Making a Submission

The final period for submissions closed at 5.00 pm, 21 August 2023, the deadline for the lodgement for objections to the proposed boundaries

What is a submission?

A submission is an opportunity for you to make a contribution to the electoral boundaries review.

The Electoral Distribution Commissioners will take all suggestions, comments and objections into account before arriving at their final determination.  Once made, that determination is binding.

Who may make a submission?

Anyone, such as individuals, community groups, political parties, local councils and so on, may make a submission.  Get involved, share your views. 

Opportunities to make a submission

There are three opportunities during the review where the Electoral Distribution Commissioners will invite the public to contribute. You can make a submission at any time during the three phases.  See the 2023 Distribution Timeline for all key dates. 

1. Suggestions are invited (from 1 April 2023, closing 1 May, 2023 at 5.00 pm).

   Suggestions can be about where you think a district boundary should be, or what the districts should be called. You can focus on your current district or on any electorate about which you are familiar.
    

2. Comments on suggestions are invited (after the close of suggestions, 1 May, 2023 at 5.00 pm until 15 May 2023 at 5.00 pm).

   Once all suggestions have been submitted, they will be published online. You then have 14 days to submit a comment in response, or to contribute, to any suggestions. You do not have to have previously made a suggestion to be eligible to comment.
    

3. Objections to the proposed boundaries are invited upon the publishing of the proposed boundaries (on 21 July 2023, for the next 30 days until 5.00 pm 21 August 2023).

   You do not have to have previously made a submission to be eligible to make an objection or comment about the proposed boundaries.

District Names

You can also make a submission on what you think a district should be called. 

Helpful background information

To help you understand the electoral boundary review, please consider reading the following:

• past electoral boundary review reports
• submissions made during previous reviews
• Part IIA of the Electoral Act 1907
• electoral enrolment statistics

The review commences by taking a snapshot of enrolment levels in each district at a point approximately midway between general elections. For the 2023 review this was undertaken on 13 March 2023. 

(The District enrolment statistics to be used for the 2023 Distribution have been published at Publications and Resources | Electoral Boundaries WA.) 

Making your submission

All submissions should include: 

• The name and address and email contact point for the person making the submission. 
• If the submission is on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation should be stated.

A submission must be written. There is no limit to how long or short a submission can be. It can include diagrams, maps or other illustrations. There is no template for submissions.

You must submit your written submission before the closing time on the specified day.

You can :

• Email your submission to boundaries@waec.wa.gov.au
• Deliver your submission to Level 2, 111 St Georges Terrace, Perth
• Post it to GPO Box F316 PERTH  WA  6841

Information to include

Your submission should:

• address the relevant factors and the electoral enrolment figures
• provide an alternative option for the Commissioners to consider if possible.

Evidence that you have community support for your alternative option or submission is also desirable.

What happens to your submission

Submissions will be published online under the name of the organisation or individual making the submission, however for privacy reasons, individual contact details will not be published.  It is a legislative requirement for submissions to be made publicly available.

Once the submission period has closed, your submission (without contact details) will be published as soon as possible to the Boundaries WA website at Electoral Boundaries WA, and will be available for viewing at the Office of the Electoral Distribution Commissioners in Perth.

The Electoral Distribution Commissioners will consider all submissions during their deliberations. They may contact you if they need more information about your submission.

Your submission will be kept on the website as a public document for future reviews.