Why Australian Electorates Vary in Size

Australian electoral divisions must have roughly equal enrolment (within ±10%), but size in km² varies due to:

• Population distribution: Rural/remote seats cover vast areas to reach quota; urban seats are compact.
• Geography: Boundaries follow natural/features, community of interest; no gerrymandering.
• Legal allowances: Remote seats (e.g., Durack, WA — 1.6M km²) can exceed tolerance.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) redistributes every ~7 years via public consultation. Result: huge outback seats, tiny inner-city ones—each with similar voter counts.