available for inspection on the EBC website.
The EBC will receive submissions in the following ways:
- via the online Public Submission Tool on the website ebc.vic.gov.au
- email [email protected]
- via post
The EBC may also hold one or more public hearings in August. After taking account of public feedback, the EBC will release final boundaries in late October and they will come into effect at the State election on November 26 2022.