THE STATE seats of Altona and Tarneit look set to be divided in parliament with Point Cook likely to become its own electorate as part of a Victorian-wide review.
The Electoral Boundaries Commission (EBC) is currently undertaking a redivision of Victoria’s electoral boundaries, and all sides of politics have agreed that the West should gain another seat in parliament.
According to the EBC the Lower House electorates should only have 41,473 voting age residents but Tarneit, which includes the suburbs of Tarneit, Werribee South, part of Hoppers Crossing and Werribee, has 49,711 voting age residents, a blowout of 19.9 per cent.
The Altona electorate, which includes Altona, Altona Meadows, Laverton, Laverton North, Point Cook and parts of Altona North and Hoppers Crossing, has 55,548 voting age residents, which makes it 33.9 per cent above quota.
Member for Tarneit and Shadow Treasurer, Tim Pallas, told Star a Point Cook based seat would benefit Wyndham.
“The growth in the outer West is one of the reasons why a review of the borders is occurring and if it leads to an additional seat in the western suburbs that’s a good thing,” Mr Pallas said.
“We need more representation and another voice in the West.”
A spokesperson for the EBC told Star that a new seat in Wyndham was possible.
“What happens is as the population grows the numbers get out of kilter and the last review of the borders was in 2001 so a lot has changed since then,” the spokesperson said.
“We are looking at what the growth patterns are and if Werribee’s population is projected to continue to grow by a lot then we will take that into account.
“It is inevitable that boundaries will change and there could well be new seats but any new seat means an old one has to go.”.”
Submissions for the review process were due last week and the Labor, Liberal and Greens parties pushed for a new seat in Wyndham.
“The existing electorates of Altona and Tarneit have over the last decade experienced substantial growth and are currently well outside the allowable variation,” the Liberal Party’s submission said.
For this reason, the fundamental nature of these districts needs to be adjusted, helping to accommodate the thousands of extra electors this area south-west of Melbourne has gained.”
The EBC plans to release its proposed boundaries by 27 June this year.
