Why are some electorates in Australia bigger than others?

The size of an electorate in Australia is determined by a number of factors, including population, geography, and the distribution of voters.

By law, electorates must have roughly equal populations. However, there is some flexibility in this rule. For example, electorates in remote or sparsely populated areas can be larger than electorates in more densely populated areas.

Geography also plays a role in determining electorate boundaries. Electorates must be compact and contiguous. They cannot be gerrymandered, or drawn in a way that gives one party an unfair advantage.

Finally, the distribution of voters can also affect the size of an electorate. For example, if there are a lot of voters in a densely populated area, that electorate may be smaller than an electorate in a more sparsely populated area.

The process of determining electorate boundaries is complex and time-consuming. It is overseen by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). The AEC is an independent body that is responsible for conducting elections and maintaining the electoral roll.

The AEC reviews electorate boundaries every seven years. This process involves public consultation and submissions from interested parties. Once the AEC has finalised the new boundaries, they are gazetted and take effect at the next election.

The size of electorates in Australia is important because it affects the number of representatives that each electorate gets in Parliament. Larger electorates have more people, and therefore more votes, than smaller electorates. This means that larger electorates can have more influence on the political process.