section_path: Electoral system/Redistribution
section_name: Redistribution
paragraph_text: Redistribution
  
  The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is required, one year after the first sitting day for a new House of Representatives, to determine the number of members to which each state and territory is entitled. If the number in any state changes, a redistribution would be required in those states. A redistribution would be postponed if it would begin within one year of the expiration of the House of Representatives. The apportionment determination was made in July 2023 based on the population figures for December 2022. The determination resulted in a reduction of one seat in New South Wales to 46, a reduction of one seat in Victoria to 38 and an increase of one seat in Western Australia to 16. The total number of seats in the House of Representatives decreased from 151 to 150 at the 2025 federal election.
  
  In May and June 2024, the AEC released its draft proposals for electorate changes, recommending the creation of the Division of Bullwinkel (Western Australia) in the outer eastern suburbs of Perth, and the abolition of the Division of Higgins (Victoria) in Melbourne's inner south-east (held by Labor's Michelle Ananda-Rajah) and the Division of North Sydney (New South Wales) in Sydney's inner north-east (held by Kylea Tink, a teal independent). In addition, the commission proposed altering the boundaries of several seats in all three states.
  
  The Western Australia and Victoria-based changes were confirmed by the commission on 5 September 2024, with the new boundaries gazetted respectively on 24 September and 17 October. The New South Wales changes were confirmed on 12 September, and were gazetted on 10 October 2024. According to Antony Green, some of the more significant changes to existing electorates included: the Division of Hasluck, losing much of its area to the new seat of Bullwinkel and shifting westwards into Perth's northeastern suburbs; in Melbourne, the Divisions of Melbourne and Wills moving to the south, and the Divisions of Chisholm and Menzies moving westwards; the Division of Riverina shifting south-east and losing the towns of West Wyalong, Parkes and Forbes; and the Division of Hume losing the majority of its area in the south, including the city of Goulburn.
  
  Northern Territory also underwent a scheduled redistribution as seven years had elapsed since its last redistribution. There was a small adjustment to its two federal electorates, with the Division of Solomon gaining some of the eastern suburbs of Palmerston from the Division of Lingiari.
  
  Redistributions were due to take place for Tasmania's and Queensland's electoral boundaries in November 2024 and March 2025 respectively, due to them being seven years since the day of the last determination in the respective state; however, these were deferred as they would occur within one year of the expiration of the House of Representatives. The redistributions would instead commence within 30 days after the first sitting day of the new House of Representatives in the 48th Parliament of Australia.